The 17th National Council Meeting of Amnesty International (AI) Nepal held on 28-29 January 2009 in Pokhara. Vanushi Rajanayagam Walters, the International Executive Committee Member of Amnesty International, inaugurated the meeting amidst a grand programme on 27 January.
Making an inaugural address, Ms. Rajanayagam stated that AI members all around the world have been contributing for the protection and promotion of human rights the contribution from AI Nepal and its membership towards worldwide movement of AI has been highly recognized. She appreciated the recent growth of people and activism of AI Nepal.
Speaking a the program, Gagan Thapa, the popular youth leader who was declared the Prisoner of Conscience by AI during Peoples Movement, gave his extremely exiting speech highlighting human rights situation in Nepal and importance of campaign of Amnesty International.
Other speakers of the inaugural session were former chairpersons Krishna Pahadi, Binod Nepal, Krishna Kandel and Pradeep Pokharel as well as the then Acting Chairperson of AI Nepal Dhruba Kumar Karki, General Secretary Chandra Adhikari and Returning Officer Lokesh Dhakal. Likewise, Chairperson of National Women Commission Nainakala Thapa, Member-secretary of National Dalit Commission Janaki Baraha and Secretary of Federation of Nepalese Journalist Ramji Dahal highlighted different aspects of human rights in the inaugural ceremony.
Earlier on the same day a peace rally went out in the city centers of Pokhara with different banners and plea-cards demanding protection of human rights.
Membership Growth Award
The other highlight of the inaugural session of the Council Meeting was the “Highest Membership Growth Award” and the “Highest Youth Network Membership Growth Award” that is honoured to any AI Nepal groups recruiting the highest members and highest Youth Network Members from January to December 2008. This award was established by the National Executive Committee of AI Nepal.
The “Highest Membership Growth Award” was won by Group-3, Kathmandu and the “Highest Youth Membership Growth Award” by Group-69, Surkhet for recruiting highest number of members and youth network members respectively in the year 2009. However, as declared by Group-3 last year publicly saying if the Group again won any award, would request to hand that over to the Group with the second position. Therefore, the “Highest Membership Growth Award” was handed over to Group-10, Inaruwa which had secured the second position in the competition. Chief Guest of the inaugural session Ms. Rajanayagam gave away certificate and cash prize to the Dhaniklal Mehta, the convener of the accredited Group-10 and Devendra Sejuwal, the coordinator of Kakrebihar Youth Network, Surkhet.
Business Sessions
Altogether 149 delegates participated the business sessions of the Council representing from 74 Groups and one Group-in-formation across the country. The closed session went heavy with the discussion on annual report presented by Secretary General Chandra Adhikari, Audit report presented by the Treasurer Shambhu Thakur and report of the National Secretariat presented by Director Rameshwar Nepal. Similarly, Operational Plan of AI Nepal for the year 2009-2010, along with the proposed budget for the next two fiscal years also were approved unanimously by the Council.
Election of the New Board and Appeal Committee
The Council also elected a 11-membered National Executive Committee for the term 2009-2010 headed by Hem Kumar Khadka. Keshab Sigdel (Kohalpur), Shambhu Thakur (Janakpur), Uttam Sapkota (Kathmandu) and Rashmila Bhochhibhoya (Banepa) respectively are elected as the Vice-Chairperson, Secretary General, Deputy General Secretary and Treasurer of the Board. Likewise, Chetnarayan Bhusal (Kawasoti), Deek Prasad Ghimire (Biratnagar), Nirmal Babu Shrestha (Pokhara) and Rajan Prasad Kuikel (Nuwakot) are elected as the members to the Board.
Similarly, the Council elected a Appeal Committee for the same term. Elected to the Committee are Shyam Raj Ghimire (Parasi) as the Coordinator and Rishikesh Khanal (Urlabari) and Bimala Devi (Bista) Gautam (Kathmandu) as the members. Lokesh Dhakal, the Returning Officer, awarded certificates to the candidates elected.
Closing Ceremony
At the closing ceremony of the two days Meeting, the immediate past Acting Chairperson Dhruba Kumar Karki handed over the ignited candle which is the emblem of AI to the newly elected Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka. Speakers including the newly elected Chairperson Hem Kumar Khadka, immediate past Acting Chairperson Mr. Karki, International Executive Committee Member of AI Vanushi Rajanayagam, Staff Member of the International Secretariat Jane East, Returning Officer Lokesh Dhakal and contestant to the post of Chairperson Bhawani Prasad Kharel made their closing remarks.
Pokhara based local AI Nepal Group 54 and 82 had arranged a “token of love” for every representatives of the AGM. On behalf of local Groups, Convener of Group-54, Ram Raj Lamichhane and Advisor Durga Prasad Timalsina as well as Convener of Group-82, Punya Prasad Poudel expressed their concluding remarks.
The AGM was organized with the managerial support of AI Nepal’s local Group-54 and 82 of Pokhara.