The rescue operation for Nepali citizens trafficked to Southeast Asian and Gulf countries began on February 01, 2019, revealing more evidence that indicates they were trafficked into Myanmar, through Moreh between December-January.

“As many as 301 have crossed the border from December to January via Moreh border. Those crossing the border have not returned,” said Keisam Pradip Kumar, a member of Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, at a press conference held at the Imphal Press Club.

“The details about their address that have been recorded at the Moreh Integrated Check Post border has shown that all of them are Nepali citizens,” the spokesperson added.

However, those involved in the rescue operation said that they don’t have any details about the whereabouts of those who already entered Myanmar or other countries.

Impulse NGO Network (NGO against human trafficking) Program Manager Emarine Kharbhih added that local authorities and activists couldn’t tell if they were still in Myanmar or elsewhere.

“We have to work with the Myanmar authority and other partners to track them. Now the next round of operation will take place in Myanmar to track those who have already crossed the border,” Kharbhih said during the conference.

The rescue mission that started on February 01, 2019, was done in collaboration with Manipur police, Social Welfare Development and related-NGOs. It began after informing Nepal’s main human trafficking watchdog Maiti Nepal.

The operation managed to rescue 183 Nepali citizens including 17 men from various parts of Manipur and are currently being housed at Manipur Social Welfare Department.

“The first round of verification has shown that all of them are from Nepal. They have admitted–and the documents they have also prove they are Nepali citizens,” said Kumar.

The rescue team informed that further verification will be done in Nepal before their repatriation.

“In other rounds of verification, our partners in Nepal will find out their families and check their citizenships back in Nepal. Then the Nepali Embassy in India will be contacted to further verify that they are Nepali citizens before repatriating them,” Kharbhih added.

She also adds that the rescue team has informed Nepal’s Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare in Nepal has been informed about the recent rescue operation.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes initiatives in such cases and asks the embassy in the respective country to act. We mobilize the team as per directives from the Foreign Ministry,” said Rajendra Kumar Paudel, Ministry Spokesperson.

Out of the 301 which crossed the border, one Nepali girl who entered Myanmar was rescued by the  Yangon Anti Trafficking Task Force and Immigration center Pazundaung Township on February 06, 2019.

The rescue team could rescue her only after she contacted her family in Nepal and asked for help after crossing Moreh.

“Using the Impulse Model Case Info Centre Software alert, we informed our partner in Myanmar which then informed the local authority before she was rescued by the task force,” Hasina Kharbhih, founder and chairman of Impulse NGO Network.

Related Articles:

• Global Rights Conference: Nepal Reaffirms Fight Against Human Trafficking
• Nepal’s Ongoing Battle with Human Trafficking
• Human Trafficking in Nepal – Relentless Fight for Rights Continues!

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Apart from interesting aspects like the formation of unexpected political alliances, women and couples’ participation were found to be the other highlights of the Nepali Legislative Elections 2017 drawing huge public attention.

Women in Campaigning

With most of the men staying abroad for work, Dolakha of Province 3 is witnessing a remarkable participation of women in campaigning for the upcoming Nepal general elections.

According to the local leaders, this trend is because of the absence of men in the district.

According to UML’s Parbat Gurung and Nepali Congress (NC)’s Rudra Bahadur Khadka, local First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) candidates contesting for the Federal Parliament, a huge presence of women was being seen in the election activities.

Pashupati Chaulagain, CPN-UML’s FPTP candidate from Dolakha-1 (B), made a Facebook post of his poll campaigning pictures involving women campaigners.

 “We see huge presence of women in these election programmes as there are only a few men and youths left in the villages,” says Kamala Basnet, Deputy Mayor of Bhimeshwar Municipality.

Kalika Pathak, Vice Chairperson of Kalinchok Rural Municipality, says, “In Magapauwa village, the number of women attending an election-related discussion programme was 60, while only 35 males were present.”

However, the women participation was found to be confined to preparing garlands for the leaders and welcoming the guests, and were hardly invited on to the dais for speeches.

Women account for half of the 2.08 million population of Dolakha and the number of women voters are more than men, at 74,016 out of the total 147,878 registered voters of the district.

Women Contestants

The Dang District of Province 5 alone is witnessing eight women candidates in race for the upcoming federal and provincial elections that are scheduled to be held in the district under second phase on December 5, 2017.

According to the Office of Chief Returning Officer, Dang, four women candidates are contesting for three House of Representative seats and a similar number of women are vying for six provincial assembly seats.

Sushila Chaudhary for Nepali Congress, Rekha KC for CPN-UML alliance, KC for the left alliance of UML-CPN alliance are among the eight women candidates.

18 Couples in The Election Fray

Around 18 couples are contesting in Nepal’s general and provincial elections 2017.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (from Dadeldhura) and his wife Arzoo Deuba Rana (from Kailali-5 constituency) are among the prominent leaders contesting in the FTFP category.

While the former Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar is contesting in the PR category, her husband CPN-MC leader Barsha Man Pun is in race under FPTP from the Rolpa constituency.

Nepali Congress leader Bal Krishna Khand and his wife Manju Khand, UML Vice-Chairman Bam Dev Gautam and his wife Tulasha Thapa, and CPN-MC leader Dev Gurung and his wife Yashoda Subedi are among other prominent couples representing different political parties in the upcoming elections.

Women in Election Counting

Meanwhile, the Election Commission officials are also calling for high women participation in the election counting process.

In this regard, the Chief Election Officer of Chitwan, Kul Prasad Sharma has urged the concerned authorities to recruit women for vote counting in the upcoming elections.

Sharma made this statement at a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Social Cohesion and Democratic Participation Programme organized in Bharatpur, recently.

Sharma added that women folks are most suitable for this task because of their modesty and peaceful nature.

Nepali CNN Hero Anuradha Koirala

Globally-renowned Nepali social activist Anuradha Koirala Joins Race on behalf of Nepali Congress

CNN Hero and the Founder of reputed organization called Maiti Nepal, Anuradha Koirala has entered the election race on behalf of the Nepali Congress (NC).

“That’s why, at a time when constitution implementation has become challenging, I appeal on everyone to vote for NC and end the political stalemate that has gripped the nation for six decades. Everyone should now know that only a NC-led government will ensure the rights of all people,” says Koirala.

Koirala has drawn wide recognition, globally, for her continuous fight against girl trafficking over the past three decades and CNN has also conferred her with the Hero of the Year’ title in 2010.

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