May 27, 2023, Leuven, Belgium – The Seventh General Assembly of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign Belgium (LKGCB) was held on Saturday, the 27th of May 2023 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 guest of honour – Mr. Dirk Vansina (Deputy Mayor of Leuven Municipality) and Ms Saw Yu Nwe, Deputy Chief of Mission, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels.
The assembly was hosted by Ms Rashmi Niroula (General Secretary of LKGCB) and Mr Mahendra Bhattarai (Secretary of LKGCB). Mr Mahendra Bhattarai provided welcome speech and welcomed all participants. In addition, Mr Bhattarai showed a short promotional video on Lumbini and another short video on guided meditation for relaxation at the program. More than 50 participants representing various organizations attended the opening session including following guests-
- Guest of Honour – Mr. Dirk Vansina, Deputy Mayor, Leuven Municipality
- Special guest – Ms Saw Yu Nwe, Deputy Chief of Mission, Myanmar Embassy, Brussels
- Special guest – Ms May Oo Kyinnar Naing, second secretary, Myanmar Embassy Brussels
- Special guest – Mr Ramesh Gaire, Third Secretary, Nepal Embassy, Brussels
- Special guest – Ms. Ria Verjauw, Coordinator, Leuven Peace Movement, Belgium
- Special guest – Mr Jan De Troyer, Director, Active Intercultural Federation, Belgium
- Special guest – Mr Basu Gautam, President, Lumbini World Peace Forum, Nepal
- Ms. Romee Giri, LKGCB Advisor, Nepal
- Mr Chiran Kumar Khawas, President, Nepalese Businessmen Association, Belgium
- Mr Narayan Adhikari, President, Shangri-La Society, Belgium
- Mr Damodar Prasad Acharya, Europe Advisor, Lumbini Kapilvastu Day Global Movement, Belgium
- Mr Ram Kumar Shrestha, Global Coordinator of Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Movement Australia
- Mr Santosh Neupane, Former Lumbini Kapilvastu Day Movement Coordinator in Belgium.
- Mr Dinesh Upreti, President, Kabhrepalanchowk Aid Committee, Belgium.
- Dr. Krishna Aryal, National Coordinator, Lumbini Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Norway
- Ms Sophorn Kang and colleagues, WATAMRIT and Cambodian Culture Circle, Halle, Belgium
Dr. Rajendra B
ari, president of LKGCB, shared interesting global staggering 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 and emphasized the need to provide resources by relevant organizations to address those needs. 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 2022. 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.”
Ms Ria Verjauw, coordinator of Leuven Peace Movement (LPM), appreciated the involvement of LKGCB as one of the 7 partner organizations of LPM and working together to promote world peace. LPV is involved in various activities related to peace, disarmament, reconciliation, social in-justice, non-violence, and conflict situations. She drew the attention of all participants towards on-going conflict situation in Ukraine and called upon all relevant authorities to immediately stop the war in Ukraine and come to the negotiating table for peaceful resolution of the current situation. Ms Verjauw also wished for a great future collaboration towards addressing the goals of non-violence, nuclear disarmament, reconciliation and world peace.
Mr Basu Gautam, president of Lumbini World Peace Forum (LWPF) sent a video message and mentioned that the current situation is Ukraine is impacting all of us and there is a need to promote peace. Peace is not only absence of war but an active pursuit of harmony, justice and compassion. LWPF is tirelessly working towards this goal focusing on the transformative power of peace. Mr Gautam appreciated our support to the goal of planting one million trees and collaborative work on various topics related to peace, climate change and sustainability. Mr Gautam reminded that peace is not an abstract concept, it requires continuous efforts, dialogues and collaborations. Mr Gautam extended his best wishes for the program and many more collaborative works towards sustainable peace in the future.
Ms Romee Giri, Advisor of LKGCB, sent her best wishes for the program through a video message. In the time of conflict, war and violence, we are living in a global reality that we lack peace. Ms Giri mentioned that peace promoting activities of LKGCB is even more important today and she called upon all relevant actors to address this issue collaboratively.
Mr Narayan Adhikari, President of Shangri-La Society in Belgium highlighted interesting teachings of Buddha about life. Mr Adhikari mentioned that we can all benefit by following the teachings of Buddha in our life and promote peace in the world. Mr Adhikari appreciated the work of LKGCB and extended his support in carrying out collaborative work in the future.
