June 20, 2021, Leuven, Belgium – The Fifth General Assembly of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign Belgium (LKGCB) was held on Sunday, the 20th June 2021 at the Community Center Bosstraat, Wilsele, Belgium and has been completed successfully. The LKGCB is a global movement aimed at promoting peace and non-violence messages of Lord Buddha and highlighting Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha as a World Peace City.
The inauguration ceremony was performed by lighting candles by the chief guest – His Excellency Mr. Gehendra Rajbhandari (Ambassador of Nepal to BENELUX and the European Union) and special guests – His Excellency Mr. Soe Lynn Han (Ambassador of Myanmar to BENELUX and the European Union) and Ms. Madhuka Silva (Deputy Chief of the Mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels)
Ms Yogita Thapa, secretary of LKGCB, welcomed all participants. More than 30 participants representing various organizations attended the opening session including following guests-
- Chief Guest – His Excellency Mr. Gehendra Rajbhandari, Ambassador of Nepal to Benelux and the EU
- Speacial Guest -His Excellency Mr. Soe Lynn Han (Ambassador of Myanmar to BENELUX and the European Union), Ms Khin Myo Mayat Soe (Counsellor, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels) and Ms. May Myat Noe Naing (First Secretary, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels).
- Special Guest – Ms. Madhuka Silva (Deputy Chief of the Mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels)
- Mr Luciano Corsini, President, Active Intercultural Federation, Belgium (AIF+), Mr Gust Haverbeke, Secretary of AIF+ and Miguel Angel Estrada Romero, Educational Employee AIF+.
- Mr Chitra Subedi, President, NRNA Belgium
- Mrs Nanda Gurung, President, Tamu Samaj Belgium.
- Mr Dinesh Upreti, President, Kabhrepalanchowk Aid Committee, Belgium.
- Mr Hem Kumar Shrestha, President, Overseas Nepalese Forum, The Nederlands
- Ms Sabina Shrestha, Vice President, Nepalese Speaking Engineers Association, The Netherlands
Dr. Rajendra Bari, general secretary of LKGCB interesting global facts on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on violence, poverty and mental health issues. He mentioned that the need to promote peace and non-violence or address mental health is higher than ever before. Therefore, LKGCB activities are important to promote peace and non-violence. Dr. Bari also provided an overview of LKGCB activities. In addition, Dr. Bari, explained the involvement of LKGCB in addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – SDG 16 and SDG 17. SDG-16 is related to peace and SDG-17 is related to partnership and capacity building. Dr. Bari quoted recent speech given by Her Majesty the queen Mathilde of Belgium on SDG – “The SDGs helped us connect the dots. Climate change and poverty, biodiversity and human well-being, depletion of natural resources and instability, governance and inequalities are all interlinked. And they all need urgent and equal attention.”
Speaking during the program, Mr. Luciano Corsini, appreciated LKGCB mission to promote peace and non-violence and expressed his support to carry out various activities in future. He emphasized our good collaborative working environment with AIF+ organization and expressed the need to engage on more peace building activities in future.
Ms. Madhuka Silva, deputy chief of the mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels, mentioned that Buddhism brings us together because Buddhism is a way of life and Lumbini is a sacred place for all Buddhists. She appreciated the work of LKGCB organization in promoting peace at global level.
The Ambassador of Myanmar, H.E. Mr. Soe Lynn Han appreciated the work of LKGCB in promoting Buddha and his teachings at global level. Since Myanmar is a Buddhist country, he mentioned that such activities need to be extended to other countries such as Myanmar and the region. He extended his support in working together to bring the messages of peace to much wider audience.
His Excellency Mr. Gehendra Rajbhandari, expressed his support and appreciation of LKGCB activities. He emphasized the importance of Lumbini and Kapilvastu sites in promoting peace around the world. He further explained the importance of SDGs and the role of LKGCB in addressing SDGs through activities that promote peace.
Invited guests, who could not participate in the assembly because of travel restrictions or other engagements, extended their support and best wishes for the event as well as for the new executive board via email. These guests include –
- Ms Louise Haxthausen, Director of the UNESCO Office Brussels
- H.E. Mr. Tshering G. Penjor, Ambassador of Bhutan,Brussels
- Mr Dirk Vansina, Deputy Mayor, Leuven Municipality, Leuven
- Ms. Romee Giri, Ceremonial Ambassador of the flaming event of Rio 2016, LKGCB Advisor, Nepal
- Mr Basu Gautam, President, Lumbini World Peace Forum, Nepal
- Mr Gyanin Rai, Chief Administrative Officer, Lumbini Development Trust, Nepal
- Mr Ram Kumar Shrestha, Global Coordinator of Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Movement Australia
- Ms. Lara Rosi Widmer, Buddhist Meditation Teacher, Switzerland
- Dr. Krishna Aryal, National Coordinator, Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Norway
- Mr Krishna Kumar Dhakal, National Coordinator, Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Sweden
- Mr Sanjay Mudwari, National Coordinator , Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Switzerland
- Mr Mitralal Pardey, National Coordinator , Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Poland
- Mr Chinkaji Shrestha, President, Buddha Nepal Peace Foundation, USA
- Mr Kedar Shakya, Lumbini Kapilvastu Promotion, Global Campaign, Nepal
- Mr. Arjun Kumar Shrestha, Vice-President, NRNA-ICC, Nepal.
- Mr. Rabindra Man Shrestha, Vice President, Belgium Nepal Friendship Association, Belgium.
- Mr. Axel Goethals (CEO of the European Institute for Asian Studies).
At the end, the 5th General Assembly has unanimously endorsed the new Executive Board comprised of 9 members and the new Advisory Board comprising of 8 members under the leadership of Dr Rajendra Bari. The list of new executive board and advisory board members are given below. I would like to extend sincere congratulations.
New Executive Board
President : Dr Rajendra Bari
Vice-President : Ms Yogita Thapa
General Secretary: Ms Rashmi Niroula
Secretary : Mr Mahendra Bhattarai
Treasurer : Ms Maiya Nepal
Board Member : Mr Anil Thapa
Board Member : Mr Deepak Raut
Board Member : Ms Rita Rogiers
Board Member : Mr Shyam Sharma
New Advisory Board
Ms Anita Lama
Ms Janakee Gurung
Ms Rajani Pradhan
Mr Surendra Bhusal
Mr Gangadhar Gautam
Ms Romee Giri
Dr Ayasha Uprety
Mr Rabindra Man Shrestha
In the concluding remarks, Europe Advisor of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Day Global Movement and the President of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Belgium, Mr Damodar Prasad Acharya emphasized the importance of Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as a World Peace city. Mr Acharya would like to remind all Nepalese to pay more interest, attention and participation in LKGCB activities in future. Finally, Mr Acharya concluded the opening session of the 5th General Assembly of LKGCB by expressing gratitude towards all guests for their participation and thanking all participants for their excellent contribution to the assembly.