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Pokhara Goes with Red for One of the Largest Student Unions’ Convention

ANNFSU convention venue, Pokhra, 2nd largest city of Nepal. Photos: Smita

Pokhara, September 21, 2008- A serene morning beneath the arresting beauty of Fishtail Mountain (Machhapuchhre) in Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city, came to life when members of All Nepal National Free Students' Union (ANNFSU), a major student union, opened their 19th National Convention using microphones from taxis, vans and motorcycles. The convention is being held here from September 20 to 26 and the organizers have decorated the city red like a new bride.

In each and every chowk (junction) of the city, ANNFSU red flags and pamphlets are hung on the poles, the walls, and the trees. The ANNFSU is a left leaning student union and the sister organization of the Communist Party of United Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML).

Volunteers are decorating Amarsing Park where the opening ceremony of the convention will welcome nearly 2,000 representatives from various colleges and districts, and 200 national and international observers. The convention is said to have the participation of student representatives from 40 different countries.

CPN (UML) General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal is scheduled to inaugurate the convention today in the presence of hundreds of thousands of local people, student representatives and non-affiliated students.

Ramkumari Jhakri, the co-coordinator of the main organizing committee of the convention and central Vice-President of ANNFSU welcoming student representatives.

Ramkumari Jhakri, the co-coordinator of the main organizing committee of the convention and central Vice-President of ANNFSU, said that she is now busy electioneering and doing her utmost to make the convention a grand success.

ANNFSU incumbent President Thakur Gaire, Vice-President Ramkumari Jhakri Magar and General Secretary Gokul Garthi Magar. Photos courtesy: www.annfsu.org.np

The convention is likely to witness stiff competition between the current vice-president and general secretary for the post of the Union's new President. Ramkumari Jhankri Magar is the Vice-President and Gokul Gharti Magar is the General Secretary of the Union.

Both candidates have eyed the post of president and have presented their separate agendas if elected to the post.

However, both said they would continue to strengthen and restructure the student body apart from working towards making the educational institutions more ‘student friendly’ and ‘disciplined’.

Ms Jhakri said, "The trend has been such that only the males have had the opportunity to lead the student unions. I want to prove that females are equally capable of providing efficient leadership.”

On the other hand, General Secretary of the Union and another prospective contender Gokul Garthi Magar said he would focus on improving both the political and organizational structure of the existing organization.

"In the past few months the organization is witnessing confusion and division among the student leaders so my first priority will be to address this issue," claimed Gharti. "I am ready to shoulder and face the challenges ahead," Gharti added.

ANNFSU has always emphasized electing the new president unanimously but this year it is likely that the Union might choose a voting system. Prior to this, the incumbent President Thakur Gaire was elected unanimously after Ramkumari Jhakri was forced to settle for Vice-President even though Ms Jhakri won with the largest vote count among the contested posts.

Former Prithvi Chok, now Lakhan Chok, named after Nepal's first martyr Lakhan Thapa Magar decorated with ANNFSU red flags. Photos: Smita

In this convention, Vice President Ram Kumari Jhakri and General Secretary Gokul Gharti are contesting for the Presidency. Co-incidentally both Jhakri and Gharti are from the indigenous Magar community and both hail from the remote parts of the country.

Jhakri hails from Kusunne, Gulmi while Gharti is from Gairigaun, Rolpa. As sources say that there is going to be tough competition between these two Magars for the position.

This is the first time any Magar candidates have run for Presidency in the history of the student organizations.

According to informed sources at the union, Nar Bahadur Dhami, Dinesh Yadav and Soviet Dhakal are contesting for vice president’s post, Upendra Poudel and Madhav Dhungel for general secretary’s post. Meanwhile, it is believed that Rupesh Khatiwada, Purushottam Acharya and Kishor Bikram Malla will be contesting for secretary’s post and Tek Raj Pachhai, Ghanashyam Kandel and Ratna Khatri for the post of treasurer.

Besides, Rachana Khadka, Nabina Lama, Nabaraj Paudel Laxman Lamsal, Bal Gopal Upadhyay, Bhim Rai, Bidur Subba, Ramesh Acharya, Deepal Gautam, Ushakiran Timilsina, Sunita Rokka, Pitambar Ghimire and Saroj Yadav are some of the candidates from Bagmati zone are vying for the secretariat members of the union in which there is a provision for only 5 seat including 2 women belonging to this zone.

Many other student leaders from different districts have equally shown their interest in competing for the secretariat member and central member.

In a six-day long convention, there will be 3-day close-session (banda-satra)last two days (September 25 and 26) open session (khulla satra) for election and announcement of the election

Gaire informed in a program that the union has prepared to accommodate some 2,000 participants coming from all over the nation at the locals’ houses in Pokhara to lessen the expenditure of the convention.

The convention will choose a total of 71 Central Executive members among which 61 will be elected by direct election and 10 will be nominated.

The ANNFSU is deploying nearly 300 volunteers to run the convention smoothly.

Since early this morning the environment of the city is excited and growing crowded as all the representatives started flowing into the city.

Meanwhile, this reporter was informed that Kathmandu Valley representatives’ arrival may be delayed by a Valley Bandh (Strike) called by Newar community protesting the government’s decision to send a coconut in place of the traditional ox for sacrifice during Indra Jatra. However, the government has now flip flopped its position after seeing the protest by the Newar Indigenous people and provided the traditional gift of an ox.

As for the chief guest, Mr. Khanal, the Bandh will not affect his arrival – he will fly in.

ANNFSU logo. Courtesy: ANNFSU

The ANNFSU is a student based organization in Nepal. It was founded in 1965. The original ANNFSU was later divided along ideological lines, and there are several organizations that emerged out of it. The main ANNFSU grouping today is politically tied to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist).

As well as declaring itself a legitimate and independent students' organization of all progressive, democratic and patriotic students of Nepal, the mainstream ANNFSU is currently a member of the World Federation of Democratic Youth.

-Smita Magar in Pokhara

Important Notice:
» Special Kathmandu Correspondent, Smita Magar, will write daily coverage of the ANNFSU Convention (Sept. 20 to 26) and will later feature news about the Gurkha Memorial Museum and other historic places and landmarks of Pokhara during her stay there.
» New York Editor for Terai Region, Amit Shah, just flew to Janakpur, Nepal to cover the World Convention of the Non Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA) which is scheduled for Oct. 13th.
» Editor-in-Chief, Pradeep Thapa, has already begun reporting on the 63rd United Nations General Assembly Meeting in New York. It runs from September 16th through October 1st and will include two addresses by Prime Minister Prachanda. USNepalOnline.Com will bring you the news of all of Prime Minister Prachanda’s appearances during his visit to New York.

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