HIV/AIDS Fighting Stigma
Worse than the disease itself, the victims of HIV/AIDS have to face social stigma and discrimination.
Because of lack of education and knowledge, people continue to associate the HIV/AIDS with social stigma and shame.
This has further complicated the already difficult situation by forcing the patients to go behind closets. Due to social stigma, shame and discrimination, people refuse to come out in the open if they are infected with HIV/AIDS – which means that the disease will continue to spread like a wildfire silently.
The most effective tool to tackle HIV/AIDS is the awareness and prevention. For that purpose, it is crucial to create an environment where patients do not face such stigma.
In order to create awareness in the society and root out the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS, Nepal Youth Society (NYS), an NGO, organized a five day training program by inviting concerned stakeholders.
The program was organized by NYS in cooperation with World Vision International Bhaktapur ADP in Nagarkot from August 21-25.
According to the organizers, over three-dozen participants attended the program. They included carpet entrepreneurs, representatives of different government offices, representatives of different churches, journalists, teachers, community workers, and representatives of Districts AIDS Coordination Committee.
Nripa Raj Joshi and Gauri Shankar Pandey gave training and education on different aspects of HIV/AIDS to the participants.
“We wanted to create awareness about the disease and discuss ways to root out the social stigma and discrimination that the infected persons are facing,” said Ganesh Man Pradhan of NYS.
INDIA ON REFUGEE CRISIS
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that India will work with Nepal and all concerned parties to resolve the festering Bhutanese refugee crisis, reports by Kantipur state.
" India will work with all parties, especially Nepal, in order to improve the state of refugees and find a solution that will ensure their dignity and well-being," Singh said in a response to a letter written by Indian lawmaker Ram Gopal Yadav.
India's Socialist Party's leader Yadav is demanding the Indian government to lead a tripartite initiative to facilitate a dignified repatriation of more than 100,000 refugees languishing at seven UNHCR-administered camps in Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal since 1990.
Yadav is associated with the Bhutanese Refugees Solidarity Group that supported the "long march" campaign of the refugees to their homeland a few months back. However, India did not give the passage to the refugees though they had come via India to Nepal.
The reports add that Kantipur had received a copy of the Indian Prime Minister's letter dated two weeks on Tuesday (August 21). This is the first time that any Indian prime minister has expressed serious concern over the issue in written form. Stating that the government is trying to find a common consensus with all parties in regard to human values, Singh said that India is encouraging both countries- Nepal and Bhutan- to come up with suitable solutions through peaceful negotiations so that the diplomatic relations between the two neighbors are not affected.
Yadav had also sent the copies of the letter to Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Mukherjee replied that "suitable solutions" would be found to the problem while Patil informed that they would think about the issue. The refugees of Nepali-origin were systematically evicted from their ancestral homes in southern Bhutan by the Druk regime in the late eighties and early nineties.
Meanwhile, Bhutanese organizations in exile including the National Democratic Front (NDF), the Bhutan Solidarity and Indian National Social Action Forum (INSAF) welcomed Prime Minister Singh's gesture organizing a joint-press conference here on Monday.
"This is a positive step from the Indian side," the Secretary of Advocacy and Foreign Department of NDF Narad Adhikari said. "If India implements what it said, it will create history," he added. "The concerned parties mean refugee leaders, Bhutan, Nepal and Indian governments. All of them should sit for talks and find a solution to the crisis at the earliest," the Front's Vice-Secretary Rajman Gurung said. "The Nepal government should immediately initiate talks with India over this."
Dr Sunilam and INSAF President Anil Chaudhari were also present at the conference, which came up with the decision to form a five-member delegation of senior Indian social activists. The delegation will come to Nepal to lobby with government officials and major political parties on September 4 for talks with India. The delegation comprises social activist Medha Patekar, senior Socialist leader Surendra Mohan and journalist Kuldip Nayer, Dewaprat Biswas of Forward Block and Dr Sunilam. According to Adhikari, the delegation will meet Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, foreign minister Sahana Pradhan, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Maoist Chairman Prachanda and hand over Dr Singh's letter that would "form a basis for talks".
VC PUN TO FILE PETITION AGAINST UK GOVT
Victoria Cross winner Tul Bahadur Pun is filing a case against UK for showing discriminatory behavior towards Gurkhas. Two other individuals are also filing similar cases.
According to Kantipur, Padam Bahadur Gurung, central chairman of the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen' s Organization (GAESO), stated that initial preparations to file the case have been completed.
Speaking at a program in Dharan Monday, Gurung informed that VC Pun, former Gurkha Major Man Bahadur Rai and Bhim Bahadur Tumbahanfe will file the case against the UK government. Among the three, only Tumbahanfe has taken up British citizenship.
"Despite their sacrifices and contribution in many wars that they fought for the British government, Gurkhas are being made the target of discrimination today," Gurung said, adding, "We'll file the case to ensure equality." Earlier, on July 5, the British government had felicitated Pun who joined the British Army in 1940 and fought in Burma. He won the Victoria Cross for bravery while fighting against the Japanese troops.
However, the British Embassy turned a blind eye to his selfless service, rejecting his visa request before granting it after public pressure from UK citizens and well-wishers. Pun, who is suffering from high blood pressure, gastritis, hearing problems, and impaired vision, had applied for a visa to get medical treatment in the country. The efforts and campaigns of GAESO and Howe and Co. Solicitors, and a media campaign by the British newspaper, Daily Mirror, helped to put pressure on the British government to recognize and award Pun’s unflinching bravery and selfless service.
