Nationwide protests to defy code

Kathmandu, Nov 11-The NGO Federation of Nepal, an association of over 2,600 NGOs, has decided to defy the code. A press release issued in the night after an emergency meeting of the federation states that the NGOs have been seriously concerned by the ‘so-called’ code of conduct enforced by the ‘unconstitutional government’ which is involved in a series of moves curbing the fundamental rights of the people.

“In order to defend the sovereignty, autonomy and independence of the NGOs we have decided to organise a nationwide movement from tomorrow,” Dr Arjun Karki, president of the federation, told . He added that protest rallies would be organised at all five development regions of the nation today.

Dr Karki said the code is against international laws, UN conventions, covenants and declarations to which Nepal is a signatory.

President of the INSEC Subodh Pyakurel said the code has violated the fundamental rights of the people and is unconstitutional.

Mainwhile, United Nations expression of concern over events in Nepal, a senior human rights official has called on the government to withdraw a draft code of conduct for all national and international ‘social organizations,’ declaring it would violate the Himalayan kingdom’s international obligations.

Provisions exerting governmental control over access by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to address human rights concerns to funding from international donors, are among some of the those that are of particular concern, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Special Representative on human rights defenders, Hina Jilani, said in a statement Thursday.

“The Special Representative is deeply concerned that the adoption of many of the provisions… would lead to violations of the Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms – otherwise known as the Declaration on human rights defenders – as well as other international human rights standards,” the statement posted in the UN website added.

Other provisions “of particular concern” included the issuance of directives to NGOs or the exercise of supervision over NGOs by the Social Welfare Council, asserting controls over the locations in which NGOs can work, imposing collective responsibility of officials and staff for activities conducted by an NGO, and stipulating that NGOs should not endanger social harmony.

“The Special Representative calls on the Nepalese Government to reconsider introducing this code of conduct which, if adopted and implemented would violate Nepal's international human rights obligations,” the statement concluded.