Freedom Forum along with social activists, human rights activists, journalists, professionals and civil society organizations signed a joint statement- Defend Democracy and Constitution in Nepal on May 25, 2021. The signatories have called on political parties, members of parliament, civil society, professionals, constitutional experts, lawyers, health professionals, academicians, media and other concerned groups to jointly protest against the undemocratic and unconstitutional move of the Prime Minister and the President for their recent move to dissolve House of Representatives which is undemocratic and unconstitutional.
The statement reads:-
Joint Statement of Social Activists, Human Rights Activists, Journalists, Professionals and Civil Society Organizations 25 May 2021
The world is severely affected from the COVID 19 pandemic. New variants of the virus appearing in the second wave are deemed more lethal and high-speed spread, which has caused so much pain in the country. Citizens are compelled to lose their lives due to inadequate supply of oxygen and unavailability of hospital beds, and absence of timely medical attention. The medical system of the country remains ineffective to respond to COVID 19 at the moment. Unfortunately, the Government has not been able to manage vaccines for all. In this crisis, three-tier Governments, political parties, and entire state mechanisms must focus their actions towards health security of the people, protect their lives from infection, and assure the relief support for the survival of deprived populations. In this circumstance, we are deeply concerned about the dissolution of the House of Representative decided by the President upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Instead of giving attention on treatment of patients, effective control of the COVID 19, and emerging social and economic problems, the Federal Government has been involved in unconstitutional and undemocratic moves. As one of the key partners of the democratic movement, we have been closely observing the moves of the Government and political parties. It is our conclusion that recent moves of the Federal Government have posed threats to the Constitution and the historical achievements gained through the sacrifice of the peoples and people's movements, including democratic polity, republic state, federalism, secularism, fundamental rights and inclusion. We condemn the repeated actions of the government that encroaches the Constitution. In addition, the recent moves of the President are explicitly a violation of the Constitution and against the aspiration of the people and the verdict of the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court dated on February 23, 2021. Furthermore, it is against the spirit of popular democratic norms and values. The Prime Minister appointed as per the Article 76 (3) is mandated to face the Vote of Confidence of the House of Representative within 30 days of the appointment. The direct invocation of article 76 (5), skipping article 76 (4), is indeed unconstitutional. It is our conclusion that the decision of the President's Office for the dissolution of the House of Representative on the basis of self-presumption, while its members of the Opposition Parties were claiming to form the new government, is absolutely undemocratic and unconstitutional. We call on political parties, members of parliament, civil society, professionals, constitutional experts, lawyers, health professionals, academicians, media and other concerned groups to jointly protest against the undemocratic and unconstitutional move of the Prime Minister and the President. The joint efforts against the Government's move are essential to protect the democratic values, including constitutional supremacy, rule of law, freedom of expression, right to information, and civil and political rights at this juncture. During this critical period of the health crisis, we urge the Government to manage vaccines as soon as possible, provide free treatment service to all COVID 19 patients, and protect the lives of poor, marginalized and of those living in vulnerable conditions. Finally, we urge the Supreme Court to take optimum efforts to safeguard the Constitution, prevail the rule of law, and guarantee constitutional supremacy in the country. Signatories Kapil Shrestha, Senior Human Rights Activist Charan Prasai, Accountability Watch Committee Bipul Pokharel, Federation of Nepalese Journalists Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, INHURED International Sushila Shrestha, Beyond Beijing Committee Taranath Dahal, Freedom Forum Shantalal Mulmi, Senior Social Worker Bhawani Kharel, National Human Rights Foundation Shovakar Budhathoki, Human Rights Activist Kedar Khadka, GOGO Foundation Shanta Laxmi Shrestha, Women Rights Activist Pradip Pokharel, General Election Observation Committee Surya Bahadur Thapa, Disaster Management National Network Basudev Neupane, NGO Federation of Nepal (Former President) & Samuhik Abhiyan Nepal Indra Prasad Aryal, Human Rights