खबर अलिक पुरानो भईसके पनि सन्देश ताजै छ - http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=56515 After Nepal, civil society movement comes to New York BY TILAK P. POKHAREL NEW YORK, Nov 8 - Thousands of miles away from Basantapur, Baneshwor or Mangal Bazar, a kind of replica of a Citizens? Movement for Peace and Democracy, which is at its height of success in Nepal, enthralled hundreds of Nepalis and Americans living in New York on Sunday. Arjun Parajuli recited his evergreen poems like Satra Saal Bhag Dui, Jangabahadur; Ramesh sang his revolutionary songs; and, firebrand human rights activist Krishna Pahadi was the chief speaker, no less. Only difference was: street heroes ? Parajuli and Ramesh, among others, were seen only on screen while Pahadi was there to give his free-flowing and articulate speech live. The eyes and ears of the audience gathered at the hall of Satya Narayan Mandir in Jackson Heights were also glued to the poem recitals by Nepalis living in New York ? Govind Koirala, Binod Rokka and Deepak Khadka. And, the screening of a documentary on the ongoing pro-democracy movement in Nepal made them understand the real situation back home, thanks to samudaya.org, which made the documentary. Addressing the programme organized by the Alliance for Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal ? USA, Pahadi said, unlike the political parties, the civil society movement wouldn?t cease in any agreement with the palace until "kissing the success" ? achieving full democracy and lasting peace. ?Nepalis back in 1990 had concluded that an active monarch was useless,? said Pahadi. ?This movement won?t cease in any agreement [with the palace]? it will at any cost achieve its goals.? Pahadi, who directly came to the programme venue upon landing at a New York airport while coming from his speaking tour in Europe, added, ?The king doesn?t seem to be willing to give a political outlet to the present crisis? he doesn?t want to resolve problems peacefully.? Among the six aims of the civil society movement, according to Pahadi, are: empowering the political forces; achieving a democratic republic; state mechanism of non-violence, goodwill and inclusive; and safeguarding the thus achieved transformations. ?Peace is not possible with the constitutional monarchy? Following the king means being slaves.? He urged the Nepalis living abroad to support the movement by heart, not with wealth. Alliance President Sanjay Parajuli said the Nepalis living abroad would do their best to support the movement. Pahadi, who left Nepal on a 7-week speaking tour at the behest of Amnesty International on October 4, is also going to hobnob with Nepalis and foreign scholars in New York University on Tuesday. He has already visited Belgium, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and Italy and is returning home after a two-week stay in the United States. He was also awarded with an honorary citizenship of the Italian city of Termini Imerese last month. ____