A Metis Birthday celebration turned into death ceremony, it may not be just an unfortunate tragedy

On the eve of 25th November, Nima a Metii (cross-dressing effeminate male, age about 25 years), who celebrated her birthday with few friends and friend's of friends in kumarigal near Baudha in Kathmandu, died yesterday afternoon around 2 PM, 25th November, at the Teaching Hospital. The hospital told that Nima died with "methyl" that may have contained at the alcohol they drank in the 25th Night. Nima was rushed to the hospital just before 2 mp after started vomiting, the doctors at the emergency unit told that it was too late and Nima died soon after. Then at the evening other people who were at the party and drunk same alcohol started getting sick and rushed to the teaching hospital and were cared for methyl. They were treated by ethyl agent to neutralized methyl. 3 Metis were released yesterday after the treatment, 6 others were in serious condition and teaching hospital told us to look for other hospital as the condition may get worse and need ICU support.

It may look an unfortunate incident but after knowing that two children came and sold the "cheap and best" alcohol to the Métis that contained Methyl makes the case mysterious and may have linked with 24rd nights attack against Metis by 4 men who called themselves "Maoist" in Lazimpat, Katmandu, we came to know that the house owner in Lazimpat called the Durbar Marg Police station while Metis were looted by these 4 men but the police never turned up.

There was a police for a while, keeping Nima's blood report, disappeared after other metis started getting sick.

Blue Diamond Society and its branch offices and staffs also received few threat calls of burning down Blue Diamond Society's office in recent days.

This is a matter of grave concern and Métis are feeling extremely unsecured. We demand the police to take through investigation find the source of the Methyl alcohol that was sold to the Métis by two children.

We call your support and solidarity in this crisis.

Sunil Pant
Blue Diamond Society

Metis, victims (of political change?) in Nepal by Sunil Pant

After the recent peace deal between the Nepal Government and Maoist, like every other Nepalese, Métis (cross dressing effeminate males) also were in expectation that their rights would be ensured and they would also enjoy freedom and safety. But the situation and hate crimes they faces from many angles everyday makes them believe that the situation for Métis has become far worse than before. Before, most of the violence against Métis were committed by Nepal police but recently many Métis were victimized by men who called themselves Maoist. On night of 24th November 2006, four men, tow of them were in combat dress came to the Métis room at Lazimpat where few Métis share a apartment building and the group of Métis were abused physically, verbally, beten badly, threatened not to become Métis anymore. Their mobile phones, money, jewelries were also looted. Those 4 men, who claimed themselves from Maoist party, told Métis to come and collect the phones at Maoist office either in Kalanki or in Kupondole.

Yesterday Blue Diamond Society contacted the Maoist valley operation in charge, Yadav. He came and talked with Métis and told the unfortunate incident last night was not carried out by Maoist as they don't do this kind of looting especially from the most poor and marginalized section of population. However, Yadev told at the meeting that this was not the only case that these kind of criminals carrying out using Maoist's Name and his party was also looking for these criminals. Many Métis told it could be a group of petty criminals who constantly need money for substance use or some kind of organized move to compromise the Maoist Credit amongst the general Neplai.

One of the looter some how dropped his photograph and Métis handed over the photo to Yadav. Yadav insured the Métis that their party would try their best to crack down these kind of criminals who are using their names.

In another incident, Police from Durbar Marg Police station arrested two Métis on the same night, no charge has been filed and it's already more than 36 hours. Two Métis, nick name Bagini and Rekha (age about 25, 24) were arrested from Durbar Marg, front of Royal Palace. They were taken to the Kamal Pokharai saying they don't have enough room to keep the Métis separate in Durbar Marg Police Station, then they were brought to Durbar Marg Police station yesterday. They were not given any food or drink yet. One of the police officer told they couldn't file the charge as it was Saturday that's they had no mandate to provide the Métis food or drinks. One of the police officer also told that they didn't know why these Metis were arrested as it was done by the Police Inspector who was also in charge of that Police station.

Blue Diamond Society is very concern of such violence and arrest from state and non state parties and demand thorough investigation over these incidents by the Police and Maoist and bring the perpetrators into justice. We also demand that government must bring law and policy that prohibits discriminations and hate crimes against Métis on the basis of sexual orientations and gender identities. This kind of violence and discrimination against Métis will be no longer tolerated and government must take immediate action to ensure the safety and freedom on minorities in Nepal.

