| Username |
Post |
| 13-thum |
Posted
on 04-Mar-02 12:38 AM
Maile Lama wins Reebok Human Rights Award
Maile Lama won this years Reebok Human Rights Award and was on American television Friday night along with the 3 other award winners. The award goes to young people under the age of 30 who have done significant work in activism to better the lives of their country and their people.
Maile was forced to go to Bombay from her remote Nepali village by being drugged. She had a child, and then was told that either she could work as a prostitute or have her child killed. She finally was freed by an action of Maiti Nepal.
Maile chose to remain in Bombay and work to help get other Nepali girls like herself out of the brothels and return them to a better life. She has had numerous death threats against her but refuses to give up.
At only 25, she has seen more horrors than most of us see in a lifetime. She received an award of US $50,000 to further her work. nepalnews.com dr Mar
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| ashu |
Posted
on 04-Mar-02 02:45 AM
Congratulations to Maili Lama!!
As a Nepali citizen, I am greatly embarrassed and disturbed to acknowledge
that so many Nepali women -- usually but not limited only to -- from the
Tamang community CONTINUE to be
taken/sent/abducted from their villages to India or
tricked/forced into being sold and
then to work as prostitutes in India.
I am also puzzled as to how on earth these three MPs from Sindhu Palchowk
(the catchment area, so to speak, for many traffickers):
Mohan Bahadur Basnet (Nepali Congress)
Subhash Karmacharya (UML))
and someone who has a degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) from Oxford (the university whose scholars and graduates practically invented the representative democratic system as we know it today)
Pashupati Samsher J.B. Rana (RPP) [who also has extensive marital ties in
India]
can go to sleep every night --- knowing fully well that, for the last 20 years or more, thousands and thousands of women in their constituencies, young women whose interests they are supposed to represent in the Parliament, end be
being, often forcibly, sold across the border as prostitutes.
Do these gentlemen NOT have self-respect?
Guts?
A sense of what is right?
A desire to right wrongs?
A desire to look into how young women can live/lead lives of dignity and productivity in their own country?
Does it need Reebok people in America to acknowledge Maili Lama's contributions, and hail her as a hero, while she and many others like her continue to be neglected by those whose build political careers on us citizens' aspirations for a better Nepal?
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| Montou |
Posted
on 04-Mar-02 12:28 PM
I very much agree with Ashu Dai's message. Things would have been different if these people had acted like having "guilt conscious". These people are so much blinded by selfishness that they no longer posses any moral values. They have forgotten what it takes to be a really "human". Not only just these three politicians but most of them just lack simple values that make them human.
People fought for democracy in 1990, so many people died thinking the country will have democracy and people will be treated right, but what happened? The same people who was giving Nepalese people the assurance of freedom went on to get power and repeat the same thing that Nepalese people were trying to get rid of. How these people even dare to live a normal life? Where is the morality?
I always wonder about that but get frustrated when I cannot do anything about it.
it.
I think it was time that we needed another political body like Maoist. But they also should target then people who are against the Nepalese people. They should target these politicians lacking " guilt conscious" and who are Super Hypocrites.
Guess thats it for now.
Jesus Loves You All!!!
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| bik |
Posted
on 04-Mar-02 01:08 PM
It is indeed good to see that someone is doing something to help ease the pain of atrocity inflicted on girls / women from Nepal. I am very interested in this case as I myself come from Sindupalchowk and I am a Tamang as well. I remember while growing up in Sindupalchowk I used to hear stories of "such and such girl" got "sold" away. In most cases, people who would trick these girls were sought after by law but it seemed they always knew the way around Nepali legal system. I don’t think that would come as a surprise to most of us.
Also, I think it would be naïve of us to expect politicians to do much about such issues. Pashupati Samsher J.B. Rana (RPP) has been an MP from Sindupalchowk for a long time now (over 20 years). He is a career politician from Sindupalchowk who really does not belong to Sindupalchowk. He has a small hut in ThuloPakhar (on the way to Jiri) and mostly lives in Baneswor, KTM. So, I don’t think he even views it as an issue he should care about.
