जनता टाइम्स

२० चैत्र २०७६, बिहीबार १४:३३

नेपाल रेडक्रसको बदमासीमा जेनेभासम्मै नेक्सस : आइएफआरसी मिसनको प्रतिवेदनमाथि पनि प्रश्नैप्रश्न


काठमाडौं, चैत २० । नेपाल रेडक्रस सोसाइटीको बिषयमा छानविन गर्न गठित अन्तराष्ट्रिय महासंघ आइएफआरसीले पठाएको स्कूपिंग मिसनले भ्रष्टाचारलाई नै बढावा दिने गरी आफ्नो प्रतिवेदन बुझाएको पाइएको छ । रेडक्रसका पदाधिकारीले लेखेको प्रतिवेदनलाई नै स्कूपिंग मिसनले आफ्नो प्रतिवेदनको निश्कर्षका रुपमा प्रस्तुत गरेको पाइएको हो ।

नेपाल रेडक्रस सोसाइटीमा भएको भ्रष्टाचार, नातावाद, कृपावाद, अनियमितता तथा विक्रृति विसंगतका सन्दर्भमा विगत वर्षदेखि नेपाली सञ्चार माध्यमले निरन्तर सचेत गराउँदै समाचार दिए । जस्को कारण बाध्य भएर गत बर्ष नै रेडक्रसको अन्तराष्ट्रिय महासंघ आइएफआरसीले छानविनको लागि स्कूपिंग मिसन नेपाल पठायो । त्यसले छानविन गर्यो । छानविनपछि केही सुझाव दियो । जसको कार्यान्वयन स्वरुप नेपालले प्राप्त गर्ने रकम पेश्कीवापत प्राप्त गर्थ्यो अनि कार्यक्रम समाप्तिपछि पेश्की फछ्यौट गरिन्थ्यो । अहिले पहिले संस्थाले कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न गर्नुपर्छ, त्यसपछि खर्चको बैधताको आधारमा रकम निकासा हुन्छ ।

दोस्रो अनियमित तरिकाले आफ्नो भाइको छोरीलाई कर्मचारी भर्ना गरेको विषय जा कन्फ्लिक्ट या इन्ट्रेष्ट देखिने हुँदा निकाल्न सुझाव दियो । त्यसपछि निजलाइ राजिनामा दिन लगाइयो । रेडक्रसका एक कर्मचारी भन्छन, सामान्यतया भ्रष्टाचार र अनियमितताको छानविन प्रतिवेदन आइएफआरसीले सार्वजनिक गर्दैन सार्वजानिक गर्दा रेडक्रसको प्रतिष्ठा आमरुपमा विग्रने चिन्ताको कारण आन्तरिक रुपमा करेक्सन गराउँछ । वास्तवमा भएको त्यस्तै छ । उक्त स्कुपिंग मिसनको प्रतिवेदन सार्वजानिक गरिएको छैन । प्रश्न केहो भने पारदर्शिताको कुरा गर्ने संस्थाले केके विषयमा गरेको जानकारी दिनुपर्ने कि नपर्ने ?

हाल नेपाल रेडक्रस नेपालमा अवैधानिक रुपमा संचालन भएको अवस्था छ ।संस्था नविकरण हुनसकेको छैन । संस्थाले जिल्ला प्रशासन कार्यालय काठमाडौंले मागेका आवश्यक आधारभुत कागजातसम्म बुझाउन सकेको छैन । जसका कारण संस्थाको आवधिक चुनावसम्म हुनसकेको छैन । चुनाव हुन सक्ने अवस्था पनि छैन । नविकरण नगरी संचालन गरिएको संस्था कसरी बैध हुन्छ ? कसरी यस्ले गरेको आर्थिक कारोवारहरु वैध हुन्छन ? यो प्रश्न निकै जटिल रहेको छ रेडक्रसको हकमा । यस विषयमा नेपालको संघीय संसदको विषयगत समितिहरुले पनि गम्भिर ध्यानाकर्षण गरी आवश्यक निर्देशनसमेत दिएको अवस्था छ ।

संसदको राज्यव्यवस्था समितिले भ्रष्टाचारको सन्दर्भमा आवश्यक कार्वाहीको लागि गृह मन्त्रालयलाई निर्देशन दिएको छ भने संस्थाको नियमन गर्नको लागि रेडक्रस कानुन निर्माण गर्नका लागि सुझाव दिएको छ । त्यस्तै संसदको महिला तथा सामाजिक समितिलेसमेत रेडक्रसको भष्टचारको सन्दर्भमा गम्भीर चासो राखी आवश्यक छलफल सम्पन्न गरेको छ । सामान्यतया अन्य संघ, संस्थाहरु भएको भए उहिल्यै ताला लागि सक्थे, रेडक्रसको विशिष्ठ पहिचान र छवी भएकै कारण नियामक निकायले पनि आँखा चिम्लिएको अवस्था रहेको छ । के गर्ने भन्ने अन्तिम निष्कर्षमा पुग्न लागेको देखिन्छ ।

संस्थाको यो परिस्थितिमा रेडक्रसको अन्तराष्टिय समिति आइएफआरसीले अर्र्को छानविन समिति सिएमसी गठन गरी पठाएको छ । जसले आफ्नो पाँच दिने नेपाल बसाइ अवधिमा सरकारी पक्ष, रेडक्रस कर्मचारीहरु, पूर्वकर्मचारीहरु तथा अन्य सरोकारवाला पक्षसंग भेट गरी केही दिनअघि जेनेभा फर्किएको थियो । सो समितिले तयार गरेको प्रतिवेदन नाम उल्लेख नगर्ने शर्तमा आफ्ना असन्तुष्टिका साथ उपलब्ध गराएको छन ।

