September 10, 2022, Leuven, Belgium – The Sixth General Assembly of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign Belgium (LKGCB) was held on Saturday, the 10th September 2022 at the Culture Center, Leuven, 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. Soe Lynn Han (Ambassador of Myanmar to BENELUX and the European Union) and special guest Mr. Dirk Vansina (Deputy Mayor of Leuven Municipality)
The assembly was hosted by Ms Rashmi Niroula (General Secretary of LKGCB) and Mr Mahendra Bhattarai (Secretary of LKGCB). Mr Mahendra Bhattarai welcomed all participants and provided a short, guided meditation for relaxation at the program. More than 30 participants representing various organizations attended the opening session including following guests-
- Chief guest – His Excellency Mr. Soe Lynn Han (Ambassador of Myanmar to BENELUX and the European Union)
- Special guest – Mr. Dirk Vansina (Deputy Mayor of Leuven Municipality)
- Special guests – Ms. Khin Myo Myat Soe (Counsellor, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels) and Ms. Thet Saing Chit Su (Second Secretary, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels).
- Special guest – Ms. Madhuka Silva (Deputy Chief of the Mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels)
- Special guest – Ms. Rojina Dhakal, Attache, Nepalese Embassy, Brussels
- Special guest – Mr. Axel Goethals, CEO, European Institute for Asian Studies, Brusssels
- Mr Philippe Josseka, Vice-President, Active Intercultural Federation, Belgium (AIF+) and Mr Gust Haverbeke, Secretary of AIF+
- Mr Basu Gautam, President, Lumbini World Peace Forum, Nepal
- Ms. Romee Giri and Dr Ayasha Uprety, LKGCB Advisors, Nepal
- Mr Damodar Prasad Acharya, Europe Advisor, Lumbini Kapilvastu Day Global Movement, Belgium
- Mr Ram Kumar Shrestha, Global Coordinator of Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Movement Australia
- Ms Ria Verjauw, Coordinator, Leuven Peace Movement, Belgium
- Mr Jagdish Sapkota, Secretary, NRNA Belgium
- Mr Marke Magar, World Magar Federation, Belgium
- Mr Surya Bahadur Gurung, Tamu Samaj Belgium
- Mr Dinesh Upreti, President, Kabhrepalanchowk Aid Committee, Belgium.
- Dr. Krishna Aryal, National Coordinator, Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Norway
Dr. Rajendra Bari, president of LKGCB, shared interesting global facts and costs associated with 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 various LKGCB activities related to promoting peace, disarmament, sustainable development, climate change and partnership with various organizations conducted throughout the year. 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 capacit
y 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.”
Ms Ria Verjauw, coordinator of Leuven Peace Movement (LPM), sent a video message emphasizing that she is grateful that LKGCB has joined LPM and working together to promote peace and harmony. LPV is involved in various activities related to peace, disarmament, reconciliation, social in-justice, non-violence and conflict situations. She mentioned that united forces and energy are needed more than ever to promote peace, disarmament and non-violence.
Speaking during the program, Mr. Philip Josseka, vice president of Active Intercultural Federation (AIF+) appreciated LKGCB mission to promote peace and non-violence and exp
ressed his support to carry out various activities in the future. He emphasized our good collaborative working environment with AIF+ organization and expressed the need to engage on more peace building and sustainable development activities in the future.
Mr Basu Gautam, president of Lumbini World Peace Forum extended best wishes for the general assembly and emphasized the importance of working together on various topics related to peace, climate change and sustainability in the future.
Ms Romee Giri and Dr Ayasha Uprety, Advisors of LKGCB, also mentioned that peace and happiness is very important in life. They emphasized the role of LKGCB in promoting Buddha’s messages as well as Lumbini and Kapilvastu to a broader audience throughout the world.
The secretary of Non-Resident Nepali Association Belgium, Mr Jagdish Sapkota, expressed his support to LKGCB activities in promoting Lumbini, Buddha and Peace for a long period of time. He also mentioned that there is need to carry out such activities i
n partnership with other organizations to create more impact.
Mr Damodar Prasad Acharya, Europe Advisor, Lumbini Kapilvastu Day Global Movement, explained future plans to build a replica of Lumbini in Europe together with a meditation center. This will help visitors in Europe to visit this place, participate in various activities promote peace and non-violence in the region.
Global Coordinator of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Mr Ram Kumar Shrestha, mentioned that even with steadfast evidence stating the birthplace of Buddha in Nepal, there is still erroneous misinformation being spread throughout world class museums, monasteries, international books, and even teaching curriculums of both developing and developed countries due to some technical problems. The extent of the misinformation was revealed through the Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign (LKGC) which highlights the urgency with which misconceptions about the birthplace of Buddha must be rectified. The LKGC has resulted in Google, the British Museum, textbooks in Korea and Sweden and some nationally and internationally important Buddha monasteries changing the birthplace of Buddha to Lumbini, Nepal.
Deputy Mayor of Leuven municipality, Mr Dirk Vansina, appreciated the work of LKGCB that helps in bringing people together. He mentioned that Leuven is an open city, and it is important to bring people from various cultures, backgrounds, religion together and live in harmony. Mr. Vansina extended the support of Leuven municipality to carry out various activities in promoting peace, social harmony and sustainability.
Speaking during the program, Mr. Philip Josseka, vice president of Active Intercultural Federation (AIF+) appreciated LKGCB mission to promote peace and non-violence and expressed his support to carry out various activities in the future. He emphasized our good collaborative working environment with AIF+ organization and expressed the need to engage on more peace building and sustainable development activities in the future.
Ms. Rojina Dhakal, Attache, Nepalese Embassy in Brussels expressed her support and appreciation of LKGCB activities. She emphasized the importance of Lumbini and Kapilvastu sites in promoting peace around the world. She further explained the importance of SDGs and the role of LKGCB in addressing SDGs through activities that promote peace.
Ms. Madhuka Silva, deputy chief of the mission, Embassy of Sri Lanka in Brussels, mentioned that Buddhism brings people together and both inner peace and wellbeing is very important for people to realize their full potential. 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. He mentioned that there is a need to address inequalities and discrimination of all kinds and Buddha’s messages will help to address these issues. He extended his support in working together to bring the messages of peace to much wider audience.
Invited guests, who could not attend the general assembly in-person, extended their support and best wishes for the event as well as future work via electronic means.
In the concluding remarks, President of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Belgium, Dr Rajendra Bari emphasized the importance of Lumbini, Buddha’s messages of peace, and the need to bring people together to address the challenges that we face today via peaceful and non-violent approaches. Dr Bari reminded that inner peace is very important to bring about positive changes in the outer world. Therefore, everyone should promote peace, disarmament and non-violence activities conducted by several organizations including LKGCB in the future. Finally, Dr Bari concluded the opening session of the sixth General Assembly of LKGCB by expressing gratitude towards all guests for their active participation and thanking all participants for their excellent contribution to the 6th general assembly.