Meeting with NRN-HK leadership
June 17, 2010
On the way to Vancouver to attend ITUC conference, I got opportunity to have meeting with NRN HK chair and some colleagues and talked over lunch on the matter. They were also totally worried about new constitution and just want to be clear about the debate about the citizenship, since they had been asked by London chapter. After explaining the our difficulties, specially caused by opened border and big number of Nepali leaving in India for generations and weak and fragile national strength, we are not in position to make restrictive provision for some countries and can not make it opened for every countries. They understand it easily and just made their concern that constitution should be made within extended period and they are ready to play role if anything they can do from outside.
I fully agreed with them and asked to promote the feeling among all “We all are Nepali first than fighting for region and ethnic specific identity, at least in beyond the border and create continue pressure upon CA, leaders of different parliamentarian parties and CA members from new generation to work on time.
They are fully supportive for this idea in spirit. Let see how will be in the action.
Meeting conducted in Hong Kong among Nepali
June 27, 2010
On the way back from Vancouver, an interaction program was organized jointly by FFONA, Construction workers union and domestic workers union in Hong Kong. it was participated by more than two dozens of Nepali.
In the program, the organizer put forth their concern first. Then, we tried to respond them. I tried to brief them about the CA process and issues have been included already in the preliminary draft and where about the process right now.
One surprising comment from one of the ex –British was that if the issue of dual citizenship would be put in the new constitution might be big problem for new generations about the national identity and finally will be nowhere. It should be kept in mind with long term perspective and make decision with mind rather emotion and pressure.
In fact, it was unexpected remarks for me that my mind was that all the ex-British-gurkhas are in favor of dual citizenship. But, I felt it was my myth. People are keeping eye on every issue differently and analytically.
Bishnu Rimal, as chair of GEFONT and member of CA talked more about the trade union issues and workers right in new constitution.
Finally the Nepali consulate general Binod Upadhyaya talked about the practical problem and way out being faced by Nepali in HK.
Though the program was very short, But I feel privileged to be with them and listen opinion from working masses living beyond the geographical border of the country.