Among other problems, the religious minority feels that they have not been given due space by the state as it has not provided them land for burying their dead. [break]
“Nepal was declared a secular state five years ago but we do not feel that we are living in a secular state,” said C B Gahatraj, general secretary of the Federation of National Christians of Nepal (FNCN).
“For instance, we have no land to bury our dead,” he said.
According to Gahatraj, following a six-point agreement between the government and FNCN signed eight months ago, the latter was expecting to be allocated 2,000 ropani of land in Gotikhel, Lalitpur. But this had not materialized yet, because of government apathy, he said.
“The government had promised to form a separate commission for Christians, provide us land for graveyards and give our churches recognition as religious trusts, among other things,” Gahatraj said. “The agreement was supposed to be enforced immediately but nothing has been done till now,” he added.
However, it may be recalled that three years ago, the government had formed a taskforce with then secretary at the Ministry of Culture Dinesh Hari Adhikari as its head, to study the demands of the Christian community and make recommendations.
According to Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, then chief district officer of Kathmandu and a member of the taskforce, the taskforce had recommended that it was not possible for the government to provide burial land for all communities in the country, but such communities could buy their own land for burial purposes.The govenrment was ready to provide the necessary security.
The Christian community is also unhappy with the latest census data on the size of the Christian population in the country. The census count clashes with their own count and this has led them to launch protests.
“We can produce concrete proof of our numbers as we have registered all our members at over 8,500 churches. We are above 2.5 million but the census of 2011 shows us to be just 300,000,” said Gahatraj, adding that the festival of Christmas would be followed by series of protest programs.
On Christmas Eve on Monday, a motorcycle rally was held in the capital. On Christmas day itself a grand function is to be organised at the national academy with Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and other dignitaries present. It is to be telecast live by three television channels.
“This is an effort to make us Christians and our festival more high-profiled and acceptable in the country,” Gahatraj added.
Rita Kabo, vice-president of FNCN, says,"We will be engaged in Christmas festivities till midnight, spreading the message of love and sacrifice of Lord Jesus Christ for mankind""
She added,"Carols and prayers will go on till new year´s eve. We will be in a festive mood till then. During the festival, we will be having delicacies that include typical Nepali items like cell-roti. Host families prepare delicacies and we exchange gifts""
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