प्रतिवेदनमा उल्लेख भएका सन्दर्भमा निजबाट उठाइएका जिज्ञासाहरु :

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश आईएफआरसीको विधानअनुरुप, सीएमसीले राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको वर्तमान नेतृत्वको सहमतिमा तयार गरिएको कार्ययोजना अनुसारको कार्यमा आफ्नो सिफारिश प्रदान गर्नेछ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : नेपाल रेडक्रसको जुन नेतृत्वको बिषयमा अहिले प्रश्न उठेको छ सोही नेतृत्वको सहमतिमा तयार गरिएको सिफारिस कत्तिको निष्पक्ष र समस्या समाधान उन्मुख हुनसक्छ ?

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : यो मिशनको उद्देश्य हाल भइरहेका विभिन्न प्रकृयाहरुका बारेमा सरकारी अधिकारीहरुसँग छलफल र संस्थाका विभिन्न सरोकारवालाहरुलाई जुटाउँदै सहज निर्वाचन तयारीको लागि सँगै कार्य गर्नु हो ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : यस मिसनको उद्देश्यबाट नै यो प्रष्ट हुन्छ कि मिसनको उद्देश्य जसरी भएपनि खाली निर्बाचन गराउनु हो न कि समस्या समाधान गर्नु र बिबाद समाधान र उठेका प्रश्नको बारेमा कार्य गर्नु हो । सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : हालको केन्द्रीय कार्यसमिति चार (४) समूहमा विभाजित छ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु :केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिमा आपसी मेलमिलाप र समझदारी नहुनु र एकताबद्ध भएर अगाडि बढ्न नसकी रहेको अबस्थाको चित्रण गर्छ जसको कारण अधिकार हातमा लिएर खालि आफ्नो स्वार्थ पूर्तिको लागि गुटबन्दी गरेर कार्य गर्नु हो । एकताबद्ध हुने रेडक्रसको आधारभूत सिद्धान्तबाट नेतृत्व नै बिचलित भएको अवस्था छ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : संस्था छोडेका स्वयंसेवक र कर्मचारीहरूले मिडियाको प्रयोग र सरकारलाई गुनासो गरेर नेपाल रेडक्रसको छवि र प्रतिष्ठामा हानी पुर्याइरहेका छन । यद्यपि नेपाल रेडक्रसको विधानमा यी र यस्ता विषयहरुलाई आन्तरिक रुपमा कसरी व्यवस्थापन गर्ने भन्ने संयन्त्र व्यवस्था गरेको छैन ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : कुनै पनि रेडक्रसप्रेमीले संस्थाको प्रतिष्ठामा आंच आउने कार्य गर्दैनन र कसैको उद्देश्य संस्थालाई हानि गर्ने नभई सुधार गर्ने हो । यहा उठेको प्रश्न रेडक्रसको छबी धमिल्याउने गरी काम गर्ने नेतृत्व र व्यक्ति बिशेषको बिरुद्धमा हो । कुनै पनि स्वयंसेवक र कर्मचारीले रेडक्रसको संस्थागत छबीमा हानी हुने काम गरेको छैन ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : हाल विद्यमान संकट सन् २०१५ को भूकम्पको दौरान र यसपछि भुकम्प प्रतिकार्यका लागि नेपाल रेडक्रसलाई दिइएको आर्थिक सहयोगपछि चुलिएको हो । सात जना सदस्य हरने गरी भूकम्प प्रतिकार्य सञ्चालन समिति गठन गरिएको थियो । जसमा अध्यक्ष, उपाध्यक्ष, महामन्त्री, उपमहामन्त्री, कोषाध्यक्ष, कार्यकारी निर्देशक र अन्य एक सदस्य थिए । भुकम्प प्रतिकार्यका सम्बन्धमा तत्कालै निर्णय लिने मुख्य जिम्मेवारी यो समितिको थियो । यसलाई दिइएको जिम्मेवारी र जुनसुकै बेलाहुनुपर्ने उपस्थित हुनुपर्ने आवश्यकताका कारण समितिले आफ्ना सदस्यहरुलाई अनोरियम  दिने निर्णय गर्यो जुन रु. (१४,००० देखि १२५०००।) सम्म कामका आधारमा चार वर्षको अवधिका लागि दिइयो तर यो कार्यलाई केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिमा रहेका अन्य सदस्यहरु र संस्थाकाअन्य स्वयंसेवक तथा कर्मचारीहरुले यसलाई सामान्यतया स्वीकार गरेनन् ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : अनोरियमको बिषय सर्ब स्वीकार्य नभएको तथ्य त यहीबाट प्रष्ट भयो तर प्रश्न अनोरियमको मात्र नभई भूकम्प प्रतिकार्य कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन र्गन भएको खरिद प्रक्रियामा भएको अनियमितता र अन्य भ्रस्टाचारको हो जुन बिषयमा मिसनले कुनै सम्बोधन र अध्ययन गरेको देखिदैन ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको निर्णय प्रकृया संस्थाको अध्यक्षको हातमा केन्द्रीकृत गरिएको छ र केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिले अध्यक्षले गरेको निर्णयहरुको समर्थन मात्र गरिरहेको छ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : संस्था एकल निर्णय र मनोमानी ढंगले चलीरहेको प्रष्ट हुन्छ । केन्द्रीय समिति खाली नाम मात्र को भएको र अध्यक्षको निजि संस्थाको हैसियतमा रेडक्रस चलिरहेको भान हुन्छ जुन प्रजातान्त्रिक नभई एकतन्त्रीय भएको थप प्रष्ट हुन्छ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : २०१९ को मे महिनामा राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको व्यवस्थापनका लागि काठमाडौंका प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले सोसाइटीको केन्द्रीय तदर्थ समिति गठन गरे जसमा अध्यक्ष र केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिलाई संस्थाबाट अलग गरियो । प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले केन्द्रीय तदर्थ समितिको माध्यमबाट राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको अधिवेशन र चुनावको रोक्ने आदेश जारी गरे । यो निर्णयलाई रेडक्रसका अध्यक्ष श्री संजीव थापाले सर्वोच्च अदालत मार्फत चूनौति दिए । सर्वोच्च अदालतले आफ्नो निर्णयमा प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले आफ्नो क्षेत्राधिकार बाहिर गएर निर्णय गरेको व्याख्याा गर्यो र यस्तो निर्णय नेपाल सरकारले लिन सक्ने संकेत गर्दै निर्वाचनका कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गर्न निर्देश पनि गर्यो ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : भ्रष्टाचारको आरोप लागेका र मनोमानी ढंगले रेडक्रसलाई संचालन गर्दै रेडक्रसको नेतृत्वबिरुद्ध गरेको जिल्ला प्रशासनको निर्णय भन्दा पनि अदालतले क्षेत्राधिकारको बिषयलाई मात्र आदेशको आधार बनायो । जसको लागि सरकारले पुनः सोही निर्णय लिनसक्ने बिषयमा अदालत प्रष्ट छ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : सीएमसी, नेपाल रेडक्रसको विधानमा तोकिएको दायित्वको सम्मान गर्नुपर्ने महत्वमा जोड दिन चाहन्छ र सोसाइटीको विधानमा स्थापित प्रकृयाहरुको सम्मान गर्न र यसका आफ्नै नियम र प्रकृयाहरुका माध्यमबाट समयमै चुनाव भई नेतृत्व चुनिएको छ भन्ने सुनिश्चितता चाहन्छ ।

