Ashish Poudel (K
ATHMANDU, 30 November 2018) – The Asia Pacific Summit is set to be inaugurated tomorrow with great fanfare. All the delegates comprised of heads of the governments and senior members of party and government of South Pacific nations have arrived Kathmandu to attend the summit.
Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen and State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi are some high profiles guests, who have been invited by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for the official visit. Others are the heads of the government of other small island nations of Asia Pacific.
The Summit has drawn serious controversies in Nepal as the main host of summit is an organization – Universal Peace Federation- which aims to expand Christianity worldwide. Other co-hosts of the Summit are Nepal government and International Conferences of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).
Nepal is secular country, religious freedom is guaranteed. But Nepali state cannot promote the Christianity. But here in the summit, Nepali government has already breached the constitution by hosting such summit that consolidates the certain religious faith.
After the promulgation of constitution of 20 September 2015 that transformed the identity of Nepal as Secular Republican state, religious conversions have become sporadic. Behind all the conversions are some forceful elements – money and other assertions.
The secular identity of Nepali state has been tarnished by westerners, who, in disguise of social service, have been publicly conducting a mission of converting Hindu into Christian. The government is aware on it. Some foreigners have been already arrested and deported to their home for such unlawful act.
In this backdrop, how the government could host such Summit? Questions are serious. This summit would be remained as the greatest mistake of the government.
Secondly, the government, without prior homework, made the visit of Camodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and State Counsellor Suu Kyi- official. The government could have invited them for the official visit with due preparation. But the government’s focus was to make the Summit a great success.
It’s shameful.