ANA Legal Program Meeting @ 12 PST on February 7, 2010

ANA Legal Program Meeting Minutes

ANA Legal Program Meeting
February 7, 2010 3-4pm
Via Teleconference

An autonomous ANA Legal Program by attorneys and legal professionals in the U.S. has been formed with the objective of helping Nepali community in U.S. and other countries.

The meeting was participated by:
Attorneys-
Binod Roka
Keshav Raj Seadie
Matthew Handley
Ranju Shrestha
Khagendra GC could not attend but provided ideas on what the program
could do.

Santosh Giri- Paralegal
Simon Dhungana- President
Sirish Bhojpure- Information Director

MEETING SUMMARY

I.             Introduction

Participants introduced themselves briefly and the work they do.

II.           Overview

Simon Dhungana gave an overview of the new ANA. He talked about ANA now being a flat plaform  organization with all volunteers being equal albeit with different roles. He explained that the Executive Board consists of presidents of most of the local organizations in major Nepali population centers, and Functional Programs are led by experts of the field and run autonomously to the benefit of the entire community.

All shared ideas on what the program means, what it should do, and how it should be done. Consensus was that the program is a starting point for providing legal referral services to the Nepali community.

III.          Collectively following topics were talked about in addressing what the program should do during personal remarks. Khagendra GC had provided remarks prior to the meeting.

a.    Making community aware of the legal issues

b.    A sort of clearing house for legal issues

c.    Immigration referral source

d.    Pro bono service

e.    Service in U.S., Nepal, and other countries where U.S. laws may be applicable

f.     Provide online services

g.    Conduit for legal services

h.    Establishment of legal defense fund

i.      Worker abuse

j.     Immigrant project

k.    Human rights

l.      Minority rights

m.  Legal literacy program

n.    Online portal anlus.org

o.    Find out what areas need assistance

p.    Legal clinic

q.    Reference point

r.     Mentoring program

s.    Referral service

t.     Worker rights

IV.          The group discussed the ideas and agreed focus should be narrow for now and should start with

a.    Immigration law

b.    Labor law

c.    General information on Legal terms (Glossary)

d.    Survey on what legal advices are needed

V.            Following resources would be used to provide platform for the program

a.    Online (web portal, group email, integration with other sites)- Immediate

b.    Call Center (telephone service)- Near future

c.    Keshav Raj Seadie was proposed and seconded as Program Coordinator. Santosh Giri agreed to assist as Co-Coordinator

VI.          Action Items

a.    Sirish Bhojpure will setup resources needed and provide online sub domain. An announcement will be made once the website is up.

Janakpur District Court Bombed

A bomb explosion hit Dhanusha District Court on Saturday, no casualties reported.

See News.

Nepal’s Adoption Laws Flawed

After the adoption procedures were halted in 2008, the legal framework and procedural aspects still have loopholes, allowing child trafficking, unregulated child care and flooding of falsified documents.

SEE NEWS FOR DETAILS.

बाल्टिमोरमा नेपाली एर्टर्नी पुजा रेग्मीको नेपाली समुदायलाई निःशुल्क कानुनी परामर्श

बाल्टिमोरमा निःशुल्क कानुनी परामर्श
जनवरी २४ आइतवार

बाल्टिमोर,अमेरिका । बाल्टिमोर एशोसियसन अफ नेपलिज इन् अमेरिका (बाना) ले स्थानीय नेपाली समुदायलाई लक्षित गरी यहाँ निःशुल्क कानुनी परामर्श कार्यक्रम सम्पन्न गरेको छ। आप्रवासीहरुले पाउन सक्ने कानुनी सुविधा र उपचारका बारेमा जानकारी दिइएको उक्त कार्यक्रममा स्थानीय नेपाली एर्टर्नी पुजा रेग्मी र उनकी सहकर्मी लरिन पार्कले अमेरिकाको वर्तमान अध्यागमन कानुनमा रहेका विषयहरुका बारेमा प्रकाश पार्नु भएको थियो। रोडरिगेज स्टेलमाक पार्क एण्ड रेग्मी अध्यागमन कानुनी परामर्शका एर्टर्नी रेग्मी र पार्कले अमेरिकी राष्ट्रपति बाराक ओबामाले आप्रवासीहरुको बारेमा तयार गर्न छलफलमा रहेको आप्रवाससम्बन्धी बृहत् कानुनी मस्यौदाका बारेमा पनि चर्चा गर्नुभएको थियो।

