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UPF-Toronto Welcomes Nepalese Delegation
Written by Qamrul Khanson, Recording Secretary, UPF-Toronto
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Toronto, Canada - Distinguished delegates from Nepal were featured guests of UPF at a meeting in Toronto on October 13, giving a briefing about the transition of this Himalayan nation from a monarchy to a democracy.
The delegation included:
- Hon. Ek Nath Dhakal - Minister of Co-operatives and Poverty Alleviation
- Mrs. Blessie Gadon Dhakal - President of WFWP Nepal and wife of Hon. Minister Dhakal
- Mr. Saroj Kumar Sharma - Co-chairman of National Cooperative Development Board of Nepal
- Mr. Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal - Joint Secretary of the Government of Nepal
- Mr. Santosh Kumar Paudel - Adviser to the Hon. Minister Ek Nath Dhakal (Secretary General of UPF-Nepal)
- Mr. Netra Prasad Neupane - Secretary the National Co-operative Development Board of Nepal
- Ms. Indira Pant - Journalist of Nepal Television
Auth. Qamrul Khanson welcomed the delegation and members of UPF team in the auditorium and introduced the delegation individually while three more members of the delegation joined later and were also duly introduced.
Rev. Mitch Dixon paid tribute to Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who passed away in Korea on September 3. He mentioned that Rev. Moon had a vision of the world as one based on the universal principle of unselfish service to others and a culture of God-centered families where people of all nations, cultures, races, and religions will rejoice together. He said, Up to 35,000 people gathered in Cheongpyeong, South Korea for his funeral.
Hon. Jean Augustine, the Fairness Commissioner in the government of Ontario, welcomed the Nepalese delegation with the warmth of protocol. She briefly mentioned her present assignment in the capacity of Fairness Commissioner to advocate for Canadians who have received professional credentials from foreign countries. The position was created by the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, which was passed by the provincial legislature in December 2006. Hon. Augustine had previously served as Liberal member of the Canadian House of Commons, a former member of Cabinet, and a former school principal. Hon. Augustine served as the Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Jean Chrétien from 1994 to 1996, and was the Minister of State for multiculturalism and the status of women until 2004.
Hon. Minister Ek Nath Dhakal greeted everyone in the audience in the name of peace. He mentioned that Rev. Moon’s association with the people of Nepal has produced great respect for his personality, efforts, work and his mission. Rev. Moon has left tremendous impact among the people in Nepal.
He mentioned that Nepal is a landlocked democratic country. Nepal is a diversified society where 92 languages are spoken; there are 118 ethnic groups, and they are learning to live in peace through the teachings of Rev. Moon in association with UPF. But peace came at a price; more than 15,000 people were killed and an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 people were internally displaced as a result of the conflict.
On November 22, 2005, a joint Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) - United People's Front conference in New Delhi issued a 12-point resolution stating that the autocratic monarchy was the main hurdle to democracy, peace, prosperity, social advancement. Their opposition to the monarchy included a nationwide storm of democratic protests.
On December 24, 2007 it was announced that the monarchy would be abolished in 2008 after elections of members of a Constituent Assembly, and on May 28, 2008, Nepal was declared a Federal Democratic Republic. The nation is the result of understanding between political parties and the last Monarch of Nepal King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.
Rev. Moon visited Nepal on November 22, 2005, when an estimated 4500 people attended UPF conference. Mrs. Hak Ja Han Moon visited Nepal in the year 2006 and honored then the Prime Minister of Nepal Girja Prasad Koriala with an Ambassador for Peace appointment. In 2008, Rev. Moon sent assistance to promote education in Nepal. Three UPF Ambassadors for Peace in Nepal made a journey to Mount Everest in 2009 to make a point for peace in Nepal. In the year 2011, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon visited Nepal and the Little Angels Korean Folk Ballet performances made an impact among the people of Nepal. A book written by Dr. Robert S. Kittel about UPF’s contribution to Nepal’s peace process was given to all members of the constitutional committee through Chairman Hon. Nilamber Acharya. In the year 2010, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon and Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Madhav Kumar of Nepal exchanged greetings during an Assembly of the Ambassadors for Peace.
Mrs. Lilly Tadin highlighted the role of the Women's Federation for World Peace in uplifting the status of women. Mrs. Dhakal briefly spoke about the work of the Women's Federation in Nepal.
Dr. Ki Hoon Kim presented an Ambassador for Peace certificate to Mr. Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary in the Gov. of Nepal with applause from the audience. Mr. Sudarshan also spoke and highlighted the importance of peaceful transition of power from monarchy to democracy in Nepal.
Dr. Hoossen Auckberaullee, UPF Co-chairman of the greater Toronto area honored the Minister with high appreciation. He spoke of a prominent Mauritius leader who came from Nepal and settled to serve his native country Mauritius.
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