| ashu |
Posted
on 04-Feb-01 11:04 AM
> From: Margaret O'Grady
> Subject: Kamaiya - Proposed Joint Petition to Govt.
> of Nepal by International NGOs
>
> Dear Colleagues,
>
> Greetings from London.
>
> We have been following with great concern the
> situation of recently
> liberated Kamaiya in the Far West region, and we are
> proposing to present a
> petition to the Govt. of Nepal to press ahead with
> the timely delivery of
> at least 10 katha of land to Kamaiya families,
> before the rainy season, so
> that they can begin planting. Otherwise, it seems
> clear that they will
> face another year of hunger, demoralisation, and the
> social disruption of
> camp life. The petition we are proposing would
> begin with a note of
> congratulation for the declaration in July that
> bonded labour was outlawed,
> and would continue with a statement of concern about
> their situation in the
> camps. It would urge the government to resolve this
> situation speedily by
> providing 10 katha of land to every freed Kamiaya
> family. [We are aware
> that the land situation is very complex. However,
> on the basis a) that
> the Tharu have been enslaved on the land on which
> they lived, b) that there
> is a quantity of land which is illegally occupied by
> landlords and which
> could be made available, c) there is other
> available land, and d) less
> than 10 katha is too far below subsistence to be
> sustainable - we believe
> that the problem can be resolved if the political
> will is there.] We
> would like very much for it to be a joint petition
> from concerned
> international NGOs.
>
> We would envisage presenting the petition sometime
> towards the end of next
> week, on 1st or 2nd February.
> International Labour Organisation's Convention 29 -
> Forced Labour.
> Convention 29 includes bonded labour, which exists
> in Nepal within the
> Haliya/Haruwa system, and not just in the Kamaiya
> system.
>
> We hope very much that your organisation would sign
> the petition.
>I would also appreciate your letting me
> know if you think there
> are other, concerned international organisations
> which would be willing to
> sign the petition. Please let me know the name and
> e-mail of the
> appropriate person.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
>
> Margaret O'Grady
> Programme Coordinator
> Anti-Slavery
> Thomas Clarkson House
> The Stableyard
> Broomgrove Road
> London SW9 9TL
> direct tel. 0207-501-8931
>
> main tel. 0207-501-8920
> fax no. 0207-738-4110
>
> Take a look at our New website
> http://www.antislavery.org
>
>
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