मैले एमालेबाट किन विद्रोह गरें?

मैले एमालेबाट किन विद्रोह गरें?

-नहेन्द्र खड्का

नेपाली जनताको अत्यन्तै लामो र कठिन संघर्षको प्रतिफल स्वरूप हाम्रो देशमा संघिय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्रको स्थापना भयको छ. श्रमजीवी नेपाली किसानहरु, मजदूरहरु, विद्धार्थी, महिला, युवा, आदिवाशी, जनजाती, दलित, उत्पीडित, पेशाकर्मी, संचारकर्मी र नागरिक समाज आदिको संयुक्त पहलकदमीमा १० वर्षे महान जनयुद्ध र त्यसको पृष्ठभूमिमा भयको १९ दिने संयुक्त जनआन्दोलनको मध्यम द्वारा नेपाल गणतन्त्र को नयाँ युगमा प्रवेश गर्न सफल भयको हो. जब गाउँ गाउँबाट जनता हलो-जुवा, कुटो, कोदालो, हँसिया-नाम्लो बोकेर सदरमुकामका सडकमा उत्रिए, निरंकुश सामन्ती राजतन्त्रले जनताको अगाडि घुँडा टेक्यो र आत्मसमर्पण गर्न बाध्य भयो.

परिणामतः नेपाली जनतालाई २४० वर्षदेखि अनवरत रूपमा शोषण र दमन गर्ने, नेपालको सामन्तवादलाई संरक्षण गर्ने र त्यसको नाइकेको भूमिका खेल्दै आएको शाहवंशीय राजतन्त्रको अन्त्य भयो. तर अझै पनि नेपालबाट सामन्तवादको अन्त्य भएको छैन. दलाल र नोकरशाह पुँजीवाद समाप्त भएको छैन. नेपाल औपनिवेशिक हस्तक्षेपबाट मुक्त भएको छैन. त्यसकोलागि हामीले जनवादी क्रान्ति सम्पन्न गर्नु पर्ने कार्यभार बाँकी नै छ.

हाम्रो देश नेपाल अहिले पनि अर्धसामन्ती र अर्धऔपनिवेशिक अवस्थामा छ. नेपाली जनता सामन्तवाद र दलाल नोकरशाही पुँजीवादको शोषण मुनि पिल्सिई रहेका छन्. आज पनि करीब ५५ लाख भन्दा धेरै जनता भूमिहीन किसान छन्. ७० लाख जनता निरपेक्ष गरीबीको रेखामुनी छन्. उनीहरुसंग बिहान बेलुकीको छाक टार्ने समस्या छ. सामन्ती उत्पादन सम्बन्धको अन्त्य भएको छैन.

वास्तविक किसानहरु जमिनका मालिक बन्न सकेका छैनन्. वास्तबिक उत्पादकहरू उत्पादनका साधनका मालिक बनेका छैनन्. देशको कूल ६५.७ प्रतिशत हिस्सा ओगट्ने किसानहरुको अत्यन्तै दयनीय अवस्था छ. महिलाहरु माथि हिंशा र सामाजिक भेदभाव छ. उत्पिडितहरु माथि गरिने जातीय छुवाछुत र भेदभाव कायमै छ. मजदूरहरुले उचित काम र सो अनुसारको ज्याला पाई रहेका छैनन्. बिरामी भए उपचार गर्न सहज छैन. निजीकरणको कारणले गर्दा स्वास्थ्य सेवा आम नेपाली जनताको पहुँच बाहिर पुगेको छ. न्याय प्रणाली त्यस्तै छ. शिक्षा अत्यन्तै महँगो भएको छ. साधारण मानिसहरुले आफ्ना छोरा छोरीहरुलाई सहजै शिक्षित दीक्षित गर्न सक्ने अवस्था छैन. शिक्षामा वर्गीय विभेद छ. व्यावसायिक र वैज्ञानिक शिक्षा छैन. युवाहरुले रोजगारी पाई रहेका छैनन्. जसले गर्दा उर्जाशील युवाहरु विदेशिन बाध्य छन्. समग्रतामा नेपाली जनता थुप्रै समस्याको जाँतो मूनी पिसिई रहेका छन्.

हामी गरीब, सर्बहारा, श्रमजीवी, किसान, मजदूर, युवा, विद्धार्थी, पेशाकर्मी सहित तमाम मेहनतकश जनतालाई संगठित गर्दै नेपालबाट संधै संधै को लागि शोसन, दमन, उत्पीडन, अन्याय, अत्याचारको अन्त्य गर्दै न्याय, समानता र स्वतन्त्रता युक्त नयाँ समाजको स्थापना गर्नको लागि कम्युनिस्ट भएका हौँ. नेपालको सन्दर्भमा जननेता कमरेड पुष्पलाल र मदन भण्डारीको कौशल नेतृत्व र मार्क्सवाद – लेनिनवाद को मार्गदर्शनमा नेपाली किसान, मजदूर र सर्बहारा वर्गको नेतृत्व गर्दै सामन्तवाद र दलाल ननोकरशाही पुन्जीवाद्लाई उन्मूलन तथा साम्राज्यवादलाई परास्त गर्दै जनवादी क्रान्ति सम्पन्न गरी जनवादी व्यबस्था स्थापना गर्ने तत्पश्चात्: समाजवाद र साम्यवादको महान अग्रगामी दिशामा अघि बढ्ने मूल लक्ष्य लिएर हामि नेकपा एमाले मा संगठित भएका थियौं.

हामीले जस्तै तमाम नपाई जनताले पनि नेकपा एमाले लाइ एक अग्रगामी, प्रगतिशील, देशभक्त र क्रान्तिकारी कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी को रूपमा चाहेका थिए. नेपालका सर्वहारा श्रमजीवी वर्गको पक्षमा वर्गीय पक्षधरता लिने पार्टीको रूपमा नेपाली जनाताले एमालेको पक्षधरता लिएका थिए. एमाले लाई समर्थन गरेका थिए. नेपाली जनताले कसैका गोठाला र खेताला भएको हुनाले एमाले भएका थिएनन्. हामी पनि कसैका भरिया बन्नलाई, गोठाला, खेताला र दास हुनको लागि एमाले भएका थिएनौं. न त केही सीमित नेताहरुले गर्ने गरेको राष्ट्रघात, नदीनाला बेचबिखन, जनघात र प्रतिक्रान्तिको सेवामा साक्षी बस्न नै एमाले भएका थियौं.

मार्क्सवाद – लेनिनवाद संसारका सर्वहारा श्रमजीवी वर्गको पथपर्दशक सिद्धान्त हो. यो वर्गाशंघर्ष र वर्गीय पक्षधरतामा आधारित वर्गीय दर्शन हो. यसैको मार्ग दर्शनमा नेपाली मौलिकता सहितको जनवादी व्यवस्था स्थापना गरी सो मार्फत समस्त नेपाली जनतालाई शोषण, दमन, अन्याय र अत्याचारबाट मुक्त गराउने उद्देश्य बोकेको ठानेर आम जनाता एमालेको झण्डा मूनी गोलबन्द भएका थिए.

एमालेले सडक, सदन र सरकार लाई वर्ग संघर्ष को सशक्त मोर्चा को रूपमा उपयोग गर्दै तिनलाई आमूल परिवर्तन को पक्षमा शक्ति संचय गराउने साधनको रूपमा प्रयोग गरोस भन्ने जनताको चाहना थियो. नेकपा एमाले लाई नेपालको जनवादी क्रान्तिको नायक बनोस भन्ने चाहेका थिए. शोषित पीडित जनताको मुक्तिदाता बनोस भन्ने चाहेका थिए. यही नै जनताको इच्छा थियो.

तर नेकपा एमालेका नेताहरुले भने जनताको चाहनामाथि पानी फेर्दै अहिले वर्ग संघर्ष, वर्गीय पक्षधरता, सर्वहारा वर्गको अधिनायकत्व जस्ता सैद्धान्तिक बिचार, जनवादी क्रान्तिको कार्यक्रम र कार्यदिशा पूर्ण रूपमा परित्याग गरेका छन्. पछिल्लो समयकालमा, विशेष गरी क. मदन भण्डारीको मृत्यु पछि, नेकपा एमाले रातो झण्डा बोकेको शिद्धन्तहीन, विचारहीन, एजेण्डा बिहीन, गन्तव्य बिहीन, यथास्थितिवादी र निम्न पूँजीवादी ढुलमूले बुर्जुवा पार्टीमा परिणत भएको छ. यथार्थमा एमाले भाइ कांग्रेसमा रूपान्तरण भएको छ.

वर्ग संघर्ष र वर्गीय पक्षधरता त्यागेकोले यो पार्टी अहिले हँसिया हथौडा बोकेको आर्को नेपाली कांग्रेस पार्टीमा परिवर्तन भएको छ. आज एमाले सुकुम्वासी माथि गोली हान्ने, भूमिसुधार आयोग बिघटन गर्ने, युवा स्वरोजगार कार्यक्रम असफल पार्ने, शान्ति प्रक्रियालाई बिथोल्न खोज्ने, युद्ध चाहने, जनताको शान्तिपूर्ण आन्दोलनमा सेना परिचालन गर्ने, राष्ट्रघात गर्ने, भ्रष्टाचार गर्ने र धान कमाउने पार्टीमा परिणत भएको छ. यी सबै काम उनले शान्ति प्रक्रिया र संविधान सभाको निर्वाचन पछि समेत गर्दै आएको छ. सर्वहारा श्रमजीवी वर्गको अग्र दस्ता बन्नु पर्ने एमाले अहिले गैरसरकारी संस्था हरु र तिनका दलालहरुको अखडामा परिणत भएको छ. एमाले अहिले जनताका एजेण्डा भन्दा ज्यादा गैर सरकारी संस्थाहरुको र तिनीहरु मार्फत दार्ती निकायका एजेण्डा बोक्ने पार्टीमा परिणत भएको छ. जनतामा आधारित भएर उनीहरुका तात्कालिक र दीर्घकालिन् समस्याहरुलाई उजागर गर्दै तिनको समाधानार्थ संघर्ष गर्नुपर्ने पार्टीलाई त्यसका पदलोलुप नेताहरुले संघर्ष कुन चराको नाम हो पत्तो नभएको पार्टीमा बदलेका छन्. कोशी, गण्डक र टनकपुर सम्झौताको विरोध गर्ने एमाले महाकाली सन्धिमा पचेको छ. राजालाई ''श्रीपेच फुकालेर चुनाब लड्न आऊ '' भन्ने मदन भण्डारी को एमाले आज राजाको पाऊमा दाम राखेर ढोग्ने र संविधान मिचेर सक्रिय रहेको निरंकुश राजा समक्ष '' प्रभु, प्रधानमन्त्री बनाईदेऊ'' भनेर बिन्तीपत्र लेख्ने पार्टीमा रूपान्तरण भएको छ. बाम एकताको बिरुद्ध उत्रेको छ. युद्ध मोही, आत्मसमर्पणवादी र वर्ग समन्वयवादी मेन्सेविक लाइनमा पतन भएको छ. एमालेले संविधानमा 'जनताको' शव्द राख्न समेत मानेको छैन, जनगणतंत्र र जनपक्षीय संविधानको विरोध गर्दैछ.

जनगणतंत्रको विरोध गर्ने एमालेको जनताको बहुदलीय जनवाद के जन बिरोधि गण तन्त्र हो? के एमाले जन बिरोधी संविधान निर्माण गर्न चाहन्छ. के हामी त्यसैको लागि एमाले भएको हो? होइन भने यो नौटंकी किन? जनतालाई सोधौँ त एमाले नेताहरु माधब नेपाल, केपि ओली, विद्द्या भण्डारी, झलनाथ खनाल, शंकर पोख्रेल, प्रदीप ज्ञवाली आदि र नेपाली कांग्रेसका नेताहरुमा के भिन्नता छ? जनतालाई हात्ती र हात्ती छाप चप्पल उस्तै उस्तै लाग्न थालेको छ. कांग्रेसहरु खुलेआम भन्न थालेका छन् : हामी र एमालेमा केही अन्तर छैन. कैयौं एमाले नेताहरु पनि बाम एकता भन्दा कांग्रेस संगको एकतालाई प्राथमिकतामा राखेर हेर्न थालेका छन्. आफ्नै अध्यक्ष झलनाथ खनाललाई प्राधानमन्त्री बन्न नदिन कस्सिएर लागेका त्यस्ता नेताहरु कांग्रेस नेता रामचन्द्र पौडेललाई भोट हाल्नुपर्छ भनेर खुलेआम उत्रनु भन्दा लाजमर्दो कुरा अरु केही हुन सक्छ? कैयौं मुद्दाहरुमा एमालेका खुंखार नेताहरुले भन्दा कांग्रेसका प्रदीप गिरी, नरहरि आचार्य र गगन थापा जस्ता नेताहरुले बाम पक्षधरता देखाएको कुरा प्रष्टै देखिएको छ.

पछिल्लो चरणमा हामीले बाम एकताको पक्षमा जनमत सृजना गर्ने र नेपालका दुई ठूला कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी हरुलाई एकीकरण गर्ने प्रयत्नमा कम्मर कसेर लाग्यौं. एकीकरण पश्चात यी दुइ पार्टीहरु आकारमा मात्र नभएर शुद्धिकरण मार्फत गुणात्मक ढंगले समेत सुदृढ गर्न सकिन्थ्यो. त्यसो गर्दा बामपन्थी सरकार बनाउँ, सेना समायोजन गर्न, दिगो शान्ति कायम गर्न, जनपक्षीय संविधान लेख्न र शान्तिपूर्ण तरीकाले जनवादी क्रान्ति को बाटोमा अग्रसर बन्न सकिन्थ्यो. आउँदो चुनावमा ९० प्रतिशत भन्दा बढी सीट जित्न सकिन्थ्यो. यो राष्ट्रलाई स्वाधीन र सम्पन्न बनाउँ सकिन्थ्यो. तर भारतीय विस्तारवाद र अमेरिकी साम्राज्यवादको काट्टो खान पल्केका एमाले भित्रका घुसखोर, नवसामन्त, नवधनाढ्य र विदेशी का दलाल हरुलाई त्यो कुरा सह्य भएन. उनिहरु एमाले र माओवादी एकता र सहकार्य हुन् नदिन जमेर लागे. उनिहरुले प्रतिक्रान्तिको किल्ला समाते.

त्यसपछि मलाई अनुभूति भयो की नेकपा एमाले ले बाम पक्षधरता त्याग्यो. यसले नेपालमा जनवादी क्रान्ति गर्दैन, त्यसको नेतृत्व गर्न सक्दैन. यो अब कम्युनिष्ट पार्टी रहेन. त्यसैले मैले नेकपा एमाले बाट विद्रोह गरी एकिकृत नेकपा माओवादीमा समाहित हुने र यसलाई नेपाली क्रान्तिको अग्रदस्ताको रूपमा स्थापित गर्न आफ्नो क्षमताले भ्याएसम्म सक्दो योगदान गर्ने निर्णय गरें.

मलाई लाग्छ अब एमाले भित्रका सबै क्रान्तिकारी हरुले सोच्ने बेला आएको छ. के तपाईंहरुले एमालेलाई अर्को कांग्रेसको रूपमा चाहेको हो? के तपाईंहरु बाम एकता बिरोधि हो ? के तपाईंहरु जनवादी क्रान्ति विरोधी हो? त्यसो भने त सिंगो एमाले पार्टी लाई नै हँसिया हथौडा बोकेको आर्को नेपाली कांग्रेस बनाउँ भन्दा त नेपाली कांग्रेसलाई झण्डा फेर्न लगाएर हँसिया हथौडा भएको झण्डा राख्न सल्लाह दिए पुग्थ्यो नि त? कम्युनिष्ट भएको, गरीव निमुखा हरु र सर्वहारा श्रमजीवी वर्गको पक्षमा रानीति गरेको नाटक मंचन गरिरहनु पर्ने आवश्यकता नै पर्ने थिएन. होइन र?

Food Sovereingty

Food Sovereignty

Food is essential to life. Food provides the basic sustenance for the physical survival and nutrition for healthy human existence, food is also a key element of people's culture. The world now produces enough food to feed everyone, yet millions of people, including 6 million children under the age of 5, die each year as a result of hunger.

Every human being has a fundamental, inalienable right to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. The right to food is the extension of the basic human right to life.

For nations and countries, a rights-based policy to ensure community and peoples control over food systems is the only solution in assuring in assuring right to food, especially the poor and marginalized. Food sovereignty is the right of peoples, communities and countries to determine their own production systems related to agricultural labour, fishing, food, land, and associated policies which are ecologically, socially, economically and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances.

People's food sovereignty is the power of people and their communities to assert and realize the right to food and produce food, and fight the power of corporations and other forces, through trade, investment and other means, that destroy the food production systems and deny them food and life. Nations and states must exercise food sovereignty to protect, promote and develop the people's food sovereignty form which it draws power.

Political Crisis in Nepal

Nepal is in political disarray at present. After the abolition of monarchy, Nepal is on the way to draft the constitution to suit New Republic via duly elected constitutional assembly, nearly two years back. The deadline of finalization of the new constitution is May 28, but the present status regarding constitutional framework is still at its early beginning. The political scenario of Nepal gives the impression that it is impossible to get drafted within the given timeframe. What happens when there is absence of constitution in this country? We cannot even dream of the awful situation. If the political parties do have strong commitments, they can amend the interim constitution and extend time limit up to six months to facilitate the ongoing drafting process to final completion. But for this to happen, a national consensus is required and there is less possibility of political consensus as the ruling coalition and the opposition parties are in constant scuffle often leading to street fighting and teargas shelling and firing.

In parliamentary democracy, usually the largest political party having peoples mandate is not in opposition. But in Nepal the other parties are united for the coalition government isolating the largest party, the UCPN (Maoist) which was in armed insurgency for a decade but turned into peace process after the people's movement II, 2005. Since the national consensus (two third majorities) is necessary to pass any bill of the constitution, unless the political consensus is there as also designed in the comprehensive peace accord and the interim constitution of Nepal, drafting of constitution is not possible. This is the root cause of political turmoil in the country.

The Maoist lunched indefinite strike from May 2, 2010 demanding timely draft of constitution, logical conclusion of peace process and other demands. As the present Govt, according to them, stands barrier to this national peace process, they also demanded resignation by Prime Minister. Though present Prime Minister is the senior leader of CPN (UML), the Maoist blamed him as the puppet of the reactionaries and his govt. holds the support of expansionist neo-liberalist forces who like to undermine the peoples' power and achievements of peoples movement. Actually Maoist came into streets and called for general strike. All shops, factories, schools, campuses and government offices all over the country remained closed during the general strike. No vehicles were allowed to run along the streets and highways. Literally, hundreds of thousands of cadres and supporters of Maoist party, mostly the rural peasants and urban workers, came to the streets of the capital and district headquarters and city centers with flags and banners which put the country in virtual standstill.

Up to the fourth day, the strike was peaceful. But then the ruling parties used their youths and sister organizations to counteract the protest, the demonstration became a bit violent. The police had to recourse to battoning, use tear gas shells and also sporadic firing over the protesters injuring many and killing some. The situation developed automatically very serious both on Maoist cadres getting more excited and prolonged disturbance on peoples' daily life which invited flow of requests to restore peace from various sector including civil society and diplomats. Although Maoists had declared indefinite strike, they withdrew the strike on the 6th day. This withdrawal received wide acclaim from every sector because it saved the further loss of life and property and eased peoples' daily life. Later, it was disclosed that there was tacit understanding in high diplomatic arena to have peaceful but radical change over the present impasse. The Premier had publicly committed that if the Maoists withdrew the strike, he would resign to give a way to the peace process. But now he is retreating back and not willing to give up the power. He, as Prime Minister, has delivered a written call to Maoist for meeting and dialogue reaching mutual solutions. But the Maoists have turned down his request outright as resignation of PM being their precondition for any talk with Govt.

Both the Maoists and ruling coalitions are demanding national consensus, the status quo stalemate remains untouched thereby forcing standstill on all fronts of national issues. One thing is clear that the government headed by Mr. Madhab Kumar Nepal failed to bring all parties together and reach a national consensus acceptable to all political stakeholders. Now every section of society, the business men, intellectuals and even the ambassadors of various countries are requesting Prime Minister to forge a way to peaceful solution. Alas! There is no readymade answer.

Comment about the Anti-GMO

Dear Anonymous,

Green Greetings.

Thank you very much for your comment. At least I must dare to salute your caurage to comment like 'anti-GMO hysteria', though it sounds rude and nonesense at the same time. Anyway.The main ambition behind the creation of GMO is not to feed you or the hunger people around the world. Its main goal is to create wealth plyaing with the genes. The manipulation of gene is not done for the betterment of nature, human beings or the crop itself as its said. It's done to get more money out of it.Our natural rice varieties are so good that we don't need any cold or drought tolerant rice varieties. Do you know about Chhomrong local or Ghaiya2 rice variety in Nepal. They are completely drought tolerant. Do you know about Jumli Marshi, its the rice that is cultivated in the highest altitude of the earth, in Nepal. Without any genetic modification.

Just think, GE advocates are saying that they are creating Golden Rice for Vitamin A. But do you know, Vitamin A deficiency is there, where people can afford for Golden rice. No. Its there, where people can't afford for the local rice alone. Even for the non patented local rice, more strictly. And what's about other vitamins and minerals we need. Do you think human beings need only vitamin A, nothing else. No. We need lots of vitamins and minerals. If poor people could afford for the golden rice, even then, they have to go to the medical stores for buying capsules for calcium, iron, phosphorus, iodine, vitamins B1,B2,B6, B12 etc, C, D, E and so on. Then how many genetic engineering those greedy (who exploit nature for money) scientists will do? Its not a joke.

Secondly, the process of genetic engineering in not a sure and secure technique. I don't know which field you belong to. But as a student of biotechnology in my college days I knew this. And I am still updated about the detail process of genetic transformation and the techniques developed so far today. None of the techniques are safe and secure. Whether they are micro-injection, gene gun, vector mediated or any other methods you apply for. You can't predict the insertion of the gene exactly. It works as per the function of enzymes and the paliandromes formed there of.

In the third point, whats about the local varieties and biodiversity. The advocates of GM are taking money from multinationals and advocating for them. Do you belive patenting a plant, a crop or an animal? Popeple and farmers in the earth have developed, preserved and conserved these crops, animals, and the nature for the centuries. And how one can dare to claim for a patent by manipulating a gene in it? How can he patent a plant, a crop or any organism? Whats about the horizontal gene transfer ? Whats about the health impact as a result of GE. Thousand of workers in the GE corn fields in philipines, USA and Canada are dying due to pollen allergies of Bt Corn. What's about the flocks of sheeps dying by grazing in the Bt cotton fild in India ?What's about the Bees clolony collapse syndrome in Honey bees? What's about the Monarch moth? Whats about the resistance in the insects? What about the super bugs and super weeds? Are these all some minimal subjects? No. Not at all.

