By Sudeshna Sarkar, IANS
Kathmandu : They are famous for their climbing skills and have produced some of the world’s best mountaineers. Now Nepal’s Sherpas, who are largely apolitical, have come out of their shell to join the growing protests against the crackdown on Buddhist monks in Myanmar by the ruling junta.
“We did not take part in the street protests against King Gyanendra’s absolute rule last year because it was political,” said Kripa Sura Sherpa, president of the Nepal Sherpa Association.
“But the Myanmar protests are religious. They are being staged by Buddhist monks and nuns, who are our brethren. Being Buddhists ourselves, we are urging the military government of Myanmar to stop the inhuman repression, release prisoners and respect human rights.”
Forty Buddhist monasteries from Kathmandu, allied under the Nepal Buddhist Federation, Thursday held a public meeting in the capital, demanding an end to military rule in Myanmar.
Red-robe clad, tonsured monks and nuns sat in prayer, Tibetan prayer books held before them.
One of the speakers at the meet was Pasang Sherpa, a well-known name in Nepal today.
Pasang Sherpa heads the Nepal Adivasi Janajati Mahansangh, a federation of more than 40 ethnic organisations.
Since last year, the Mahansangh has become a political force to contend with after it began a movement for the rights of Nepal’s indigenous communities.
“We are keenly watching the developments in Myanmar,” Pasang Sherpa said. “Besides public protests, we have also started a diplomatic campaign.
“We are petitioning the Myanmar Embassy in Kathmandu, we are linking with human rights defenders for advocacy, and we are also asking our government to protest to the Myanmar junta.
“The junta cannot stop the peaceful protests for democratic rights.”
Thirty-year-old Tenzing Lama, who comes from Kathmandu’s Samtenling Monastery, said the gomabas – Buddhist monasteries – had planned to bring 1,000 lamas, or revered Buddhist teachers, for a public rally in solidarity with the embattled monks and nuns in Myanmar.
“But we could not get them all due to the unrest and political turmoil in Nepal,” he said. “Also, our protest is a peaceful one. We don’t want to obstruct traffic and create a law and order problem for the Nepal government.”
Nepal’s monasteries are waiting for information on what transpired at the meeting between Myanmar’s government and UN representative Ibrahim Gambari, who has also met detained Myanmarese leader Aung San Suu Kyi during his four-day visit.
“We want to find out the reactions first,” said Karma Sangpo, a 29-year-old monk who is in charge of the federation’s international relations. Then we will decide on our next course of action.
“What happened in Myanmar should not recur. It is a blow to the heart for Buddhists worldwide.”
Nepal’s monks feel they have a special responsibility to end the violence in Myanmar, which killed at least nine and caused the arrest of over 2,000 protesters, since Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha, whose teachings are followed in Myanmar.
Nepal’s political parties, who last year waged a peaceful protest against King Gyanendra’s coup and succeeded in ending the royal regime, have also expressed support for the democracy movement in Myanmar.