सीएमसीले यो कुरा पनि विचार गरेको छ कि केन्द्रीयस्तरमा भइरहेको चुनावी प्रकृयाहरु धेरै लामो (झण्झटिलो) छ, जसले नयाँ सदस्यहरुलाई केन्द्रीय कार्यसमिति आउनको लागि रोक्दछ जसको परिणामस्वरुप बारम्बार केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिका सदस्यहरुको नविकरण हुन सक्दैन । यसबाट सीएमसी स्पष्ट भयो कि शाखा स्तरमा निर्वा्चित सदस्यले केन्द्रीय स्तरमा योग्य हुन बाह्र वर्ष विताउनु पर्दछ । यस्तो खालको प्रकृयाले नेतृत्वको स्थायी नविकरण हुनै सक्दैन । यद्यपिमार्च, २०१९ मा भएको विधानको परिवर्तनका साथ यो प्रकृयामा परिवर्तन भएको छ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : नेपाल रेडक्रसको सबै निर्बाचन बिधानको अधिनमा रही भएको छ र सधै हुनु पनि पर्छ । तर यहा प्रश्न समय र बिधानको भन्दा पनि निष्पक्ष निर्बाचन र स्वच्छ छबीका व्यक्तिलाइ निर्बा्चित गर्ने हो । यस्तो झन्झटिलो निर्बाचन प्रक्रिया र रेडक्रसमा ब्याप्त सिन्डिकेट र राजनैतिक विचारधाराको पक्षपोषणलाइ निस्तेज गरि स्वच्छ, स्वस्थ प्रतिस्पर्धा, निष्पक्ष र धाधलिरहित निर्बाचन प्रक्रिया अपनाएर सरलिकृत गर्नु र एउटै व्यक्ति वा समूह बारम्बार पदमा रही एकल र मनोमानी ढंगले निजि संस्था जस्तो गरि संचालन गर्ने अबस्था आउन नदिने परिपाटीको बिकास गर्नु हो

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : यी परिवर्तनहरुले निर्वाचन प्रकृयालाई सजिलो बनाउनुका साथै राष्ट्रियस्तरमा अझ राम्रो मोड लिने कुरालाई पनि हेर्न सकिन्छ । तसर्थ, विधान संशोधन गर्ने प्रकृयाका बारेमा छलफल गर्दा सरलिकृत निर्वाचन प्रकृया राख्नुपर्दछ भन्ने कुरा सीएमसी सुझाव दिन चाहन्छ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : अहिलेको बिध्यमान निर्बाचन प्रक्रिया र बिधानमा ब्यबस्था सुधार गर्नुपर्ने कुरा यस बुदाले स्वीकार गरेपनि पहिला बिधान संशोधन गरेर मात्र आगामी निर्बाचन गराउनु पर्ने कुरा उल्लेख नगर्नु पुर्बाग्राही देखिन्छ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : त्यसैले सरकारले राजनैतिक दवावका कारण नेपाल रेडक्रसको वर्तमान नेतृत्वलाई संस्थाको पछिल्लो दर्ता नविकरण रोक्न र अधिवेशन तथा निर्वाचनलाई स्थगित गर्ने उपायहरु अपनाइरहेको छ । सरकारले राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीलाई दर्ता नविकरण गर्न थप कागजातहरू पनि प्रदान गर्न अनुरोध गर्दै आइरहेको छ ।्

