NSUK-1: |
During
all those years when you were actively serving for Yeti Nepali
Association UK, did you ever imagine that one day you might
be president of the same association? |
Mr
Lama: |
I
was keenly involved with the Yeti Association for seven years
then when I did stand for the Vice President’s position,
I won by a big margin of votes and next time I was chosen
to be Senior Vice President. It is my eternal desire to serve
the community rather than holding the position. But those
public support inspired me to keep on going and succeed as
a President. |
NSUK-2: |
Do
you consider Yeti Nepali Association UK an umbrella organization
amongst the other Nepalese organizations in the UK. If yes,
how do you define it as 'umbrella organization'? and if not,
why do think it's not? |
Mr
Lama: |
Yeti
Nepali Association is the oldest Nepali Organisation in the
western world. It is a broad and inclusive organisation, where
any person Nepali origin living in the UK or married to a
Nepali irrespective of any social professional class or division
is entitled to be its full member. The organisation does not
belong to some Nepali individuals only, but it belongs to
all Nepalese people of any tribe, any organisation, any territory
or any professionals. Therefore, there is no harm in saying,
it should be respected as an umbrella organisation. Any valid
Nepali organisation in the UK can apply to be affiliated with
The Yeti Association. Yeti includes wide range of activities
relating to social, religious and of national character and
has been a representative organisation of the Nepalese people
in the UK for many decades and hopes to continue doing so
for many more decades to come. |
NSUK-3: |
It
will obviously be the first task of the 21st Executive Committee
of Yeti to tackle the growing number of criticism against
the association's activities.
There's also been a lot of wrangling, constructive arguments
and comments on the 'Discussion Forum' of NepaliSamajUK over
the activities of your association. We know that you are aware
of this too. What are your comments to this? |
Mr
Lama: |
In
an open society like ours, it is only natural for people to
express their views and opinion as they wish, therefore any
positive comment will be thankfully received and any negative
but constructive comments will be taken as valuable suggestions
for future development and progress of our association. |
NSUK-4: |
Do
you think your organization have been actively co-ordinating
with other social or charitable organizations throughout the
UK in order to provide the best possible services to the Nepalese
community in the UK? |
Mr
Lama: |
We
feel we are trying our best in that regard as far as practicable. |
NSUK-5: |
Mr
President, we are sorry to put you this rather a longer question.
Can you
please brief us as to how is your organization bonded with
Yeti London Welfare Foundation (YLWF) which is a UK registered
Charity and a you are one of the trustee members.
How many
effective trustees are there at present and who are they?
Who is the chairman ? How much, approximately, fund is currently
available ? What measurements are being taken to safeguard
the outgoings and incomings of the fund ? |
Mr
Lama: |
Yeti
London Welfare Foundation is a part of Yeti Nepali Association.
Due to some unavoidable reason, winged and established as
a registered charity in the UK in 1997. There are seven trustees
at the present. Any person donating over £1,000.00,
or anyone who raises £500.00 or over are recognised
as benevolent members of the Foundation. Dr. Raghav P Dhital
is the chairman of the Foundation. The Foundation has so far
raised approximately £80,000 (eighty thousand pounds).
By generous donations from benevolent contributors. The money
is in safest hands and day to day running cost of the Foundation
is personally met by the trustees and executives of Yeti to
keep the cost to the minimum. For example, the expenses for
last year were £ 15.00 only, which was also fee paid
officially to maintain the charity.
Freeman
chartered accountant of London have been preparing and submitting
the accounts of the Yeti London Welfare Foundation from the
beginning of its formation to the date to charity commission
annually free of cost on our request. |
NSUK-6: |
Mr
President,
Would you be kind enough to give us some guideline information
as to when and how 'Yeti House' is going to be established
?
Where
does the matter stand at present anyway as regards to its
strategies and future plan? |
Mr
Lama: |
There
is a definite hints that a major step will be forwarded very
soon to raise the sufficient funds to erect the house in next
few months. Once sufficient fund is raised, the trustees and
contributors (both financial and fund raisers) will be consulted
to decide the future plan to establish Yeti Nepali House. |
NSUK-7: |
As
every year, Yeti Running Football Cup tournament will be held
this year in July, we believe. You are well aware of the 'unfortunate
incident happened at the football ground' last year, and we
all believe that your co-ordinating sports team will do utmost
best to avoid the repetition.
What
concrete security measures are you going to take this year? |
Mr
Lama: |
We
regret happening of such incidents which have occurred last
time during yeti football tournament. As you know it is always
due to one or two irresponsible people who try to spoil the
environment. The Yeti Sport committee is discussing various
measures to avoid such incidents in the future. |
NSUK-8: |
Your
organization organized an evening in remembrance of 12 Nepalese
people massacred by cruel Iraqi insurgents last year.
Do you
not think it was just not enough to remember only, but also
to support financially to the bereaved families? What has
Yeti contributed to them so far? |
Mr
Lama: |
Massacre
of twelve fellow Nepalese in Iraq last year was extremely
sad news for all Nepalese all over the world. As you know,
then the government in Nepal paid one million rupees per family
and also funds were raised in other countries including the
UK. On top of that some of our fellow colleagues promised
to help more, providing the job to the family, when we organised
a condolence meeting to pray for the departed souls and share
the grief of bereaved family. |
NSUK-9: |
Looking
at the present situation of Nepal, there has been a growing
number of criticism over the 1st February movement of King
Gyanendra. Doesn't your association's constitution permit,
at least, to support or oppose? or is your association going
to stand 'neutral'? |
Mr
Lama: |
We
are aware of the reactions both in favour and against the
Royal move of 1st February. We believe in a situation like
this, broad understanding of the cause of the problem and
sequence of events must be understood and due consideration
should be given to peace, national interest, and welfare of
the people. We support constitutional monarchy and multiparty
democracy as mentioned in the constitution of 1990. |
NSUK-10: |
You
have struggled for approx 15 years yourself for Yeti and now
you're president.
The presidency
is supposed to be a symbolic role. Are you going to be a symbolic
president of Yeti Nepali Association UK? |
| Mr
Lama: |
We
believe in teamwork and I am very proud that, each and every
member of the team is contributing for the benefit of the
association. Therefore, the question does not arise for me
to remain only a symbolic figure. |
NSUK-11: |
Finally,
what is your message to the co-ordinators of NepaliSamajUK
and how do you rate our service ? |
Mr
Lama: |
Unfortunately,
I have not been able to read your news very regularly due
to various reasons. But my simple advice is not only for you,
but also for all engaged in press and publications must be
honest, the news must be truthful based on facts, unbiased
and constructive.
On behalf of the 21st Executive committee of the Yeti Nepali
Association in the UK and my own behalf, I wish NepalisamajUK
every success in the future. Thank you. |
further
interviews coming shortly..... |
|
|
Mr
Neema W Lama
President
Yeti Nepali Association UK |
|