for Justice Baburam Giri, Civil Rights Association of Nepal Ganesh BK, Rastriya Dalit Network Naren Khatiwada, Youth Advocacy Nepal Ganesh Kumar Mandal, Madeshi Civil Society Rajendra Aryal, Federation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Users Nepal Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, CAHURAST Nepal Bhakta Bishwokarma, Dalit NGOs Federation Subash Khatiwada, Community Radio Activist Anjana Shakya, Women Rights Activist Saru Joshi, Women Rights Activist Narendra Joshi, SAP Nepal Prof. Dr. Kesab Raj Khadka, Right to Food National Network Dr. Binjwala Shrestha, Public Health Expert Rajan Kuikel, Human Rights Activist and Journalist Dr. Prakash Bhattarai, Civil Rights Activist Shambhu Prasad Dulal, National Federation of Irrigation Water User's Association Nepal Dr. Chiranjivi Bhattarai, Nepal Human Rights Organization Kunda Sharma, Women for Human Rights Birkha Bahadur Shahi, Natural Resource Rights Activist Suni Lama, National Indigenous Nationalities Women Forum Krishna Gautam, Human Rights Activist Sudarson Subedi, Disability Right Activist Devika Timilsina, INHIRICON Nepal Mr. Hukum Pokharel, CAHURAST Nepal Tanka Aryal, Human Rights Activist Min Basnet, Social Activist Daya Sagar Shrestha, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Bhola Bhattarai, Civil Rights Activist Pinky Gurung, Blue Diamond Society Tara Bhandari, Samudayik Sarathi Roshana Khadka, COCAP Nepal and Support Nepal Dillu Prasad Ghimire, Nepal Climate Change Federation Dr. Sundar Thapa, Freedom for All Baidhyanath Chaudhari, Ratyuli Youth Club, Mahottari Tulashi Devkota, National Forum for Advocacy Nepal Sitaram Ghale Pariyar, Global Alliance Against Untouchability Ram Rohan Pant, Global Peace Foundation Prakash Nath Yogi, National Association of PLHA in Nepal Karna Nepal, Human Rights Activist Khagendra Oli, Human Rights Activist Dipak Soni, Grassroots Development Foundation Sujan Ghale, Human Rights Activist Manisha Dhakal, Gender and Sexual Minorities Federation Nepal Mahendra Yadav, Nepal Trade Union Congress Bina Silwal, Kopila Nepal Ram Prasad Chaudhari, Partnership Forestry Federation Nepal Abhaya Joshi, SCOPE Nepal Mahendra Laxmi Sharma, Freelancer Ishwori BK, Dalit Welfare Organization Pratima Gurung, National Indigenous Nationalities Disable Women Association Nepal Trilok Chand Biswash, Nepal Rastriya Dalit Society Welfare Association Bishnu Pokharel, JURI Nepal Laxmi Gurung, Indigenous Women Group Nepal Sanju Singh Biswokarma, Dalit Welfare Organization Nepal Buddhasaran Lama, Yuba Sewa Samaj Makawanpur Anish Shrestha, Youth For Environment Education and Development Sundar Bahadur Seni, International Law and Public Policy Society Ganesh Dhami, Human Rights Activist Diwakar Upreti, Youth Rights Activist Dharma Raj Joshi, Land Governance Working Group Binaya Kaki, Human Rights Activist Mahendra Thapa, Human Rights Activist Indra Bhattarai, Afanta Nepal Rana Bahadur Karki, Garib Tatha Dalit Uthhan Sewa Samiti Dolpa Urmila Bishwokarma, Mahila Sashaktikaran Kendra, Dolpa Sanjog Thakur, Hami Dajubhai Aaj Bahadur Shahi, Social Activist Bikash GC, Youth Human Rights Activist Manoj Gyawali, Youth Human Rights Activist Chandra Prasad Thani, Forest and Environment Workers Association Nepal Laxmi Rai, Social Activist Ansu Gurung, Social Activist Urmila Shrestha, TEWA Nepal Dipesh Ghimire, Social Activist Pariwartan Koirala, Social Activist Tom Prasad Sapkota, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Prem Bahadur Shahi, Samudayik Bikash Kendra, Mugu Balmaya Bisworkarma, Juri Nepal Rita Manandhar, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Tak Bahadur Tamang, Network for Development of Indigenous Nationalities Sabitri Khadka, Social Activist Bimala Sapkota, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Birandra Ray, Social Activist Keshav Prasad Sapota, Bijay Development and Resource Centre, Gaindakot Trilochan Sapkota, Bijay Development and Resource Centre, Gaindakot Suman Khadka, Yuba Abhiyan Nepal Urmila Singkhada, Freelancer Rajan Bishwkarma, Nepal Dalit Mahila Uthhan Kendra, Kathmandu Ishowr Raj Pant, Human Rights Activist Satish Mainali, Social Activist Devu Parajuli, Social Activist Saroj Dillu Bishwkarma, Social Activist Gokul Sapkota, Social Activist Naresh Kumar Shrestha, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Goma Paudel, Social Activist Laxmi Chaudhari, Social Activist Pushtak Chand, Gramin Yuba Sarokar Kenda, Rukum West Keshav Badi (Nepali), Human Rights Activist Mukunda Neupane, Social Activist Nanda Bastola, Social Activist Nitra Bahadur Deuja, Social Activist Pampha Purkoti, Social Activist Prakash Wagle, Social Activist Pratima Rana Magar, Social Activist Rana Thebe, Social Activist Roshan Chikanbajar, NAFAN Nepal Sabu Poudel, Social Abhiyanta Santosh Rana, Social Activist Harka Bahadur Oli, Social Activist, Bajura Seteman Tamang, Social Activist Uma Thapaliya, National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal Bishnu Kunwar, Social Activist Satish Raj, Social Activist Bharat Bhatta, Social Activist