आइतवार बाल्टिमोरमा आयोजित कार्यक्रममा आप्रवासीहरुले अमेरिकामा स्थायी बसोबासका लागि पाउन सक्ने कानुनी उपायहरुका बारेमा प्रकाश पार्दै एर्टर्नी रेग्मीले सुझावको रुपमा तथ्य जानकारी नभई कानुनी प्रक्रियामा प्रवेश नगर्न आग्रह गरिन्। कार्यक्रममा विशेषगरी शरणार्थी आवेदन गर्ने उपाय र कानुनी व्यवस्था, विद्यार्थी तथा कामदार भिसा,अस्थायी कामका लागि अनुमति भिसा,विवाह तथा रोजगार भिसा,अमेरिका बाहिर रहेका आफ्ना परिवारका सदस्यहरुलाई स्पोन्सर गर्ने भिसा, अमेरिकी नागरिकता लिने प्रक्रिया र विद्यमान आप्रवास सम्बन्धी कानुनमा रहेका अन्य विषयहरुका बारेमा विस्तृत व्याख्यासहित जानकारी दिइएको थियो। यसैगरी सहभागीहरुले पनि आप्रवास कानुनमा रहेका विषयहरुका बारेमा एर्टर्नीहरुसँग निःशुल्क परामर्श लिएका थिए।

कार्यक्रममा एर्टर्नी रेग्मीले सहकर्मी लरिनसँग नेपाली आप्रवासीहरुले चासो राख्ने कानुनी विषयका बारे जानकारी दिदैं आफूहरुले गरेको अध्ययनमा शरणार्थी कोटाबाट आवेदन दिने नेपालीहरुको प्रतिशत ज्यादा रहेको तथ्यांक समेत दिएकी थिइन्। उनका अनुसार, सन् २००८ को अध्यागमन तथ्यांक अनुसार अमेरिकामा कानुनी बसोबासका लागि शरणार्थीको रुपमा आवेदन गर्ने मुलुकहरुको सूचीमा नेपाल पहिलो १० देशहरुमध्ये एक पर्दछ। सन् २००८ मा ३५० जना नेपालीहरुले आप्रवास कानुन अर्न्तर्गत शरणार्थी कोटामा कानुनी बसोबासको अनुमति पाएका थिए। तर सोही वर्ष ४४३ जना नेपालीहरुलाई चाँहि शरणार्थी बसोबासको अनुमति नदिई आफ्नै देश फिर्ता (डिपोर्ट ) गरिएको थियो। अमेरिकामा प्रत्येक वर्ष ७० हजार आप्रवासीहरुले शरणार्थी कोटामा कानुनीरुपमा स्थायी बसोवासका लागि  आवेदन दिन्छन् जसमध्ये करीब ३० प्रतिशतको मात्र आवेदन स्वीकृत हुन्छ भने ७० प्रतिशत अस्वीकृत। एर्टर्नी रेग्मीका अनुसार प्रक्रिया नबुझी गरिने आबेदन अस्वीकृत हुने सम्भावना बढी हुन्छ।

कार्यक्रमको दोश्रो चरणमा नेपाली सीपीए हरि शर्माले व्यक्तिगत तथा व्यवसायिक आयकर तिर्ने प्रक्रिया र करको महत्वमाथि प्रकाश पार्नुभएको थियो। करीब २० वर्षपहिलेदेखि एकाउण्ट सम्बन्धी कार्य गर्दै आइरहनु भएका उहाँले आफ्नो तर्फाट नेपाली समुदायका सदस्यहरुलाई सहयोग प्रदान गर्न आफू सधैं तत्पर रहेको भन्दै अहिले कर फायल कसरी गर्ने भन्ने बारेमा निःशुल्क परामर्शका लागि सर्म्पर्क गर्न आग्रह समेत गर्नुभएको थियो।

