1 October 2013
Indigenous peoples’ organizations have submitted a
complaint to the United Nations concerning the violations of religious
and cultural rights of indigenous peoples due to denial of installation
of Buddha idol in Kakre Bihar, a monastery in Surkhet district of
mid-western Nepal.
Representatives of indigenous peoples’ and Buddhist
organizations, on Monday, emailed the complaint in an urgent
communication to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, in the field of cultural rights and on freedom of religion or
belief. The complaint details obstructions by the Government to install
the idol even after fulfilling all necessary procedures, including
police intervention on the rally taken out on 25 May 2013 for installing
the idol. More than 50 devotees were reportedly injured or looted of
their belongings in the brutal police assault.
Despite holding number of meetings with the
concerned authorities, including Chairperson of the Council of Ministers
and peaceful protest programs, the Government has not taken any measure
to resolve the dispute. Rather there has been indirect threat to
prevent installing idol in the area at any cost. This has violated
religious and cultural rights of the indigenous peoples as well as the
principle of secularism as declared in the Interim Constitution of
Nepal, 2007.
The complainants have requested the Special
Rapporteurs to recommend the Government to permit installation of idol
in the area, halt violations of and respect religious and cultural
rights of indigenous peoples. Further, they have urged the Rapporteurs
to recommend the United Nations and other concerned agencies to
facilitate the Government to respect those rights.
Click here to read the complaint
Source: LAHURNIP
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