I found some more information about the award at the Reebok Human Rights Award site: http://www.codagroup.net/rhr/current.html. You might want to check it out as it has a little more information on Mrs. Lama’s work. I also wrote to Reebok Human Rights Awards organizers thanking them for recognizing someone like Mrs. Lama. I would like to contact Mrs. Lama to see if GBNC or even I personally can do anything to help. I did ask Reebok about the contact information, but I doubt they will respond with such information. So, if any of you know how to get in touch with Mrs. Lama, then please write to me at president@gbnc.org
Bik.
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| Sangey |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 10:54 AM
Bik, let me know how this progresses. If there is something we can do, let's do it. I think we can rally like-minded people around the globe if we have a tangible objective and definitive action plan.
13thum, Ashu, thanks for raising this subject. Thanks to you too Montou, but what's up with your signature?
Sangey
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| Montou |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 11:37 AM
Sangey Bro.
When I left Nepal, God was not in my mind. After about three years stay in the United States I went through such an experience that I cannot deny GOD and that God to me is Jesus Christ. When I came to know Jesus, my life changed 180 degrees. I was in a path to destruction and now Jesus got me on the right path. I used to go to a secular college but then I decided to give my life to Jesus and now am in a Bible College. I am preparing myself to become a Missionary. It blows my mind away to know how much God loves us all. Thats a short story and if you have any questions I will be more than happy to answer.
By His Grace,
Montou
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 11:40 AM
Just don't bestow his grace on us all the time.
We know GOD is great but our GOD might have a different name.
Mine's called Paycheck!!
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 11:42 AM
and btw..why is it that most christian NEPALESE people think they are better than all and WHY do they think thats a fast track to becoming white???
And before you guys lash out at me, I have had more christian upbringing than most of you guys in here. So don't even go there.
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| Nepe |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 12:12 PM
Jesus was not the God. He was God’s son. So he is at most a prince-God, unless, of course, God dies.
BTW, why God had a son but not a daughter ? Is there any religion except Hindu where God has daughters ? I think Hindu religion is fair to both sexes. Plus, they have a great respect for women.
Yatra naryastu pujyante
Tatra ramante devata !
Meaning, Gods are happy where women are worshipped. Although that’s exactly not what happens in the brothels of Mumbai and Kolkota.
Nepe
Saluting Maili Lama for what she stands for.
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| NK |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 12:59 PM
Naya jogiley kharani dherayi dhascha.
but yes, let's salute to Maili Lama. Prost!
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| thule |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 01:07 PM
I can see where this conversation is going. however, i think i should add something to this. "Son of God" is just a title for Jesus. He is a messenger of God. And there are several other messengers of God who have different titles. All these messengers are from the same source -i.e. God
Montou, you might be saved by Jesus. Good for you! and there are probably several other people who are saved by different different religions. Just bear in mind, Jesus is not the only saviour. Krishna also falls in same category and so does Muhammad, Buddha and several others. Just happened to be that you did not look toward Kirshna where you were a hindu (i presume that was your previous religion). Keep an open mind toward the other religions too.
thule
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| thule |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 01:09 PM
Back to the topic on this thread:
Salute to Maile Lama
thule
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| hindu |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 01:38 PM
I'm a proud hindu, though i don't know jack about it. my limited knowledge says that all religions teach devotees to pray and those so called Gods claim that they save you. Bible says that you MUST be a christian if you are to look towards Heavens gate in the future. Krishna and other Hindu Gods claim that you will become paap free if you pray them in a daily basis. It's all about beliefs, one way or the other. You will know it after your death. Good luck! Buddhism is the only religion that saves you when you are still alive if you follow it properly. Meditation, yoga, and peace of mind helps/saves you for sure in this life.
My hats off for Maili Lama.
