On 8 Nov 017, a team of FNCN comprising President C.B. Gahatraj, Vice-Chairperson cum Head of International Department Ms Anna Paedon and Admin Officer, Santosh Khadka met US officials in Kathmandu, Lajimpat. The Team of US officials was represented by Foreign Affairs officer ROBIN SCHULMAN, Office of International Religious Freedom , Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, Washington DC, Mr. Christopher Gooch, Political Officer, Embassy of US in Nepal and Mr. Jay Nepali, Human Right Officer, US Embassy in Nepal.
In the meeting, the President of FNCN briefed on the establishment of FNCN, it was formally formed as an Advisory Committee to incorporate the Christian Issues (to be addressed) in Constitutional Assembly of a new constitution of Nepal 2007. In that regard, the FNCN conducted a national-wide assessment, which dug out the basic problems and issues of Christians and suggested accordingly to the government. Later on, it was realized that all efforts should be consolidated and keep the voice raise for the right and existence, so in-order-to do that the Advisory Committee is duly registered with the government in 2011 in the name of Federation of National Christian Nepal.
The FNCN has signed the 3 and 6 points agreements with the Nepal Government regarding the religious freedom, secularism, provision of burial land sites (across the country), reorganization of the Churches as free institutions and registration like (guthi) and to form the High Commission to carry out the tasks. So far, FNCN has established its contact points in 75 districts as well as appointed Brand Ambassadors in abroad.
In 2016, FNCN has played a vital role to set free eight Christians from Dolkha district. And in September 2017, FNCN has set free five Christians from Salyan district, who were sentenced 5 years of jail and NPR 50,000 as fine (in 14 months).
In April 17, (unidentified group) set fire at the Assumption Church, Lalitpur, the government demolished a Church with a bulldozer at Budhanilakantha, Kathmandu, Mr. Santosh Khadka, Admin Officer – FNCN was shot at the back while returning home from the office (which government hasn’t made any action yet).
Photo was taken after the meeting
The inclusion of forcibly conversion of religion in the recently passed bill of criminal acts, some Christians made protests and created confusion, (putting in media and press) which is per their own vested interest. In this regard, FNCN has organized awareness raising/interaction meeting of the legal experts with the general public to make it clear. This act has ensured the security of the religious freedom since it has mentioned and applicable only to those who promote forcibly conversion of religion. And FNCN is against the forcibly conversion. To make it clear for general Christian people, FNCN is going to conduct interaction/awareness raising program across the country.