LAXMI BANK EXPANDS SERVICES
Laxmi Bank has opened fourth branch inside Kathmandu valley in New Road. The bank now has 10 branches across the country. “Strategically located at the heart of New Road, Laxmi Bank’s “New Road Business Center” offers a full range of personal and business solutions and will serve as a full fledged branch that will include units of Trade and Credit Operations to support business and market expectations,” states a press release by the bank.
“New Road has proudly represented Nepal’s trade and commerce for several decades and we are proud to become a part of this honored community.” says Suman Joshi, CEO at Laxmi Bank. Laxmi Bank’s entry into New Road market coincides with its 5th Anniversary.
“The Bank spent the first 5 years building strong business and risk management fundamentals, which are prominently reflected in the quality of its operations and balance sheet. We have undertaken a number of strategic initiatives the previous years, such as expanding our branch and distribution network, identifying new revenue sources through novel products and services etc, and 2007/8 is expected to be the year when we successfully leverage our past efforts and investments into achieving sound business growth,” states the release.
“New Road is the trading center for both retailers and wholesalers and is the most economically active area in Kathmandu. It is therefore no coincidence that New Road has been identified as one of the major growth drivers to achieve our strategic goals for 2007/8 and beyond,” Joshi said.
Laxmi Bank was established in April 2002. “During this short period, Laxmi Bank has emerged as a key player in both the retail and wholesale banking segments and prides itself as being a bank that operates under the highest levels of corporate governance, risk management practices that can be benchmarked with best international practices and has arguably the strongest IT credentials in the banking industry today.,” the release adds.
POLITICS
Changing Tones
If the recent political trends are any indication, there seem to be an emerging new political scenario. Although India had, covertly and overtly, backed the Seven Party and Maoist alliance against the royal government, of late the leaders of three major parties of alliance are expressing suspicion about Indian intention.
Just a week ago, Maoist leader Prachanda accused India of playing a role to marginalize them from politics, in Nepal weekly magazine. Likewise, CPN-UML's official document prepared for the internal discussion cautiously observed that India is trying to extract benefit as much as possible from the present unstable situation.
"Majority of Nepali people know there's big design on the part of Indian ruling class to extend its influence in Nepal and especially Madhesh. We are countering this as well", said Prachanda in his interview. " India did not do good. We feel, India has played a big role in minimizing our role in terai. After we came to government, we didn't' work that way (to work for Indian interest).”
Similarly, in a meeting with some of his party colleagues recently, even prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala expressed doubt over India's support in holding the elections for Constituent Assembly. Koirala reportedly said whether India would allow me to hold the CA elections. Although Indian Ambassador Shiv Shanker Mukherjee in his recent remarks stressed the need to hold the elections for CA on time, many still suspect India's role.
Interestingly, there is also a changing tone on UN's role. Those politicians, civil society members and foreign power - who defended United Nations as a sole guarantor of long lasting peace in Nepal- are suddenly questioning the role of United Nations Interim Mission to Nepal (UNMIN).
Not only Maoist leader Prachanda but his past mentors in India are now wary about UNMIN's growing role. "There'll be no need for the UN to continue in Nepal if the Constituent Assembly elections do not take place," said Prachanda in Nepal.
In similar way, South Block officials are sending feelers through newspapers. In his recent article in Nepali Times, a New Delhi based Nepalese journalist quoting some unanimous south block sources disclosed that Indians want to see UNMIN pack its bag from Nepal.
Although Maoist leader Prachanda is very critical to India in his recent interview, his stance on UNMIN role is very much similar to what South Block officials have in their mind. South Block officials are so wary about growing UN role and they want to see the UN go back.
At a time when debate over whether to hold the elections for CA is continuing, there seems to be moves to make or break the alliance for the coming new political scenario in
Nepal. Whatever kind of new alliance emerges, one thing is almost certain that Nepal's internal problem is becoming more complicated and political instability is set to prolong. Nepal's geo-strategic situation is such that two equally competent powers are on the two sides of the country.
GERMAN ASSISTANCE
German government handed over eight ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Population amid a function on August 24.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony, German ambassador Franz Ring underscored the importance of holding Constituent Assembly (CA) elections on time. “I would like to underline that it is of utmost importance that these elections take place as scheduled. Only elections can provide the necessary democratic legitimacy of the constituent assembly,” he said.
Ambassador Ring expressed concern about the prevailing lack of security and called on all parties to work with the government in creating a conducive environment in which campaigning and voting could be undertaken free from threats, intimidation and violence.
“The German government is also deeply concerned by the on-going violence in the Terai. It would be a catastrophe for Nepal, but also for partners in development like Germany if the elections could not be reasonably free and fair,” he said.
“May I also express my deep concern about the continuing bandhas, enforcing shout down of schools, factories and shops, preventing private and public vehicles from plying the streets. Such action are neither peaceful nor democratic: It’s coercion. I fear that the so-called “peoples’ action” to be launched very soon fall in the same category of undemocratic and unacceptable measures. All the parties involved in the peace process shall stick to democratic values and action.”
He expressed German commitment to help Nepal in the peace process. “ Germany has been able to react on the spot. We have been providing health services and medication, organising surgical camps in the cantonments, building access roads and improving water supply. All this to the benefit of the people in need, in the cantonments and in the surroundings.” He promised a new project which is aiming in supporting the peace process will soon be started with the assistance of three million Euros.