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| 13-thum |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 02:33 PM
Maile Lama is definitely a role model for all of us in general and our sisters who have returned from Bombay in particular. Its heart warming to know that how she is working to prevent others from being sold to Bombay, despite the numerous death threats. She definitely deserves to be recognized, appreciated and awarded.
While appreciating the work done by Maile Lama, we should not forget about Maiti Nepal and great Anuradha Koirala. I think all the infracsture, motivation and logistics are provided by Maiti Nepal to Maile Lama. Maiti Nepal is really becoming Maiti to Nepalese women who after their return from Bombay have no where to go (even their family do not want them). Let us not forget that most of these Bombay returnees are HIV positive.
Regarding the MPs from Sindhupalchowk not doing anything to prevent the tragedy, it is not only that they are not doing anything to prevent it, they are contributing and supporting this business. Most of those 'dalals' who are involved in this business are protected by these MPs and whenever they are behind bars, these very MPs pressure the police for their release.
One other major hurdle to prevent this business is the parent theirself wants to sell their daughters. I have heard stories like fathers taking loans saying that his daughter is big now and he will be able to pay the loan soon or the houses with bright roof (jasta) are the one whose daughter are in Bombay. Few years ago, there was a big news that somebody from Bombay went to her village in helicopter from KTM.
13-thum
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| bik |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 02:35 PM
Please refrain from deviating from the subject on this thread. One of you might want to start another thread on your religious beliefs. This thread is about Maili Lama and her work, so let's stay focused please.
Bik.
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| sunakhari |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 03:59 PM
huncha guruba!
Well Bik euta topic bata arko nikliney ta honi. Who dictates that we have to adhere to one topic here?
In the past nothing of the sort has happened.
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| :) |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 06:32 PM
LOL @sunakhari!
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| AngTamB |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 07:59 PM
Thanks to Ashu for bringing up an issue close to my heart. It is indeed a sad thing, as Ashu has mentioned, that the girls from the Tamang community continue to be targeted for this evil trade. In fact, it is a national shame that reportedly 50,000 plus Nepali women are in brothels in India much against their will and choice while our lawmakers do not seem to have done much to prevent it. We should hang our heads in shame. If it had not been for the efforts of an organization like Anuradha Koirala’s, I’m sure the situation would even get worse.
As I said the issue is close to my heart, allow me to write a few more lines on this topic.
The general attitude prevalent is to blame the girls themselves and their families for allowing them to be lured to brothels. There is hardly any plan to root out these social evils from the government side. I was at a health conference in Washington DC a couple of years back. In a panel discussion, a presenter (non-Nepali) mentioned that the women from Nepal willingly and happily go to brothels in India to earn a living for them and their families. I was shocked to hear the words like “willingly and happily”. When I asked her how she came to such a conclusion, she mentioned a group of women from Nepal who apparently had given a presentation/discussion in the same conference had made this statement the other day. I was not surprised knowing the background of these so-called elitist and urban conference frequenter type women who had attended the conference. I did strongly protested the statement as being untrue as I believe no woman, not matter from where or what caste or creed, will want to go to a hellish place knowingly what she is about to face. The pimps lured them. The main driving factors in forcing women to this trade are the illiteracy, poverty and lack of employment opportunity for women. Some people are even kept under the illusion that they work in a company in India. Many years back, I had even read a paper written by a woman, who happens to be a daughter of a prominent political leader of yesteryears, saying that the women in the Tamang community encourage their girls to take the flesh trade so that they can have a tin roof house in their villages. I do not think any sane Nepali mother or a sister would want her daughter and sister out to earn money if she knew the reality of it. The statement by this leader’s daughter (and similar comments have been made since then to Indian reporters by some of the Kathmandu’s so called social workers and carried on by biased and misinformed people) does not take cognizance of the fact that these innocent susceptible village belles were being lured ---promising moon and stars or given all kind of temptation by seasoned pimps and once they are into the hellish brothel, it is hard to come out of it.