जिज्ञासाहरु : नेपाल सरकारले कानुनमा भएको कमजोरी वा प्राबिधिक समस्यालाई लिएर रेडक्रसबिरुद्ध कुनै कदम चालेको हैन । त्यहाँ भित्रको नेतृत्वले गरेको भ्रस्टाचार, अनियमितता र रेडक्रसले पालना नगरेको अन्य ब्यबस्थाको कारण प्रश्न उठेको हो । सरकारले रेडक्रसलाइ राजनैतिक दबाबले अधिबेशन रोक्नु वा नबिकरण रोक्नु कुनै दुरासयले हैन र आबश्यक छैन तर राज्यभित्र संचालित कुनै संस्थाको नियमन गर्नु सरकारको दायित्व हो र त्यहीभित्र र बाहिरबाट प्रश्न उठेपछि त्यसको आबश्यक कारबाही प्रक्रिया अगाडि बढाउनु सरकारको दायित्व हो । सरकारलाई त्यो अधिकार प्राप्त छ । सो कार्य अगाडि बढाउन कुनै उपाय खोज्ने हैन । अनुसन्धान, अनुगमन, तथ्य सत्य जानकारी र प्रमाणको आधारमा गर्ने हो ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनकोअंश : नेपाल रेडक्रसको केन्द्रीय कार्यालयको जग्गाजमीनको लागि कर छुटको कागज, २) राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीका सबै शाखाहरुको अडिट रिपोर्ट, ३) अन्तर्राष्ट्रियस्तरबाट प्राप्तभएका डोनेसन । यी तत्वहरूले संस्थाको नविकरण प्रक्रिया धेरै जटील बनाइरहेका छन् र चुनावहरू सम्पन्न गर्नमा बाधा पुर्याइरहेका छन् । यी विभिन्न व्याख्याहरूको बावजुद, राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको दर्ता नविकरण चुनावसँग जोडिएको छैन र राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीले नविकरण ढिलाइ गरेवापत जरिवाना तिर्नु पर्छ । सीएमसीको लागि सबैभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण कुरा के हो भने राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको संवैधानिक दायित्व र ठोस कानुनी आधार विना चुनावी प्रतिस्पर्धा हुँदैन, हुन्छ त केवल वैधानिक दायित्व र ठोस कानुनी आधारअनुरूप हुन्छ । तसर्थ, सीएमसीको राय यो छ कि नविकरण हुनु पर्दछ यस शर्तमा कि राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीले यथासम्भव सरकारलाई उक्त कागजातहरु उपलब्ध गराउनु पर्दछ

जिज्ञासाहरु : रेडक्रसले पुरा गर्नुपर्ने बैधानिक दायित्व पुरा गर्नुपर्ने र करछुटको प्रमाणपत्र, आफ्ना कार्यक्रम र शाखाहरुको लेखापरीक्षणहरु पेश गर्नुपर्ने कुरामा यस बुँदाले समेत स्वीकार गरेको छ । तर नबिकरण नगरी चुनाब गर्ने र नबिकरण ढिलो गर्न सकिने प्राबधानलाई अपब्याख्या गरेर नबिकरणको सट्टा जरिवाना तिर्न सक्ने गैरजिम्मेवार र कच्चा तर्क दिनु पुर्बाग्राही र सुशासनबिरुद्ध हुनजान्छ । संस्थाको हेलचेक्राई र ब्यबस्थापकीय कमजोरीले गर्दा जरिवाना तिर्नुपर्ने अबस्था आएको हो र सोको जिम्मा बर्तमान नेतृत्वले किन नलिने ? जसले संस्था नबिकरण नहुने अबस्थामा ल्यायो उसैबाट निर्बाचन गराउनु कति सान्दर्भिक र न्यायोचित हुन्छ ?