Mr Chiran Kumar Khawas, President of Nepalese Businessmen Association in Belgium (NEBAB) mentioned that principles and messages of Buddha is important in our lives and appreciated the work of LKGCB in promoting peace and suatainability. The work of LKGCB in promoting peace in partnership with various other organizations is important. Mr Khawas extended the support of NEBAB in promoting the activities of LKGCB globally.
Mr Damodar Prasad Acharya, Europe Advisor, Lumbini Kapilvastu Day Global Movement, also attended the program despite his health issues. He mentioned that there are plans to build a replica of Lumbini in BeNeLux to provide opportunities for people who are less able to travel to Nepal because of health or financial issues. This will help visitors in Europe to visit this place, participate in various activities to promote peace and non-violence in the region. In addition, Mr Acharya informed that one of the religious books in Norway needs correction with regards to the birthplace of Buddha and relevant authorities needs to be contacted in the future to rectify the information. Working towards peace and non-violence is more important than ever and all relevant organizations helping each other to achieve common goals and sustainable peace is paramount, mentioned Mr Acharya.
Global Coordinator of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Mr Ram Kumar Shrestha, sent a written message mentioning that millions of people globally have been provided misconstrued information pertaining to the birthplace of World Peace Symbol Lord Buddha’s birthplace. This is an injustice that requires correction. Given the magnitude of this injustice the LKGC is giving the utmost priority to promoting the correct information regarding Buddha’s birthplace. Mr Shrestha has also handed over a 6-page research report written to Presidents and Prime Ministers of seven countries to Nepal government and Nepal government has already sent the report to them to join the cause to end widely held misconceptions on Buddha’s birthplace. Mr Shrestha is optimistic that we all will be together in this Global Mission through LKGCB and extended his best wishes for the 7th general assembly and great work ahead.
Speaking during the program, Mr Jan De Troyer, Director of Active Intercultural Federation (AIF+) in Belgium, appreciated the work of LKGCB. Mr De Troyer mentioned that AIF+ and LKGCB have common goals of social harmony, sustainability, and peace in the world. Working together with various organizations in a collaborative manner is essential to achieve those goals. Mr De Troyer also appreciated the involvement and support of LKGCB in the board of AIF+ and extended his support of various collaborative work to bring about positive change in the future.
Mr Ramesh Gaire, Third Secretary of Nepalese Embassy in Brussels appreciated the beautiful work of LKGCB in promoting Lumbini, Kapilvastu, Buddha and world peace. He also expressed the support of Nepalese Embassy in carrying out LKGCB activities as well as partnership with various similar organizations.
Deputy Mayor of Leuven municipality, Mr Dirk Vansina, mentioned that the the city of Leuven and LKGCB have common goals of social harmony, sustainability and peace. Mr Vansina appreciated the work of LKGCB that helps in bringing people together and creating the diversity. 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 Vansina provided his commitment to support various activities of LKGCB, Nepalese community in Leuven and successful year ahead.
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. These guests include –
- Her Excellency Mrs Grace Asirwatham, Embassy of Sri Lanka to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU
- Ms Louise Haxthausen, Director of the UNESCO Office Brussels
- H.E. Mr. Tshering G. Penjor, Ambassador of Bhutan, Brussels
- Mr Mohamed Ridouani, 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
- 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 Kedar Shakya, Lumbini Kapilvastu Promotion, Global Campaign, Nepal
- Axel Goethals (CEO of the European Institute for Asian Studies).
During the program, LKGCB member, Ms Rubina Sharma presented an interesting cultural show by bringing together Nepalese children and letting them display Nepalese dresses from various parts of the country.
Dr Bari provid
ed certificate of appreciation to former secretary of LKGCB, Mr Geert Catrysse for his excellent contributions to LKGCB organization and all children involved in cultural show for their active participation to the 7th general assembly.
In the concluding remarks, President of Lumbini-Kapilvastu Global Campaign, Belgium, Dr Rajendra Bari emphasized the importance of working together to achieve our common goals related to peace, social harmony and sustainability as well as 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.
Dr Bari informed the audience that LKGCB is currently in the process of becoming a memb
er of International Peace Bureau to expand the partnership with other similar organization in the world. Finally, Dr Bari concluded the opening session of the seventh General Assembly of LKGCB by expressing gratitude towards all guests for their active participation and thanking all participants for their excellent contribution to the 7th general assembly.