कार्यक्रममा एर्टर्नी रेग्मी तथा लरिन र सीपीए शर्माले आफूहरु नेपाली समुदायलाई सहयोग पुग्ने कार्यका लागि तयार रहेको भन्दै बानासँग समन्वय गरेर समुदायका सदस्यहरुलाई सेवा प्रदान गर्न इच्छुक रहेको धारणा व्यक्त गरेका थिए। सोही अवसरमा सहभागी तथा परामर्शदातासहित सबैलाई धन्यवाद दिदैं आयोजक संस्थाकी अध्यक्ष रबिना थापाले समुदायको हितका लागि आफूहरु क्रियाशील रहेको भन्दै भविश्यमा पनि यस्तै अन्य कार्यक्रमहरु गर्दै जाने जानकारी दिएकी थिइन्। अध्यक्ष थापाले हाइटीका नागरिकहरुलाई सहयोग जुटाउन बानाले आर्थिक सहयोग संकलन गरिरहेको भन्दै प्राकृतिक प्रकोपमा परेर बाँचेका हाइटीका नागरिकहरुका लागि मानवीय धर्म निर्वाह गर्दै सहयोग गर्न सबैलाई आग्रह समेत गरेकी थिइन्। बानाले आफ्नो वेभर्साईट www.banaonline.org तथा यसको सर्म्पर्क ठेगानामार्फ् चेक प्राप्त हुने गरी यही जनवरी ३१ तारिखसम्म हाइटी सहयोग संकलन जारी राखेको जानकारी बानाका महासचिव गौतम दाहालले प्रेषित गरेको विज्ञप्तिमा उल्लेख छ।

http://www.janapukar.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10660&Itemid=113

Democrats make a comeback to Nepal Bar after a decade

• Panel led by Khadka sweeps all 17 seats at NBA

DEEPENDRA BISTA

Newly elected NBA President Prem Bhadur Khadka (L) is being congratulated by republican candidate Ramnath Mainali (R) after the official announcement of the NBA polls in Kathmandu on Thursday.

Related News Bar Association polls: Vote counting in final stage, Democratic leading in majoriity seats including presidential NBA polls to see three-party contest Nemwang not to cast vote in Bar elections

KATHMANDU, JAN 14 -
After a decade, the Democratic panel has emerged victorious in the election held last Saturday to elect new central committee of Nepal Bar Association (NBA)  sweeping all 17 seats of the umbrella body of Nepali lawyers.

Democratic candidate Prem Bahadur Khadka has been chosen for the new leadership, outstripping his closest rival Hari Krishna Karki with over 400 votes. The election committee on Thursday announced the final results of the NBA polls.

Khadka garnered 2566 votes and Karki followed him with 2145 votes, while the republican candidate Ram Nath Mainali had to settle with 952 votes.

Khadka is close to the Nepali Congress, Karki is aligned to the CPN-UML and Mainali is close to the UCPN (Maoist).

Likewise, democratic candidate for NBA General Secretary Bijaya Prasad Mishra emerged victorious with 2685 votes beating his closest rival Hari Phuyal of progressive, who obtained 2156 votes.

Lawyers across the country on Saturday had cast their votes to elect the new NBA leadership. Legal practitioners had cast ballots at different 34 polling stations across the country to select 17 candidates for the new central working committee of NBA.

Of the 6,899 registered legal practitioners, 5,922 advocates had cast votes in the election.

Altogether 54 lawyers were vying for 17 different positions including the president.

http://www.kantipuronline.com/2010/01/14/Editors-Pick/Democrats-make-a-comeback-to-Nepal-Bar-after-a-decade/306379/

Democratic Panel Leading in NBA Elections

details to come…

Khadka  likely to win NBA prez

REPUBLICA KATHMANDU, Jan 13: Democratic panel´s candidate Prem Bahadur Khadka is leading the vote count in the election for president of Nepal Bar Association. Khadka, who contested from the democratic panel, is leading with 1,358 votes while Hari Krishna Karki, contesting from the leftist panel, is following with 951 votes. Ram Nath Mainali is third with 345. Mainali is close to the Maoists. Similarly Sitaram Rai leads for the post of vice-chairman in the eastern region with 1,357 votes while Surendra Kumar Mahato leads in the central region with 1,333 votes. More // //