*Rally among Discrimination of Transgender Kokila on 18th October 2006 -**Pondicherry,India.*

One Transgender named Kokila age 32 was suffering from abdominalpain and was admitted in Female surgical emergency ward at G.H Pondicherry. She was advised to have an operation. She was also found that she was HIV positive. The nurses attending on kokila asked her to lift her saree show her "sex organ" – if male or female. Then she was allowed to sleep on the floor. She asked a blanket for her use and was scolded as "Transgender like you, can do without any comfort. And the doctor threw the case sheet in her face and she threw her out of the room cursing her and warning her never to step again into G.H.

Being a Transgender, Kokila is also a human like any others; shehas all rights in the society, to have proper treatment when in ill. The doctors who have to save lives behaved in this manner. Then how can one expect the general people to be kind to Aravanis.

"Sahodaran", a CBO working in the field of prevention forSTD\HIV\AIDS in Pondicherry conducted a massive rally on this issue to show the opposition to such insult and violation of rights and to show the unity of MSM people and the T.G of all over Tamil Nadu and Pondy. They invited all the organization all over Tamil Nadu and Pondy.

* *"FMSASHP" *Federation for Male Social And Sexual HealthProgramme* is formed at Trichy by the CBO`s in Tamil Nadu. It has nearly 21CBO`s as the members in it. Out of it 15 were registered and the remaining was in process. All over Tamil Nadu, the CBO is willing to show their opposition for this Kokila matter. They formed under FMSASHP and arranged a bus and took part in the rally on 18th Oct 2006, at Pondy. Nearly 13 CBO`s from FMSASHP participated in it. From this 13 CBO`s nearly 70 MSM people and Transgender participated and showed their protest against Pondy Government.

With regard to this issue the rally starts from in front of Forest Department on and passes thru Subbiah square – Anna Square – Anna Salai – Nehru Street – Mission Street – General Hospital and closing stage at Gandhi Thidal on 18th October 2006, between 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. About 350 MSM Peoples, Aravanis, CBOs, and NGOs participated from all over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.

They shouted slogans against Pondicherry Government and Hospital Officials to take immediate action. They also demanded their basic rights. The Inspector of Police Mr. Saravanan negotiated the mass. Mr. Ganesh, Project Manager, Sahodaran Pondy, explained the issue and their demands to the officials.

At the end of the rally Mr. Ganesh, Project Manager, Sahodaran Pondy, Mr. Jaya Kumar, Secretary, FMSASHP Trichy, Mr. Killivalavan Human Rights Activist, Pondy, Ms. Aasha Bharathi, Director, THAA Chennai, Ms.Priya Babu, Director, Sudar Foundation Kanchepuram, met the Chief Minister and handed over a memorandum. The Chief Minister Mr. Rengasamy took immediate action at the spot for immediate enquiry.

Organizations attended:

- THAA [CBO] Chennai
- Sudar Foundation [CBO] Kancheepuram
- Sahodaran [CBO] Chennai
- Sahodaran [CBO] Pondicherry
- Sahodaran [CBO] Karaikal
- Lotus [CBO] Kumbakonam
- MCDS [CBO] Chennai
- PNP+ [CBO] Pondicherry
- READ [NGO] Cuddalore
- Villupuram Aravanigal Association [CBO] Villupuram

*"FMSASHP" *

- SWAM [CBO] Chennai
- Snegyitham [CBO] Tiruchirapalli
- Naam [CBO] Dindigul
- Friends [CBO] Tanjore
- Nesam [CBO] Coimbatore
- Udayam [CBO] Pudukkotai
- MSMS [CBO] Erode
- Wheel [CBO] Karur
- Gokulam [CBO] Madurai
- Bright [CBO] Ramanadhapuram
- CARE [CBO] Theni
- ADAMS [CBO] Salem
- Pasam [CBO] Cuddalore

Mr. Jaya Kumar, secretary, snegyitham request every reader of this
email to send a response email to
sahodaran_pondy@ sifymail. com, snegyitham@yahoo. com.

As a solidarity measure,

Snegyitham,
A-53 Ground Floor,
Park View Road,
Anna Nagar, Tennur,
Tiruchirapalli- 620 017.
Tamil Nadu, India.
Ph: +91 (0) 431 2794719.