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : यो कुरा ध्यानदिनु महत्त्वपूर्ण छ कि यस्तो प्रक्रियाका लागि समय चाहिन्छ र यो नेपाल रेडक्रस सोसाइटी वा सीएमसीको हातमा हुँदैन । तसर्थ, यो अत्यन्तै महत्त्वपूर्ण छ, नेपाल रेडक्रसले आफ्नो मानवीय सेवाका गतिविधि जारी राख्नु पदर्छ ।, संक्रमणकालिन समाधान खोज्न रेडक्रस कानून लागू नभएसम्म र नयाँ निर्वाचन हुन नसक्दा वर्तमान प्रणाली अन्तर्गत चुनावहरू आयोजना गर्नु पहिलो चरण हो । नयाँ अपनाइएको कानून र संशोधित विधान अनुरुप अर्को निर्वाचनका कार्यक्रम हुनेछन् । यी कार्यहरु धेरै महत्त्वपूर्ण छन् जसले नेपाल रेडक्रस सोसाइटी कार्यकारिणीको निरन्तरता सुनिश्चित गर्नको लागि अनुमति दिन्छ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु :नेपाल रेडक्रसलाई बर्तमान नेतृत्वबाटै काम अगाडी बढाउन दिनु र निर्बाचन गराउन सुझाब दिनु भनेको रेडक्रसभित्र ब्याप्त भ्रस्टाचार, अनियमितता, बेथिति र विसंगतिलाई प्रोत्साहन गर्नु हो । जसबाट नेपाल रेडक्रसको अबस्था थप कमजोर हुनेछ । र नेपाल रेडक्रसका इमान्दार र सुधारको पक्षधर स्वयंसेवक, कर्मचारी तथा शुभचिन्तकहरुका निम्ति निरुत्साहन हुनेछ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश : योजनाको कार्यान्वयनको निरीक्षण गर्न, सीएमसी रेडक्रसका तटस्थ सदस्यहरू (वर्तमान र पूर्व स्टाफ, स्वयमसेवक र वा शाखाका सदस्यहरू) बाट बनेको एउटा संक्रमणकालीन समिति गठन गर्न चाहन्छ ।गृह मन्त्रालय, आईएफआरसी र आईसी.आर.सी. का प्रतिनिधि सहितको परामर्श क्षमतामा पनि उपस्थित हुनेछ । समितिको मुख्यकाम केन्द्रीय कार्यकारी समितिको कार्ययोजनाको कार्यान्वयन सम्बन्धी कामको रेखदेख गर्ने र नियमित रुपमा भएका प्रगतिबारे सीएमसीलाई रिपोर्ट गर्नु हुनेछ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : संक्रमणकालीन समितिको गठन गर्नुको उद्देश्य असन्तुस्ट पक्षको समेत संलग्नतामा निर्बाचन भएको ठहर गर्न र सरकारलाई सलाहकारको भूमिकामा राखी सरकारी सहमति र संलग्नता देखाउने र बर्तमान कार्यसमिति र अहिलेका कामकाज तथा भ्रष्टाचारलाई बैधानिकता दिने जस्तो देखिन्छ । खाली समन्वय , रिपोर्टिंग र अनुगमनको भूमिकामा उक्त समितिलाई सिमित गरी जसरी पनि संस्था नबिकरण गराउनु र अहिलेकै नेतृत्वबाट निर्बाचन गराई परिबर्तन पक्षधरलाई अल्मल्याउने रणनीति मात्र भएको झल्किन्छ ।

सिएसि, प्रतिवेदनको अंश :
 राष्ट्रिय सोसाइटीको नविकरण प्रक्रिया टुंगो लाग्न र ठोस कानुनी आधारमा चुनाव हुन सक्ने कुरा सुनिश्चित गर्न सीएमसीले सरकारसँग वार्तालाप गर्नेछ ।
 सीएमसीले स्कुपिंग मिसनको दोस्रो चरणको प्रगतिबारे आन्तरिक लेखा परीक्षण र अनुसन्धानको कार्यालयसँग अनुगमन गरिरहनेछ ताकि समयमै प्रतिवेदन सम्बन्धित पक्षहरूसँग साझेदारी गर्न सकियोस् ।
 संक्रमणकालीन समितिले रेडक्रसको वैधानिक आवश्यकताअनुरुप संस्थाको हितअनुसार चुनाव गर्ने तरिकाहरूकाबारेमा केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितिसँग छलफल गर्नेछ र यदी आवश्यकता भएमा केन्द्रीय कार्यसमितका सदस्यहरूले अर्को कार्यकालकालागि भाग नलिने गरी चुनाव सुनिश्चित गर्नेछ ।

जिज्ञासाहरु : संस्था नबिकरण गर्न सिएमसी वा अन्य कुनै दोश्रो पक्षले बार्ता गर्नु आबश्यक हुदैन । संस्थाले बैधानिक दायित्व पुरा गर्ने कागजात पेश गरे प्रणालीगत र कानुन सम्मत रुपमा संस्था नबिकरण हुन्छ । फेरी पनि मिसनले संस्थाका अन्य बिषयमा कुनै कुरा उठान नगरेर निर्बाचन संग मात्र सबैकुरा जोडेर हेरेको देखिन्छ जुन संस्थाका बर्तमान कार्यसमितिका पदाधिकारीको सहमतिमा तयार गरिएको भनिएको यो दस्ताबेजले पूर्वाग्रह राखेको देखिन्छ ।

निज केन्द्रीय सदस्यसँग छलफल गर्दा प्रतिवेदन अमुर्त, गोलमोटल र कुनै पक्षद्धारा निर्देशित देखिन्छ । प्रतिवेदनको सार निजको भनाई अनुसार नेपाल रेडक्रस सोसाइटीका विवादास्पद छविका कार्यकारी निर्देशक उमेश ढकालको योजना र फेडेरेसनको महत्वपुर्ण तहमा रहेका एक नेपाली कर्मचारीको संलग्नतामा तयार भएको वताए ।

प्रतिवेदनमा उल्लेख भएको अंशमा प्रत्रकारलाई पनि पुर्वकर्मचारी र स्वयंसेवकले प्रभाव पारेको भन्ने उल्लेख गर्नु नेपाली पत्रकारीता क्षेत्रमाथिको गम्भीर हमला हो । यो कार्य यो समितिले गरेको छ जुन खेदजनक छ । निजहरुले नवुझेको कुरा भष्टचार, अनियमितता, नातावाद, क्रिपावाद र संस्थाभित्रको सिण्डिकेटको कुरा हो नेतृत्व तथा पदाधिकारीहरुको मनोमनीको हो । संस्थाको सन्दर्भमा होइन । प्रतिबेदक सँस्थाको नेतृत्वले गरेको अनियमितता, भष्टाचार, सिण्डिकेट, करछली, मानशिक यातना, महिला हिँसाको बारेमा बोल्दैनन कि सँस्थाको लोप्रियतालाई हलवा दिँदै बर्तमान नेतृत्वको बचाउ गरीरहेको बुझिन्छ । तसर्थ यस संस्थाभित्र भएका यी विभिन्न गतिविधिमा ध्यान जाओस र निरपेक्ष छानविन होस हाम्रो सुझाव यही हो ।

