गौबधमा कानुनी प्रतिबन्धको व्यवस्था नेपालको संविधानमा प्रत्याभूत धर्म निरपेक्षता विपरित भएको भन्दै सो व्यवस्था खारेजीको माग गर्दै हालिएको रिट सर्वोच्चद्वारा खारेज

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UN rights experts apprised of violation of rights of indigenous Pradhan Newars for construction of a mega business complex

Kathmandu, 9 Feb

Two non-governmental organizations have submitted an urgent communication to UN rights experts alleging that a Nepali private company has unlawfully acquired the communal trust lands of indigenous Pradhan Newar community of Kathmandu to construct a mega business complex. As a result, the religious and cultural customs and traditions of Pradhan Newars based on the pond and its embankment lands have been devastated and thus their cultural rights and rights to cultural rights and rights to lands and resources violated, the communication reads.

Lawyers' Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples and National Coalition Against Racial Discrimination jointly submitted the communication to the UN Special Rapporteurs on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in the field of cultural rights on Monday. They have urged the Special Rapporteurs to correspond with the Government of Nepal about the need to take immediate action to defend, protect and promote the rights of the indigenous Pradhan Newars to their land, resources, sacred places and culture.

UN rights expert informed of violation of rights of Nepal's indigenous Newar people due to road expansion drive in Kathmandu valley, with the case in point of Ugrachandi temple in Lalitpur

This communication was submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Prof. James Anaya, on 6 August 2012 to provide information regarding violations of human rights of indigenous Newar people of Nepal, and/or continued threat thereof, by the road expansion drive in Kathmandu valley – mainly in Kathmandu metropolis and Lalitpur sub-metropolis, with the case in point of Ugrachandi temple of Lalitpur.

Below is the detailed account regarding current immediate risk of demolition of Ugrachandi (Tamka:dya:) temple, a historical holy shrine of Newars in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, without any consultation with and consent of local Newar communities for expansion of road in the area.[1] This violates their right “to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage” as provided by UNDRIP article 31 along with their right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent.