Dr. K.B. Rokaya, the General Secretary of NCCN, appointed as one of the commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission- the first appointment of a Nepali Christian leader in such a high constitutional position.
Dr. K. B. Rokaya was appointed as one of the commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission Nepal (NHRC). NHRC is the supreme rights body in Nepal and the constitution of Nepal recognizes the NHRC as constitutional body. The name of Dr. Rokaya including other three members- Mr. Gauri Pradhan, Dr. Lila Pathak, Ram Nagina Singh and Mr. Kedar Nath Upadhyaya as Chairman was recommended by the Constitutional Council headed by Prime Minister and were unanimously endorsed by the parliamentary public hearing committee meeting held on 12 September.
Following the endorsement from parliamentary hearing, Dr. Rokaya and other four members including chairman were officially appointed as the members of NHRC on 19 September 2007.
T
 |
|
Dr.K.B. Rokaya (2nd from right) during oath taking ceremony
|
he newly appointed chairman of the NHRC Mr. Kedar Nath Upadhyaya took charge after taking the oath of his office from officiating chief Justice Mr. Kedar Prasad Giri at Supreme Court on 19 September. On the same day Mr. Upadhyaya administered the oath of office to other members of the rights body, namely Dr. K.B. Rokaya, Ram Nagina Singh, Gauri Pradhan and Dr. Lila Pathak.
We, on behalf of Christian Community of Nepal, congratulate Dr. K.B. Rokaya for getting appointed in such a prestigious and challenging position of the NHRC and pray for the successful and effective completion of his term.
It is the first time that a Christian leader has been placed in such a high level constitutional position in Nepal. It is the result of hearing of our prayer by the Lord. It is also the recognition of the work of NCCN for peace, justice, human rights, democracy and religious freedom in Nepal.
On this happiest moment, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our international partners, co-workers, friends, well-wishers and members of NCCN for their continuous prayer and support to the work of NCCN.
After getting appointed as the member of NHRC, Dr. Rokaya has been invited as Chief Guest in different meetings.
On 23 September he was invited to inaugurate a two-day human rights exhibition in Nepalgunj. A numbers of national media highlighted the speech given by Dr. Rokaya inaugurating the exhibition. The below is the news coverage by a national dailly, The Himalayan Times, dated 24 September 2007.
A member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said that the international community does not regard human rights situation in Nepal as good. Inaugurating a two-day Wider Human Rights exhibition in Nepalgunj, Dr. K.B. Rokaya said. "It is the primary duty of the NHRC to improve the human rights situation in Nepal."
Though Nepalgunj is a sensitive place on religious and communal grounds, religious and communal harmony has been maintained due to restraints exercised by clerics, politicl parties, human right activists and journalists, Rokaya said. He said the NHRC will launch an investigation into complaints lodged in the NHRC on cases of disappearance. Right activists CP Singh and Sushil Lakhe, Muslim woman worker Sajida Siddiki also expressed views.