संस्था गतिशिल, पारदर्शि, राज्यको नियम कानुन अनुसार संचालन भए संस्थाले स्वस्पूर्त चल्न पाउँछ र चल्छ पनि । यस्तो अवस्थामा राजनितिमाथि थप राजनिति गरी प्रतिवेदन तयार हुनु आफैमा आश्चर्यको बिषय हो ।

पढनोस रिपोर्टको पूर्ण अंश

CMC Panel Report
Nepal Red Cross Society
2-6 March 2020

1. Background:
The Compliance and Mediation Committee (CMC) is a constitutional committee of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as described in Article 32 of the IFRC Constitution. Its main responsibility is to support its member National Societies to resolve allegations of breaches of integrity through mediation, when needed, resulting in an agreed plan of action and to facilitate such a process in a neutral manner. In line with the IFRC Constitution, the CMC will provide the National Society with its recommendations and will agree with the current leadership on a plan of action.
Since the case of Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) was submitted to the CMC in May 2019 by the IFRC President, the Committee has been closely monitoring their situation. Thus, it has constituted a panel in June 2019 to work with the NRCS to resolve its issues. The Panel visited Nepal in September 2019 as a first assessment mission where it provided the National Society with recommendations.
However, given the current developments, and to follow up on the different on-going processes which include the renewal of the NRCS registration, the Red Cross law and the convening of the General Assembly and elections in the best interest of the National Society, the Panel decided to carry out a mission to Nepal. The objective of the mission was to meet with Government officials to discuss the different on-going processes and connect with the different stakeholders in the National Society, to work together on the preparation of smooth elections. To do so, the Panel requested the NRCS to postpone the elections scheduled for 4-6 March until at least 31 March to allow the Panel mission to take place. The Central Executive Committee met on Wednesday, 26 February, and decided to postpone the General Assembly and the elections. The Central Executive Committee also decided that 5-7 April will be the new dates to convene the General Assembly and hold elections.
The mission was conducted from 2-6 March. It was attended by Ms. Kristiina Kumpula, Chair of the Compliance and Mediation Committee who joined the meetings with the Government on 5-6 March, and Mr. Rodolfo Reyes, Rapporteur of the Panel on Nepal, who was present from 2-6 March to meet with the different stakeholders of the National Society and Government officials. The mission was supported by Ms. Carine Layoun, Senior Regional Advisor for Asia Pacific and Integrity of National Society.
From the Government side, the panel met with:
• Mr. Bharat Poudyal, Joint Secretary, UN Int’l Organizations and Int’l law division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Mr. Narayan Prasad Bidari- Secretary General of the Prime Minister’s Office
• Mr. Kedar Nath Sharma- Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and convener of the drafting Committee on the Red Cross
• Mr. JanakrajDahal- Chief District Officer of Kathmandu
• Mr. Maheshwor Neupane- Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The CMC met with all the different factions of the National Society, the current leadership, former staff and volunteers. During all these meetings, the CMC requested members to sign a confidentiality commitment form where members confirmed the confidential nature of the CMC work and committed not to share information on its meetings with CMC through social media.

