KATHMANDU: The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has made a call not to carry out activities that are against its principles and dignity.
NRCS’ this call to its erstwhile Ad-hoc Committee comes in the context of a case related to the legality of the Central Ad-hoc Committee remaining sub judice at the Supreme Court.
“We the volunteers and employees of NRCS scattered throughout the country are surprised and concerned after some persons including president of the erstwhile ad-hoc committee Dr Netra Prasad Timsina and member Baburaja Maharjan carrying hammers and other tools all of a sudden barging into the Red Cross central office and breaking two doors at the office when the case related to the authenticity of the Central Ad-hoc Committee is under the consideration at the Supreme Court,” stated a press release issued on Monday by NRCS executive director Umesh Prasad Dhakal.
Dhakal also stated that such activities that are against the spirit and decorum of the Red Cross are regrettable and very unbecoming.
Moreover, the press release states that the NRCS’ serious attention was drawn to the attempts of the erstwhile ad-hoc committee led by Dr Timilsina to create deception among the general public and the Red Cross fraternity by writing to various bodies urging them not to support the programmes targeted to the vulnerable communities and creating obstruction in the operation of bank accounts and issuing press release accusing the officials of the regulatory bodies in an indecent manner, through the unauthorized use of the NRCS letterhead and stamp.
The press release reads, “The organisation again requested to stop such activities immediately as improper and unauthorized activities are still taking place even after frequent request not to misuse the letterhead and stamp of the organisation. We want to inform all that the service and necessary activities to be delivered from the central office of the Red Cross Society are being performed under the leadership of the executive director.”
Saying it is still difficult to conduct the activities and services of the organisation in a full swing due to limited area of jurisdiction of the executive director, the press release mentioned that the organisation is hopeful that an outlet to the existing problems would be sought soon in order to carry out preparedness for the monsoon-induced disaster and COVID response as well as other necessary humanitarian services.
“The services delivered by seven provincial committees, 77 district branches, more than 1,500 sub-branches, around 6,000 junior and youth Red Cross Circle and 1.1 million members associated to these bodies and more than 1,000 trained volunteers in community is admirable. We extend gratitude towards the government, the non-government offices, civil society, the International Committee of the Red Cross, international federation, and partner National Society to safeguard the existence of the organisation and to keep it in service in such a difficult situation. We heartily request all the concerned sides for continuous support to run the essential humanitarian services smoothly”, stated the press release.
