Lawyers National Campaign against Untouchability, Nepal

First of all thank you very much for the support and solidarity against the crime of Untouchability. This is our great pleasure to inform you that we have succeeded in achieving what we were looking for. The case of Nani Maiya after a long time has come to an end. She along with other victims of Untouchability has pulled off justice from the Police Office and the victimizers.  The case that was not registered has now been registered and closed in compensation as well as in easy environment to the victims.
 

On March 5 – Four people – two Dalit women and two Dalit activists – were severely beaten up, while 10 other representatives that included a former parliamentarian and representatives from media and Dalit organizations were verbally abused by a mass of
non-Dalits in Chunikhel, Bungmati VDC-8, Saturday. Local Dalit women – Shova Nepali, 29; Nani Maya Nepali, 29; and activists from Dalit Welfare Organization (DWO) – Dinesh Pariyar and Narendra Raj Lawanjun – were injured in the incident. However,
representatives from media, National Dalit Commission, Lawyers National Campaign Against Untouchability (LANCAU) and others managed to escape the mob unhurt.
A 12-member team of activists (Former MP Man Bahadur Biswokarma and Deputy Executive Director of LANCAU, Mr Jeewan Pariyar including others) had been to the site to carry out an on-the-spot probe of the incident in which Nani Maya was denied access to a local well by non-Dalits. But, saying the team members tried to take
‘nude pictures’ of local women bathing near the well, the non-Dalits took physical action against them.
               
On March 6 – Those Non Dalits who had beaten up four persons  and abused 10 other representatives from the media, political party and rights organizations on Saturday agreed to allow Dalits access to all public property and give compensation to the victims. The two agreements with the Dalits were signed at the Lalitpur District Police Office on Monday after two days of negotiations between local non-Dalits, victims, rights activists and local Dalits of Chunikhel, Bungmati VDC Ward No. 8. The locals had assaulted and abused Dalits and others on Saturday. “We are ashamed of what we did and apologize for that,” one of the agreements read. “We will never repeat such crime against humanity. If
we ever do so again we are ready to bear legal punishment.” The non-Dalits also agreed to let all people have access to every public infrastructure of the community. They have also agreed to provide Rs 5,000 for the treatment of Nani Maya Nepali, Dinesh Pariyar, Shova Nepali and Narendra Raj Lawagun injured during the incident and Rs. 25,000 for damage to equipment and goods.
 

The agreements were signed in the presence of Moti Singh Dhami, Deputy  superitendent of Police at LDPO, political representatives (Former MP Man Bahadur Biswokarma & Rishi Babu Pariyar) and Human Right activists. “We will inspire other people of our
community not to discriminate and not to allow others to discriminate people on the basis of caste and creed,” the statement states.
 

Shree Siddhartha Marga-196, Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal. Ph: 977-1-2051321, Fax: 4242070, Email: lancau@wlink.com.np,  Web: www.lancaunepal.org