NP/IN: Nepal not to ban animal killings at Terai fair

[Guest guest]

Nepal not to ban animal killings at Terai fair

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Nepal-not-to-ban-animal-kill\

ings-at-Terai-fair/articleshow/5189945.cms

 

 

KATHMANDU: Despite urgings by animal rights activists to prevent the wanton

slaughter of thousands of animals and birds at a Hindu festival in the Terai

plains at the end of this month, Nepal’s government Monday said it would not

ban the killings due to religious sensitivities but would hope that public

consciousness would rise in future to stop the practice voluntarily.

 

" We can’t use force to stop the animal sacrifices at the Gadhimai Fair,”

Information and Communications Minister Shankar Pokhrel, who is also the

spokesman of the current coalition government of Nepal, told TNN. " We have

to keep in mind the psychology and sentiments of different communities. "

 

Pokhrel, whose government has been urged by Indian animal rights activist

Maneka Gandhi to intervene at the Gadhimai Fair in Bara district along the

Indo-Nepal border where this year the temple authorities have announced they

would kill at least 500,000 birds and beasts, said while he personally

admired Maneka Gandhi, the government would not impose its will on any

community in religious matters.

 

Told that Nepal had banned the sati system – that too was once part of the

Hindu culture – the communist minister said it was possible due to the

growing consciousness of the people themselves. “The government would like

to encourage the growth of this consciousness so that in future the

tradition of sacrifices stops on its own.”

 

However, he said the government would keep vigil along the quarantine posts

on the Indo-Nepal border to discourage the smuggling of animals from India

into Nepal for the sacrifice and would take action against people guilty of

violating the law.

 

Animal rights activists say a large part of the devotees at the fair are

from India. Since animal sacrifices are forbidden in Bodh Gaya in Bihar and

its neighbourhood, hardcore Hindus travel all the way to Nepal to take part

in the fair, which is held every five years, to be allowed to slaughter

beasts at the altar.

 

--

You

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Well, I hate to be the first one to say it, but I think it will require some

civil disobedience on the scene to raise the issue to the next level...and

knowing the area, I fear it would be bloody. A large presence of Indian, Nepali,

and International protestors would raise awareness to the next level.

Additionally, protestors might partner with Maoists in order to deal with

'religious sensitivities'. But whatever action is taken, or not, it's going to

be a blood bath. I wish there was better news.

Jigs in Nepal

 

 

 

Lucia De Vries <luciadevries

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:32:06 +0545

<aapn >

NP/IN: Nepal not to ban animal killings at Terai fair

 

Nepal not to ban animal killings at Terai fair

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Nepal-not-to-ban-animal-

killings-at-Terai-fair/articleshow/5189945.cms

 

 

KATHMANDU: Despite urgings by animal rights activists to prevent the wanton

slaughter of thousands of animals and birds at a Hindu festival in the Terai

plains at the end of this month, Nepal‚s government Monday said it would not

ban the killings due to religious sensitivities but would hope that public

consciousness would rise in future to stop the practice voluntarily.

 

" We can‚t use force to stop the animal sacrifices at the Gadhimai Fair,‰

Information and Communications Minister Shankar Pokhrel, who is also the

spokesman of the current coalition government of Nepal, told TNN. " We have

to keep in mind the psychology and sentiments of different communities. "

 

Pokhrel, whose government has been urged by Indian animal rights activist

Maneka Gandhi to intervene at the Gadhimai Fair in Bara district along the

Indo-Nepal border where this year the temple authorities have announced they

would kill at least 500,000 birds and beasts, said while he personally

admired Maneka Gandhi, the government would not impose its will on any

community in religious matters.

 

Told that Nepal had banned the sati system ˆ that too was once part of the

Hindu culture ˆ the communist minister said it was possible due to the

growing consciousness of the people themselves. „The government would like

to encourage the growth of this consciousness so that in future the

tradition of sacrifices stops on its own.‰

 

However, he said the government would keep vigil along the quarantine posts

on the Indo-Nepal border to discourage the smuggling of animals from India

into Nepal for the sacrifice and would take action against people guilty of

violating the law.

 

Animal rights activists say a large part of the devotees at the fair are

from India. Since animal sacrifices are forbidden in Bodh Gaya in Bihar and

its neighbourhood, hardcore Hindus travel all the way to Nepal to take part

in the fair, which is held every five years, to be allowed to slaughter

beasts at the altar.

 

--

You