I had my great hope pinned on the World Bank funded multi million-dollar primary education project. I had thought that it would have the long-term impact on the community. It did not. Why? It was implemented just like any other project, i.e., hardly any or no impact on the grass root people in commensurate with the funds spent. First, it was not covered in the majority of the areas where the Tamangs live. Second, even in some areas it covered, it failed to motivate the parents and community leaders on the need and benefits of the education. Some don’t seem the benefits of having an education, as they can’t win a job in Kathmandu’s biased bureaucratic jungle where there is no level playing field. Third, majority of the teachers were not selected and trained from the Tamang communities. Had this been done, there would have been a multi benefits of it. Not only would the local community persons would get the employment but also this would be a good long-term stable investment on the community itself.
Closer to home, my sister in law, after her first class university degree, she opted to work in a cluster of villages in a remote areas, mostly inhabited by the Tamangs and other underserved groups as well. Being fluent in Tamang language, she was able to communcate wel with the fellow Tamangs and feel the pain of the people. From her experience of a decade of work, her painful conclusion is that while the social workers like her can make some impact, the government must do something radically to support the underserved communities and there was nothing coming from the government. Instead of giving a support and encouragement to her, their reaction would be something in astonishment and like “how come you are educated?” By the time the support or aid reaches the grass root level in whatever form, there is hardly anything left for them to take it. All these roads, TV, and other modern amenities are fine but how are they helping the communities that are deprived of basic facilities like health, education, etc. The Tamangs community in particular, and other communities too in similar situation, despite its majority population ethnic group wise, had to take on several fronts and the least expected being the prejudiced view of the Nepali society itself. Even the educated community so ill-informed that they call them “bhotes”.
Several years back, frustrated at the state of affairs and the treatment meted out to the Tamangs by the successive governments, many Tamang youths had raised the question: “Are we not Nepalis”? The frustration of these youths have only aggravated over the years. I only hope and pray that our leadership will see that the true answer to this question lies in genuine efforts towards integration of the Tamangs, by creating a level playing field for opportunities for work, education and access to health, equally along with fellow citizens.
My congratulations as well as best wishes to Maili Lama and Anuradha Koirala of Maiti Nepal.
AngTamB
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| ashu |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 08:24 PM
Hi all,
Here is an email received from a human rights ativist friend in the
US
ashu
**********************************
the other thing is that maili lama was in salt lake,
but apparently was extremely shy and withdrawn, and my
employers attempts to bring her to NY wasn't
successful... to the best of my knowledge, she has
returned to nepal
i don't know this for sure, though. you should
probably get in touch with anuradha koirala.
all the best
--- ashu wrote:
> Hi
>
> Is there a way a member of Nepali community in the
> US
> get in touch with Ms. Maili Lama to invite her to a
> community felicitation program?
>
> Please advise.
> Hope all's well with you.
>
> oohi
> ashu
>
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| bik |
Posted
on 06-Mar-02 08:48 AM
CORRECTION to an earlier message I posted.
It read:
.............Pashupati Samsher J.B. Rana (RPP) has been an MP from Sindupalchowk ...... He has a small hut in ThuloPakhar (on the way to Jiri) and mostly lives in Baneswor, KTM. .............
It should have been:
.............Pashupati Samsher J.B. Rana (RPP) has been an MP from Sindupalchowk ...... He has a small hut in ThuloPakhar (on the way to Jiri) and mostly lives in MAHARAJGUNJ, KTM. .............
Bik.
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| The Man |
Posted
on 06-Mar-02 11:18 PM
Reebok also nominated a woman from Indonesia to receive this award. It turns out that this woman i an activist which was working to improve working conditions at a reebok subcontractor in indonesia. I believe the issue was that they were asking for a nominal raise.
Turns out she refused to receive the award from Reebok in protest to the working conditions at their subcontractors.
Best to Maile for receiving the award, and for recognition of her efforts.
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