And do you belive genes or organisms are patentable? Are those the invention of any 'fool' scientist who does not feel any shy or shame to claim the patent. People may find genes. They may determine the sequence of the genes. But they can't create it. Can they? No. Its the nature that creates gene. They are from the nature, and they are in the nature. In GE what a GE worker does is to copy a gene from one organism and to insert it into naother. No body can create gene. No body can create an organism. They can only manipulate them. So how can they patent them. These are the properties of the nature alone. Not of a single human being.

So the economic and the political interest behind the GE is very dangerous. Generally people with a little knowledge about biotechnology think that they are the experts in Biotechnology and they advocate without thinking what they are advocating for. Creation of the GE is useless. Anti natural. Anti human being. Its done for the exploitation of th people at all.

So we say,

La viva Biodiversity,

La viva Food Sovereighnty,

No to GE!

No To GMOs!

Hoping for your regular comments.

Nahendra Khadka,

Chairperson,

Youth Peasants' Federation, Nepal

NO To GE For Food Sovereignty

What's wrong with genetic engineering (GE)?

Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occurnaturally. These genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non 'GE' environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way. Their release is 'genetic pollution' and is a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment. Because of commercial interests, the public is being denied theright to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries. Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival. Governments are attempting to address the threat of GE with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.

We believe:

• GMOs should not be released into the environment since there is not an adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment and human health.
• We advocate immediate interim measures such as labelling of GE ingredients, and the segregation of genetically engineered crops and seeds from conventional ones.
• We also oppose all patents on plants, animals and humans, as well as patents on their genes. Life is not an industrial commodity. When we force life forms and our world's food supply to conform to human economic models rather than their natural ones, we do so at our own peril.
  

Find out more:

- Go to the Food section to find out about: labelling legislation for GE products inyour country, how GE crops are used in animal feed and the corporate giants who are trying to control what you eat.

- Go to the Feeding the world - facts versus fiction section: to find out the truth about world hunger and why GE crops will not help.

- Go to the GE agriculture and genetic pollution section to find out about: the dangers of GE agriculture, which crops are currently being developed, genetic pollution and the dangers of patenting life.

- Go to the Biosafety Protocol section to find out about this important legislation that regulates the transboundary movements of GE and who is for and against it.

- Go to the Failings of GE section to find out about how the biotech industry is basing its products on crude and old-fashioned science.

Say NO TO Genetic Engineering.
SAY NO to Patent in Life Forms.
Say NO to GM Crops and GM Foods.
Declare South Asia, A GM Free Zone.
Live Long Food Sovereignty.
Live Long Peasants' Unity.

Interaction Programme on Rice

All Nepal Peasants Federation Hold Interaction Programme on GE rice
15th and 16h August, 2009
Kathmandu, Nepal

