World Newah Organisation (WNO) is deeply concerned about the allegations and operation carried out by the Nepal Government in February against the Old Age Management and Social Welfare Trust (Aamako Ghar) run by a local Newah resident, Mrs. Dil Shova Shrestha. The allegations of ‘sexual abuse’ first appeared at a national daily “Nagarik Dainik” claiming the news agency had collected the proof of sex-trade deal conducted by Dil Shova Shrestha. This was soon followed by a wide circulation of news media and apparently an emergency rescue operation at Dil Shova Shrestha’s facility through a coordinated effort of police, government agencies, Central Child Welfare Board Nepal, National Human Right Council and a team of journalists involved in live news coverage. The children were forcefully taken to a non-governmental-organization named Sano-Paila. Old-age adults were left out.

In the meantime, it has become clear to the public that the telephone conversation was purposefully cut short to make an impression of inappropriate conversation. The parties engaged in making the record, accusation, and mislead the administration are identified to be Ms. Apsara Gurung and Ms. Sangita Tamang, Mr. Prateek Pradhan, Mr. KP Dhungana, Ms. Namuna Bhusal and Mr. Tarak Dhital. This entire team has purposefully made up the case and acted in coordinated fashion to defame Dil Shova Shrestha’s good work of the last 18 years. So far, none of these individuals have been arrested, interviewed or kept in the investigation radar for misleading the government and orchestrating the false accusation against a good citizen of Nepal. The entire government mechanism is solely focused against Dil Shova Shrestha, as if the government agency is also partnering with the team who has built this false accusation. On this WNO demands a full investigation on this and asks why the parties involved in falsifying the information and misleading the public are not yet brought into legal action for justice.

The government agency has released 16–points complaints against Dil Shova Shrestha. However, the agency has not released those points that they are investigating. The government has neither released any timeline of their investigations and nor has sent any notice to Dil Shova Shrestha asking for any corrective measures. Dil Shova Shrestha has reported about the threats she has received from the government officers. Despite all this, she cooperated in the rescue and relocation efforts of the government. But the government has failed to present any convincing and valid reasons behind the initiation of such a gigantic operation within a short notice. We demand a full investigation on this to clarify under what circumstances the government mechanism possesses a right to take away children from their home in the name of rescue.

In the news and social media, the allegations of sexual abuse have been strongly contradicted. Besides, the government agency is not providing any information to the public on the claims about the substandard level of hygienic and ‘unregistered’ status. WNO is aware of having much worse conditions at government run orphanage homes and adult-care facilities. From all these facts, it is clear to WNO that the emergency operation and rescue efforts were executed only to defame Dil Shova Shrestha with some hidden and unjust motive.

We have carefully reviewed all the allegations and explanations from both sides of the controversy and found that the government agencies have not been operating in a free and fair manner. They have made Dil Shova Shrestha a victim of repression and discrimination. WNO urged the government authority to immediately stop such nonsense acts and immediately start damage control measures to prevent further hurting Dil Shova Shrestha. WNO also demands bringing all those individuals who are involved in this conspiracy against Dil Shova Shrestha to justice. We appeal all citizens of Nepal, political parties, non-political organizations, and justice-loving community of Nepal to come forward and voice in solidarity to Dil Shova Shrestha and help punishing the culprits who have orchestrated such an unimaginably dirty practice against a woman who have been doing extraordinary social services in Nepal.

31 march 2014

Dr. Bal Gopal Shrestha
President
World Newah Organisation