http://nepaldalitinfo.net/2007/09/27/331/
Dalit NGO Federation on the caste discrimination incidents in the Farwestern region Kathmandu, 24 September 2007. Dalit NGO Federation has submitted a memorandum to different ministries and parliament head on the caste discrimination incidents that occured in the Farwestern region. Dalit NGO Federation has seriously drawn attention on the two incidents of caste discrimination in which two ladies in different districts of Far-western regional namely Baitadi and Doti are severely beaten by local non datis. In the incident of Baitadi that occurred on 27 Bhadra 2064, the 18 years old Dalit girl named Manisha Nepali was severely beaten while she was bathing in the public tap by local non dalits. The reason was only that she belonged to Dalit. Surprisingly, it has come in the national daily news papers that there was direct involvement of Parliament member of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Mr. Narendra Bam in this incident. It is also mentioned that this incident was happened under his leadership. However, it is yet to be proved. The fact finding team from DNF and HRTMCC has headed toward Doti to find out the real facts. In the another incident, the 13 years Dalit lady was also severely beaten by two local non Dalit women in Doti that occurred on 26 Bhadra 2064. The lady was beaten while she was dancing in the dancing party of her neighbor house at their invitation to celebrate Teej festival. In the Nepalese culture, there is custom to organize regular dance parties during the Teej festival. It has come in the national daily news papers that there was involvement of mother of Sopan Bohora in this incident who is the district president of Nepal Student Union affiliated to Nepali Congress. Two Dalit women who were also invited on the occasion severely beat the Dalit girl blaming the place was unclean because of her presence as she belonged to Dalit. Today (24 September 2007), after consulting with its member organizations, Journalists, Human Rights activists, Intellectuals and Dalit Students, DNF has jointly submitted the memorandum to different ministries drawing the attention take action against culprits provide justice, medical care and compensation to the victims immediately. The ministries include Home Ministry, Peace and Reconstruction Ministry and Agriculture Ministry respectively. The delegation team also drawn the attention separately about the incidents in fornt of honorable parliament head Mr. Subash Nembang to raise these incidents in the parliament session in front of all the parliament members to create exert pressure for taking necessary action to the real culprits. All the Ministries have assured the delegation team that the incidents will be investigated by the government soon for taking the action against culprits and provide justice and compensation to the victim from their own. The delegation team was under the leadership Mr. Krishna Bishwokarma from DNF Mid-central Regional chapter, other members in the team were Dhana Maya Bishwokarma DNF,Mr.Tirtha Bishwokarma, DNF, Suman Poudel, DNF/SAMATA Nepal, Sushil B.K, journalist Kumal Nepali, FEDO, Tulsa Gautam, DHRO, Hari Prasad Rasaily, CUDC and Arjun Bagale, DNF/DDL Nepal respectively. Please find the attached memorandum for your information and necessary action. DNF has also drawn the attention of National Human Rights Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Women Commission and OHCHR for taking necessary action from their own. Report by: Suman Poudel Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu DNF
