My reflections on current affairs of the NRNA

Enepalese Published on: November 9, 2021

I am one of the original groups of about 200 members who met in Kathmandu and decided to establish Non-Resident Nepali Association in 2003 and drafted its bylaws.It was a time when the Mao led insurrection was at its peak and Nepal was increasingly becoming a very insecure place.As a result, many bright people and entrepreneurs were fleeing the country.We were very alarmed and decided that this was the time for us who had left the country for many different reasons of our own to show solidarity and support to the people of Nepali by showing in action that we are here to help them and willing to lend our hand to restore security and pave the way for prosperity.Our group consisted of eminent Nepali industrialists like Upendra Mahato,Jiba Lamichane, diplomats like Bheem Udas, scientists like Dr.Dhital and eminent legal scholar like Soorya Subedi, distinguished people like Ram Pratap Thapa and many other people who had distinguished themselves in their areas of expertise in countries of their residence. We were assisted a lot in this effort by the Federation of Nepali Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

After meeting leaders from different political parties,cabinet ministers and receiving their overwhelming support for our areas of concern including dual citizenship, investment rights, inheritance of paternal properties etc. and about a week of deliberations, we decided to form our own organization “Non-Resident Nepali Association” (NRNA) with its own by laws and headquarters in Nepal.At that time,we agreed for a bylaw which called for a centralized organization with its chapters in different countries.We had election right there and Country Chapters also elected its officers and its representatives to the International Coordination Council equivalent to the Executive Board.Upendra Mahato was elected as the Founding President and I from the US and my friend Mr. Shrestha from Qatar were elected as Founding Vice Presidents. Coincidentally,US had the largest delegation.

Now in its 18 years history,NRNA has expanded tremendously all across the world in more than 80 countries and represents more than 6 million Nepalis who have left Nepal and are working in different countries.It has played a very important role in relief operations at times of natural disaster; floods and earthquake. Similarly, it played an important role in getting vaccines and other supplies at times of Covid-19 epidemic.There has been significant development also in areas of investment; may be, not as much as was expected which has much more to do with instability in Nepali politics and rampant corruption. Its current membership is less than half a million and it’s a challenge to reach 10% of its potential member base.

In the last decade,political parties have become very active in infiltrating and taking control of NRNA and its different country chapters.This has been seen in elections at different levels with candidates openly declaring support of different political parties, charges of illegal practices,cheating and voting irregularities at a massive scale resulting in court battles in the US and other countries at different times.This has also recently resulted in squabble between the national chapters and the ICC with charges and counter charges flowing in every direction.This does not help in building confidence among its members.

Furthermore, NRNA is registered as an organization with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kathmandu under the Government of Nepal.This has resulted in different factions going to the Ministry of Foreign affairs requesting their interventions and resulting in cancellation of elections and its conventions and ICC elections. As a result,the national chapters had its own on-line meeting and requested the Council of Patrons to intervene and resolve the issue.

Here I don’t want to go into details of different accusations,counter accusations, who is right and who is wrong.This is a never-ending series and the losing party will always complain of unfairness and absence of impartiality by the people who made decisions no matter at what level a decision is made;the courts in Nepal or the different administrative bodies of the government of Nepal.

The court system in Nepal including the Supreme court itself is coming under such controversary that the Bar Association has demanded the immediate resignation of the Chief justice of the Supreme court.Everything in Nepal is hyperpolitcised and what decision will come will be based not on the law of the land but who is sitting at the position which decides how the laws are interpreted depending upon which party is in power and who do the judges and justices owe allegiance to.

So,in a situation like this even if people come to senses and accept the decisions, it’s just a question of time that another issue will emerge.There is no single body in Nepal that is not politicized and it’s tough to have trust and confidence in any organ of government. So, its time for the NRNA to consider some other alternatives.

Second, in the beginning, the NRNA was concerned mainly with the relationship between the Government of Nepal and the NRN’s. However,with its expansion all across the world and with an increase in population of Nepali origin,it will be more and more concerned in relationship among people of Nepali origin compared to the Government of Nepal.If we take more than 8 million NRN’s and more than 10 million people of Nepali origin in India and Burma, the number of Nepalis outside Nepal will be more than half of Nepal and if the current rate continues, it will surpass that of Nepal itself. We will be more like Israel where there are more Jewish people outside Israel than inside.

Third, NRNA should not only work for the economic prosperity but also if the country is honoring the principles specified in “The Helsinki Declaration of Human Rights” of which Nepal is a signatory,and do the people have individual right to elect who they want to represent them or the practice of electoral democracy to which Nepal has signed also.Not only that if for some reason,one country declares that people of Nepali origin can’t stand fore electoral office or vote, it needs to be in a position to challenge them in the International Court of Justice without any fear of intimidation by anyone.Failure of the NRNA to issue a statement condemning the royal coup of Gyanendra Shah was one such example and NRNA lost its prestige and confidence among intellectuals from the European countries and the US.

Fourth,the current structure of the NRNA is very centralized.For an organization which has chapters in more than 80 countries, it’s not a very tenable situation.It must decentralize and empower the country chapters to take decisions.Nepal has itself changed from the authoritarian monarchy to a multiethnic federal structure.So,it’s time for NRNA to change its course and seriously consider going to a federal structure.It needs to have a discussion on how to get it done, how to share decision making power on equal footing with countries of different sizes and at the same time honoring one person,one vote system.

To conclude, NRNA has crossed 18 years and has matured into an adult. It has gone through many wonderful successes and met some tough challenges.It’s high time that the NRNA leaders should start discussing three main issues so that the next coming years will be more productive and less challenging;

1.Should NRNA continue its registration in Nepal and keep its headquarters there and continue to be victim of partisan and corrupt government at every level or move to an European country or the US? If it decides to do so,it can have annual convention; one year Nepal and next year outside Nepal, preferably election year convention outside Nepal to minimize interference by Nepali political parties.

2.Should NRNA continue its highly centralized structure or start decentralization including a Federal structure?

3.In view of its expansion to more than 80 countries and a population equal to more than half of the current population of Nepal, should the relationship among NRNs of different countries and their plight in countries of their residence also be an issue of great concern?

Thank you,

Dr.Shyam Karki, Founding Vice President,NRNA, Commissioner,Commission on South Asian Affairs,State of Maryland,US.
Chair, Pan Nepali American National Council
Member, Maryland Democratic Party AAPI Leadership Council
Member, Advisory Council, South Asians for America (SAFA).