2. Findings:
a. In relation to the National Society leadership:
The NRCS is going through an institutional crisis. This is mainly because the current leadership is questioned by many stakeholders as to integrity and management style. It has been there for a long period of time- three (3) terms of four (4) years. There are frictions within the Central Executive Committee- divided into four (4) groups. The volunteers and staff that left the organization are damaging the image and reputation of the NRCS by using media and filling complaints with the Government, as the NRCS Constitution does not provide for mechanisms to handle these matters internally. These factors are contributing to increase the distrust to the current leadership by the public authorities and hampering the National Society’s ability to execute its auxiliary role. Despite the on-going institutional crisis at the National level, the NRCS still enjoys a good reputation.This feedback was conveyed across all the interviews carried out by the CMC. Volunteers remain very committed and at the center of the communities and the people they serve. This is due to the acceptance by the Nepalese people of the services provided by the National Society over the many years of service but also to the important role the NRCS played during the earthquake in 2015.
The on-going crisis reached its peak during and after the 2015 earthquake, when financial support was given to the NRCS to respond to the earthquake. An Earthquake Response Committee (ERC) was established composed of seven (7) members: The Chairman, Vice-President, Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Treasurer, the Executive Director and one member. The Committee had the primary task to take quick decisions in relation to the earthquake. Due to the responsibility entrusted to it and the permanent presence that itrequired, the Committee decided to allocate to its members an honorarium which ranged between 14 000-125 000 Nepalese Rupees depending on the function for a period of four (4) years. This initiative was not well-received by other members in the Central Executive Committee and volunteers and staff of the NRCS in general.
At the level of the National Society, the decision-making process is centralized in the hands of the Chairman. The Central Executive Committee is only endorsing his decisions. The process remains relatively slow and governance is taking management decisions mainly in relation to the transfer, reallocation and direct appointment of staff. Governance is also involved in procurement (tendering processes), participates in the day-to-day decision making in relation to programs and projects which could have been delegated to heads of departments and programs. This is mainly because the Constitution does not provide for a separation between governance and management. This separation should be established including empowering management to take decisions.
In 2016, with the revision of the national Constitution which introduced changes to the country’s administrative structure at national, central and district level, the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu recommended the NRCS to amend 41 Articles to bring the National Society Constitution in line with the State Constitution. These amendments were approved by the NRCS General Assembly in April 2019.
In May 2019, the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu created an Ad Hoc Committee to manage the National Society, thus setting aside the Chairman and the Central Executive Committee. The Chief District Officer, through the Ad Hoc Committee, issued an order to cease the convening of the National Society General Assembly and the calling for elections. This decision was challenged in the Nepal Supreme Court by the NRCS chairman, Mr. Sanjiv Thapa. The Supreme Court rendered its decision, where it explained that by taking such a decision, the Chief District Officer exceeded its powers. The decision also indicated that such a decision should have been taken by the Government. It also directed the conduct of elections.
In relation to elections, the NRCS Constitution stipulates that in case elections cannot be convened in time due to exceptional circumstances, the mandate of the leadership is extended for one (1) year. It adds that if elections cannot be carried out within that year, an extra three (3) months extension is granted under exceptional conditions.
Based on this, the current leadership extended its mandate until 15 April 2020. The National Society then fixed the date of the election for 3-5 March 2020 which, based on the CMC’s recommendation, were postponed until 5-7 April. While writing its report, the CMC received the information that on Friday 13 March, the Central Executive Committee decided to postpone again the election to 12-14 June based on a recommendation from the Government to limit the big meetings and gathering due to the COVID-19 situation.
The CMC would like to stress the importance of respecting the obligations stipulated in the NRCS Constitution and allowing elections to take place in a timely mannerto ensure that the processes established by the NRCS Constitution are respected and that a leadership is elected in line with its own Rules and Procedures.
The CMC also considers that the process of running for elections at the central level is very lengthy, which prevents new members from being able to run to the Central Executive Committee and consequently, the committee cannot be renewed frequently. It was clarified to the CMC that a member elected at the branch level will require twelve (12) years to be eligible to run for elections at the central level. Such a procedure does not allow for permanent renewal of the leadership. However, with the changes of the Constitution in March 2019, this process has been changed. To be member of the Central Executive Committee, a member must complete four(4) years as member of the NRCS, three (3) years at the provincial level and two (2) years at the district level. The member willing to run for elections at the central level should be nominated by his/her respective district or provincial chapter as a formal delegate to the General Assembly.
These changes could also be looked at to simplify the election process and allow a better turn over at the National level. Therefore, the CMC recommends that the election process be considered when revising the Constitution and a simplified election procedure be put in place.
Furthermore, the NRCS has been working on a consolidated National Society Development Plan which should allow the NRCS to accelerate its required reforms. The National Society, through a visioning exercise carried out in August 2019, identified nine (9) thematic areas that required further discussion consensus and agreement on the way forward to define future institutional capacity building priorities for NRCS in order to develop the One Consolidated NS Development Plan. This process was presented to the Central Executive Committee late December 2019, however a final decision to endorse the National Society Development plan is still due since the Central Executive Committee members requested some time to review the draft plan. This element should be on the agenda of the next Central Executive Committee meeting for discussion and endorsement to allow the National Society to move forward with implementation.
In relation to the Registration of the National Society:
The NRCS is registered as a non-governmental organization in the district of Kathmandu and is regulated by the civil charter. When registered in 1963, the NRCS was a small organization established in the above-mentioned district. Since then, the National Society expanded. It currently has branches at all local levels and therefore should be treated differently from any other non-governmental organization. The public authorities also agreed that NRCS should not be treated as a non-governmental organization but as an entity auxiliary to the public authorities.
It was clear from the interviews carried out that the government wants to act in the best interest of the NRCS and in line with the standards of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. These reassurances were conveyed to the CMC by the public officials the Panel met.
However, the Government is receiving conflicting reports from different factions in and outside the National Society which is leaving the Government suspicious of wrong doings. The information reaching the Government is becoming a concern which is leading the Government to act. In this respect, the Government has carried out its own investigation. However, due to technicalities in Nepalese law, a legal case against the leadership of the NRCS for corruption cannot be filed, as the chairman is not a public figure, the funds audited are not public funds – the Government does not provide financial support to the NRCS, and the organization is not a public organization. Even an ordinary criminal case for fraud cannot be filed because of a technicality. Under Nepalese law, the victim itself should file the case. And if the victim is the National Society headed by the Chairman, the latter would never authorize the filing of a criminal case against himself.
Therefore, the government is putting political pressure upon the current leadership of the NRCS by withholding the latter’s registration and taking measures to postpone the General Assembly and the elections. The Government is also requesting the National Society to provide further documents: (1) taxes exemptions for the land of the NRCS headquarters, (2) audit reports for all the branches in the National Society, and (3) reports on international donations received. These elements are making the renewal process very difficult and hampering the convening of elections. Despite various interpretations, that the renewal of the National Society’s registration is not linked to the elections and the National Society would need to pay a fine for the delay in renewal, it is of paramount importance for the CMC that elections are not contested, are carried out in line with the constitutional obligations of the National Society and are based on solid legal grounds. Therefore, the CMC is of the opinion that the renewal should be granted, under the condition that the National Society continues to work on providing these documents to the Government to the extent possible.
In relation to the law:
As mentioned above, the NRCS was registered under the civil charter as a non-governmental organization. The NRCS being auxiliary to the public authorities should benefit from a special status. Therefore, the Government is working on adopting a Red Cross Law which from one side grants the NRCS a special status and from another side contributes to address some of the issues that the NRCS is currently facing.
One of the major provisions which will be included in the Red Cross law is the introduction of a term limitation to the mandate of the office bearers. In other words, members wishing to run for elections, can run only for two (2) terms. There is no such provision in the current Constitution of NRCS.
The Government has requested the NRCS to prepare a first draft and submit it to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The draft prepared by NRCS was shared with the Joint ICRC/IFRC for National Society Statutes. The Ministry of Home Affairs has established a Committee to work on the draft submitted by the National Society. The Committee has now submitted the draft to technical people within the ministry mainly the disaster management, legal … focal points to provide their comments. The Ministry will then submit its draft to the Prime Minister’s office. The Prime Minister’s office will submit this draft to the Ministry of Law and Justice for its consideration. Once the legal Ministry has provided its input, the law will be revised, and a draft will be submitted to the Parliament for its consideration.
The Government will submit the draft law via ordinary procedure. The law will not be presented through ordinance as the Government will have to justify the urgency of taking such a measure. The draft law will most probably be submitted in the parliament session in June and will hopefully be finalized a couple of months after June.
The CMC requested a copy of the draft law to ensure that it is in line with the international standards. The Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs will make the law available to the CMC once consultations have been finalized at the ministry level. The CMC sensed a willingness from the government to cooperate with IFRC and to respect the standards of the Movement mainly the independence of the NRCS.
It is important to note that such a process will require time and is not in the hands of NRCS or the CMC. Therefore, it is of utmost importance, to allow NRCS to continue to deliver its humanitarian mission, to find a transitional solution which consist as a first step inconvening elections under the current system until the law has been adopted and new elections can take place under the new adopted law and a revised constitution. This step is crucial and allows to ensure continuity within the NRCS governance.

