| ndycusa |
Posted
on 21-Feb-03 04:30 PM
The Nepalese Democratic Youth Council in USA organized a program to mark the celebration of 53rd National Democracy Day on Sunday, February 16, 2003. The program was held a few days earlier to the real anniversary. A large number of Nepalese living in and around New York City attended the program. The program was presided by Anand Bist. The Chief Guest of the function was Murari Raj Sharma, Permanent Representative of The Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Nepal to the United Nations
Shailesh Shrestha, an adviser of NDYCUSA started the program by welcoming the master of ceremony Dr. Tara Niraula, a researcher of Stanford University.
Somnath Ghimire, General Secretary of NDYCUSA made a welcome speech by stressing on the restoration of democracy in Nepal. He urges all democratic forces to unite and work towards an immediate restoration of democracy in Nepal. Mr. Ghimire also told the gathering about the formation of Nepalese Democratic Youth Council and it’s mission. He said that corruption and communalism are the biggest reasons for the depletion of democratic norms in Nepalese society. The policy of hatred has dealt a major blow to democracy and ashamed to say that our so-called leaders lack the vision to stem this rot. “Abraham Lincoln said that Democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. These ideals must be accomplished in order to make Nepal, a country of powerful democracy in spirit, not just in words”, Mr. Ghimire stresses.
In the process of celebration, Tsewang Sherpa Lama, a well-known social worker read his poem about Nepal and Nepalese. Dr. Yubaraj Bhattarai recited another poem, which was about democracy. Sonam Sherpa, President of United Sherpa Association read the statement of Abraham Lincoln about the democracy and he supported for the Democracy. One of our American friends, Mr. Randal Goldsborough, Veteran of Vietnam War also spoke on the occasion about the goodwill of democracy. He said that Democracy is needed for the development of the country.
The prominent leader and Adviser of NDYCUSA Mr. Vijay Kr. Sigdel said that the foundation of our democracy was our constitution of 1990. Mr. Sigdel stresses on two words, “Constitutional Monarchy” that means only one thing: the King never interferes in politics. King only remains a spiritual head of the country. Mr. Sigdel told the gathering that he couldn’t celebrate democracy with a full heart unless our democratic constitution and institutions are fully restored and we have an elected government.
In the program Kamal Karki, president of America-Nepal Friendship Association said that History is a powerful testimonial that freedom is never granted voluntarily. He stresses that democracy in Nepal got a second cruel blow in the history of Nepal. Mr. Karki said that we all must work very hard to make democracy a reality in Nepal.
The chief guest HE Murari Raj Sharma expressed his views about the current cease-fire that had brought much respite to the people in Nepal, but he told that the truce still needed to be cemented, suggesting that the Maoist problem could be solved only through dialogue. He also added that no any Nepali should lose their lives.
Kul Chandra Gautam, deputy executive director, UNICEF, asked Nepalis to nurture democracy to make it strong. The beauty of multi-party democracy is that it offers opportunities for checks and balances, he said. He added that the United Nations was much concerned about the situation in Nepal and UNICEF was deeply concerned about the country’s children and their development.
President of the Council, Anand Bista concluded the program with Vote of Thanks and he told the gathering that Nepal must be run through the popular mandate, adding that the Council was recently established with a deep sense of purpose and duty to protect and nurture democracy in Nepal.
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