Press Release:Rationale behind boycotting ANA so called 30th Convention
14 March 2012
Dear “ANA” members, community leaders, and well-wishers:
We were extremely honored to be nominated for an election a year ago for various positions in the ANA, one of the oldest organizations of people of Nepalese origins in North America. Ironically, two days before the ANA election (2011-2013), we discovered that the ANA’s registration was revoked in 2002. We were extremely disappointed, because so-called community leaders betrayed us and our community for over 10 years and kept us in the dark by conducting illegal conventions without tax compliance. Fortunately, two conflicting groups resolved their differences in an out-of-court settlement. We congratulate the visionary leadership of the claimants, who withdrew the case, restoring our diaspora’s confidence and integrity from further damage. In the aftermath of the out-of-court settlement, a court has not determined anything; unfortunately, a few unelected people with issues have created posts to foster dissention and undermine morale. We do not criticize them because that is how an autocratic system works. However, as paid members and candidates, we have grave concern about those who have been attempting to perpetuate this fraud in the name of a Texas convention:
1. On what ethical grounds can the Texas convention be called the 30th convention, since ANA has not been in compliance since 2002?
2. On what moral ground have the Private Limited ANA been creating another Texas Convention as the 30th Convention, which failed to hold long overdue elections and render the service for which membership fees were collected?
Today, more than ever, our diaspora must address many unanswered questions, such as why the dues were collected using the name of ANA, then non-compliant organization, and in an illegal manner; and why the election date has not been announced yet. All the drama of the convention is a sham. In the long-term, such behavior is counter-productive for the welfare of our people. Our priority is for a coming together of all groups and the boycotting of a fake convention. We realize that there is a great deal of work that needs to be done, but the strength of our diaspora is that we are a family. We know the things we need to do for future generations.
If the Texas convention is held, our team and members will view it as a mere convention of a private limited company. No one has forgotten that the 29th ANA convention was held on for-profit basis, and humiliated Nepalese local organizations. To reiterate, the businessmen were running their business on a contract basis. Now, the same trend has been perpetrated with the blessing of handful of people. By any means, ANA, a nonprofit organization, never can practice its activities on a contractual basis. This can be nothing more than a shameful betrayal of Nepalese interests, and should be denounced by all our members.
We community leaders support a fair and ethical election process because we are not mercenaries chosen in a nefarious manner just to satisfy the petty interests of a few people. Therefore, all stakeholders conjoined in our efforts to serve the North American Nepalese diaspora, which comprises two third of all candidates led by HB Bhandari and Priti Sagar Khatri, along with other independent candidates. We hereby declare that we support no committee(s) extended in the name of ANA, nor any convention conducted on a contractual basis without a fair election. Thus, all of us pledge to our members that we will bring professional standards of administration to its finances; find new ways to serve the particular interests of the Nepalese community in 21st century America; and, most importantly, unite the different regional chapters together democratically in common cause. It is our firm contention that the so-called 30th ANA Convention is a massive betrayal of the Nepalese diaporas as practiced since 2002. Please be mindful of the fact that we are committed to meet your high expectations by empowering and revitalizing our American Nepalis’ extended identity throughout North America.
Sincerely,
HB Bhandari
ANA Presidential Candidate
& Team
Pritisagar Khatri
ANA Senior Vice- Presidential Candidate
& Team
