Campaigners: Nepal Army, stop animal sacrifice

[Guest guest]

* Press Release*

 

* *

 

*Campaigners appeal on eve of Chaite Dasain*

 

*Army, stop animal sacrifice*

 

 

 

*Kathmandu, March 22, 2010* - The Animal Welfare Network Nepal (AWNN)

appeals to the Nepal Army to cancel its public animal sacrifices conducted

during festivals, starting this Chaite Dasain. The campaigners argue that

animal sacrifices conducted by the army imply state supported animal

cruelty. According to the campaigners ‘decapitating a bleating buffalo or

goat should not be the symbol of Nepali civilization’.

 

 

In letters to the Chief of Army Staff, campaigners say the time has come to

abolish animal sacrifices conducted by the Nepal Army. “Blood sacrifices

promote superstition and violence, drain the poor and prevent Nepal from

becoming a truly advanced country,” the campaigners argue.

 

 

 

The Nepal Army during Chaite and Bada Dasain sacrifices water buffaloes and

goats at the guard houses at Hanuman Dhoka at Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar

Square. The rites last about two hours and are concluded after the military

commander smears each of the banners with the sacrificial blood. The ritual

leaves the courtyards awash with animal blood.

 

 

 

The campaigners argue that these sacrifices condone State supported animal

cruelty. “It may be a part of our tradition that the khukuri wielded in the

battlefields first had to draw the blood of sacrificial animals. However,

our enemies today are not demons. It is superstition, fatalism, poverty and

social inequity that plagues our society,” the campaigners argue.

 

 

 

The argument that animal sacrifices are part of army culture and tradition

is not a valuable argument to commence these practices, according to AWNN.

“Nepal, realizing the adverse effects, has abolished a number of

‘traditions’ in the past, including human sacrifice and widow burning,” the

campaigners note.

 

 

 

According the AWNN now is the right time to address the controversial issue

of animal sacrifice. “Conducting rituals that are controversial and hurt the

sentiments of communities and soldiers opposing them, must be abandoned in

the New Nepal,” the campaigners conclude.

 

 

 

The network invites the Nepal Army to show that it ‘indeed is a progressive

force in society’ by sacrificing fruits and vegetables instead of animals.

 

The Animal Welfare Network Nepal is a network of genuine animal welfare

organizations. AWNN in 2009 launched a 5-year campaign against animal

sacrifice and cruel blood sports.

 

 

*For more information:*

 

Mahesh Sharma, Campaign Coordinator (9841-487967)

 

Pramada Shah, President (98510-41103)

 

Animal Welfare Network Nepal

 

c/o Animal Nepal, PO Box 7770, Kathmandu, awnnepal

 

*Websites:*

 

www.stopanimalsacrifice.org

 

www.awnnepal.blogspot.com <awnnepal

 

 

 

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