CMC recommendations
Based on its findings, the CMC considers that the institutional crisis the National Society is undergoing is an internal matter which should be resolved within the NRCS with the support of the CMC. This conclusion was strongly supported by the Government representatives, volunteers and staff members met. The CMC is looking at working with the NRCS on a plan of action which requires short term actions, medium term and long term.
To oversee the implementation of the plan, the CMC would like to put in place a transitional committee composed of neutral members of the Red Cross – current and former staff and volunteers and/or members from the branch – will also be present in an advisory capacity a representative from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the IFRC and the ICRC. The main task of the Committee will be to oversee the work of the Central Executive Committee in relation to the implementation of the plan of action and to report back to the CMC on the progress made on a regular basis. The Committee will be established for initially a period of six (6) months. The CMC will reach out to the different parties concerned to establish such a Committee. Such a committee should be formed within a month from the finalization of the report.
Short term
• The CMC will pursue its dialogue with the Government to ensure that the renewal process of the National Society is finalized and that elections can take place on solid legal basis.
• The CMC will continue to follow up with the Office of Internal Audit and Investigation on the progress of the second phase of the scoping mission to ensure that the report is shared with parties concerned in a timely manner.
• The Transitional Committee will discuss with the Central Executive Committee ways to ensure, that elections can take place, in accordance with the NRCS constitutional requirements and that elections are carried out in the best interest of the National Society even if this requires members of the Central Executive Committee not running for another term.
These actions should be completed by 15 July.
Medium term
The action required for the medium term are actions that will require time to be fully implemented, however, the CMC recommends that NRCS starts working on those recommendations once the report has been finalized.
• The CMC in collaboration with the NRCS leadership will continue its dialogue with the Government to receive updates on the progress of the Red Cross Law. The CMC would appreciate receiving a copy of the Red Cross law so that it can ensure that it is in line with standards of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement mainly the principle of independence and neutrality. In line with its humanitarian diplomacy role, the IFRC together with NRCS is willing to engage into a dialogue with the public authorities to raise awareness on the mandate of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Federation. The IFRC stands ready to support in this process.
• The CMC also recommends the NRCS to initiate the Constitution revision process, thus the importance of receiving the Red Cross Law, to allow the NRCS to ensure that the Constitution is aligned to the Red Cross Law. Based on this, the CMC recommends the transitional committee to initiate the work on the revision of the Constitution revision and oversee this process. As a first step, the Committee can look at the separation between governance and management and at ways of conducting elections which would ensure that the branch level can be better presented at the central level. Once the Red Cross Law is adopted, the Committee would then look at what remains to be done to align the Constitution to the Red Cross Law. When this process is completed, the Central Executive Committee can convene an Extraordinary General Assembly to adopt the Constitution and start putting in place a system to prepare for elections.
• With the adoption of the law and Constitution, the NRCS should start preparing for elections. This process requires opening the membership at the branch level to allow new members to enroll and put in place Rules and Procedures for members to be part of the National Society. It is important to note that this process could start in parallel to the revision of the Constitution as some provisions already exist in the current Constitution and they could be put in place. Once completed, elections at the branch level can be carried out as well as elections on the district level and the national level. Election Rules would be required to ensure that this process is fair, transparent and democratic.
Long term
• The CMC will continue to monitor the implementation of the National Society Development plan until new elections are carried out. The National Society Development plan is a change process towards a stronger, more accountable, efficient and sustainable NRCS, facing the complexity of the changing humanitarian landscape in the future. Therefore, the CMC recommends that the National Society Development plan be endorsed by the Central Executive Committee.
Although some elements related to the strengthening of its legal base will already be completed. However, the CMC would like to ensure that (1) policies are put in place to strengthen resource mobilization to ensure financial sustainability for effective and efficient service delivery, (2) Effective financial management systems at all level of the organization are in place as well as strengthening of the reporting system to promote transparency, accountability and compliance within the organization, (3) and a proper system to manage Human Resource is implemented which guarantees diversity and inclusiveness.
Once these elements are put in place, the CMC can consider that its plan of action has been implemented.