ANPFa is launching different types of activities regarding the issue of rice. According to PANAP call 2009-10 as year of rice action, ANPFa is engaged with series of programmes like peasants school on YORA, interaction programme with farmers on the spot during plantation, weeding and harvesting time. The concept of BEA is increasing spontaneously in Nepal. By its pressure, lobbying and Advocacy, government was compelled to declare subside for organic farmers. In the continuous YORA programme, ANPFa organized two days interaction programme on the 15th and 16th of August, 2009 on rice cultivation. 50 participants from Nepal took part in the discussion programme including National committee members of different peasant organizations, Peasants from different castes, ethnic groups, and religions; women; dalit; indigenous people; and other minorities including the disabled and people from remote areas, Representatives of non-governmental organizations, scientists and researchers, Youth Peasants and Media with Specific objectives to share information with rice farmers on genetically engineered rice, discussing the impact of rice farming on the Nepalese economy, promoting the System of Rice Intensification rice cultivation method and establishing linkages and networks between like-minded organizations and people working to protect rice culture and diversity.
In the programme various distinguished persons presented on topics related to rice production in Nepal.
Dr. Nanda Bahadur Singh presented under heading Genetic Engineering and Recombinant DNA Technology. Under this topic he presented, What is genetic engineering? What are its uses? And also provided Thumbnail Sketch: Historical Gleanings of Genetic Engineering.
Mr. Keshav Lal Shrestha, Deputy President of ANPFa offered his paper on the topic Organic Farming in Nepal: Prospects and Challenges. In this paper he specially presented prospects and challenges of Organic rice production in Nepal.

Mr. Hari Parajuli, Secretary of ANPFa presented the paper on Genetically Engineered rice. During his presentation he provided various points for which we should say “No” to GE rice. According to him Bio-tech companies argue that their patented rice is needed to feed the world because of the gap between food production and human population. This argument is not acceptable and said that real cause of hunger and malnutrition is poverty and lack of access to food, which GE could not address. It is also noteworthy that 78 percent of all malnourished children in the developing world are live in countries with food surpluses. Similarly he provided various Health and Nutritional, Technical and Environmental problems on the basis of which GE rice should be opposed.

Moreover, Mr. Nahendra Khadka, the Chairperson of Youth Peasants' Federation, Nepal talked about the System of Rice Intensification and; Mr. Balram Banskota, the Deputy General Secretary of ANPFa shared about the Save Our Rice Campaign - its issues and challenges. There were serious discussions and participants actively participated with genuine reasons and practical suggestions.

Rice In Nepal

A. Introduction:

Nepal is an agrarian country in which the livelihood of 65.7 percent of the total population is based on agriculture. Agriculture contributes about 40 percent of the gross domestic products (GDP) of the nation, hence, is the back bone of the Nepalese economy. This newly established republic consists of a vast range of geographical diversity along with one of the richest biodiversity of the planet. Nepal's geography consists of low tropical plains and central plateaus that rise up to the world’s highest peaks. That gives rise to the different ecological and climatic zones starting from Kechanakal, Jhapa - 60 masl to the famous Mount Everest - 8,848 masl.

B. Rice in Nepal:

Nepal is a small country with only 14.7 million hectares total land area of which 3.1 million Ha is arable and cultivated; and 1.03 million Ha is arable but uncultivated. Among this, only 1.55 million hectares is under rice cultivation, from which 4.52 million metric ton rice grains were harvested with an average rice productivity 2.907 ton/Ha as of 2008/2009. For Nepalese people, rice is one of the most important principal crops and it is cultivated in 73 districts out of the total 75, leaving Mustang and Manang. Even in Mustang, nowadays, some experts are trying to cultivate rice is some glass houses in Marpha, the district headquarter. Rice is planted in irrigated, rainfed, and upland ecosystem. Among the rice cultivated area of Nepal, 70.13 percent is from Terai, 25.54 percent from mid-hill, and 4.33 percent from high-hill area.

Rice is the main cereal crop and the staple food for this agrarian country, accounting for almost 50% of the total food production prevailing since millennia. It's not just a grain for the poor Nepalese farmers; it provides straw for thatching and mat-making, fodder for livestock, bran for poultry and fishponds, and husk for fuel. Hence, it's also the main source of 'hand to mouth' for a major portion of the countrymen. It is also an integral part of the native Nepalese culture. Asar 15 of each year according to the local calendar is declared and celebrated as the ''National Rice Day'' in the country. Here, rice is not only related to the food source but it's been connected to the real life, livelihood and the native culture. Hence, it is the life, culture and the dignity of the Nepalese people.