"Campaign to restore archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel urges ILO and UN to protect rights infringed due to construction of Chhaya Center", 3 May 2020

Campaign to Restore Archaeological Kamal Pokhari in Thamel has drawn attention of the ILO and UN offices in Nepal to the encroachment of traditional lands, including a historical pond and its banks, of indigenous Newa community in Kathmandu’s tourist district of Thamel for construction of Chaya Center business complex. The Campaign has thus called the ILO and the UN to push Nepal’s government for promotion and protection of the rights of the community.

In separate letters emailed to the ILO and the UN today, the Campaign alleges that the construction of the business complex on the lands that used to be a holy pond “Kamal Pokhari” and its banks with wells and other sacred/ritual sites has violated not only the land right but also the cultural rights of local Pradhan Newa community...

...The Campaign, in the letters, has thus called on the ILO and UN country offices to give serious consideration to the issue as the encroachment of traditional lands by the Chhaya Center violate various rights of the indigenous Newa community in Thamel under the ILO Convention 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that apply to Nepal. They have also called on the offices to come for a field visit to the affected community in Thanbahil and urged for timely actions before the community suffers further harms.