Seven in running for NBA prez post

 

 Nepal Bar Association head office 

Himalayan News Service

KATHMANDU: Seven candidates are in fray for the post of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) President — the umbrella organisation of lawyers across the country.  Advocates Hari Krishna Karki, Prem Bahadur Khadka and Senior Advocate Ram Nath Mainali have filed their nomination representing progressive, democratic and revolutionary panels, respectively, for the upcoming NBA elections. Advocates Matrika Prasad Niraula, Ram Kumar Yadav and Madan Mohan Chaudhari are other candidates for the post. The election has been scheduled for January 9. Since the tenure of Senior Advocate Bishwo Kanta Mainali-led executive is coming to an end, the NBA began the election process. Hari Phuyal, Shaymjee Pradhan, Bijaya Prasad Mishra, Sushma Baskota Baral and Raman Kumar Karki are running for the post of General Secretary. According to the election commission of the NBA, 62 persons have filed their nomination for the 17-member executive of the lawyers’ body. 

Nepal urged to enact nuclear law

www.chinaview.cn  | 2009-10-26 19:20:52

KATHMANDU, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) 

The International Atomic Energy(IAEA), the world’s center of cooperation in the nuclear field, has urged the Nepali government to enact nuclear law and establish an atomic energy commission as soon as possible to deal with nuclear issues in Nepal. According to Monday’s myrepublica.com, IAEA’s call to Nepal for membership came at the end of a fact-finding mission, which visited Nepal on Oct. 19-23. The mission’s visit followed the first-ever visit of IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed Elbaradei to Nepal in September, said Science Secretary Ram Hari Aryal. “The law and regulations should be enforced as soon as possible,” IAEA said in its preliminary report submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology. As of today, there is no legislation and regulation to oversee nuclear activities, including licensing and inspecting. IAEA can help Nepal in many areas of development like health, agriculture and energy if it enacts nuclear law. Besides, IAEA will not be authorized to provide Nepal with radioactive sources for medical and other purposes till it enforces nuclear laws. Meanwhile, the three-member mission also expressed concern over safety of radioactive elements used by different cancer hospitals, said a government official who worked with the mission during the visit. Nepal currently lacks mechanism to notify any nuclear accident to IAEA though it is required to have such mechanism as a member state. Nepal became IAEA member in August, 2008. Aryal told the website that Nepal can benefit from the IAEA in different areas of development as IAEA works with its members states and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful nuclear technologies. Editor: Lin Zhi

———-

ANLUS has learnt that the Ministry of Information and Technology Team is currently preparing a draft of the Neuclear Bill.

Crime Victim Compensation Programs in the US States

National Association of Crime Victim Compensation Boards

Crime Victim Compensation Programs

Contact List – September 1, 2009

Alabama

Cassie Jones, Executive Director

Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission

P.O. Box 231267

Montgomery, AL  36123-1267

(334) 290-4420    FAX: (334) 290-4455

1-800-541-9388 (victims only)

www.acvcc.state.al.us

Alaska

Kate Hudson, Administrator

Violent Crimes Compensation Board

P.O. Box 110230

Juneau, AK  99811-0230

1-800-764-3040  FAX: (907) 465-2379

www.admin.state.ak.us/Vccb.htm

Arizona

Tony Vidale, Manager

Arizona Criminal Justice Commission

1110 W. Washington St., Suite 230

Phoenix, AZ  85007

(602) 364-1146    FAX: (602) 364-1175

1-877-668-2252

www.acjc.state.az.us

Arkansas

Avis Lane, Administrator

Crime Victims Reparations Board

Office of the Attorney General

323 Center St., Suite 600

Little Rock, AR  72201

(501) 682-1020    FAX: (501) 682-5313/683-5569

1-800-448-3014 (in-state)

www.ag.state.ar.us

California

Julie Nauman, Executive Officer

Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board

P.O. Box 48

Sacramento, CA  95812-0048

1-800-777-9229    FAX: (916) 491-6420

www.vcgcb.ca.gov