Jana Astha: Are foreigners keen to fund human rights activities even if you are against the idea?
Krishna Pahadi: All donors have their own vested interests. I don't believe that they are funding just for human rights activities. We are fighting for our own democracy, human rights and peace. So, our own nationals should be the ones to provide funds. We can't campaign with foreigners' money.

So how many Nepalis have financially supported your organisation?
We have an annual budget of only Rs 400,000-500,000. We collect our local funds through the people who like to join us as members. We are sure to collect the amount this year, with which we can run our programs easily. I'm sure other organisations would definitely estimate a cost of Rs 2-4 million for the same work.

Aren't your human rights activist friends angry that your initiative could lead to the drying up of their foreign support as well?
I am nice with everyone. I don't interfere in their work. They might be right in their own way. We have a policy in our organisation that we would never indulge in criticising others. We are ardent followers of the Gandhian philosophy.

Won't you risk losing your members, who would opt for dollar-oriented organisatons?
Some have already left but we have new members interested to join us. Those who are serious about our movement will never leave us.

You released a press statement holding the army responsible for killing former MP Hem Narayan Yadav, and at times your statements target the Maoists. Don't you fear the possible consequences of doing all this?
I believe that one should not join the human rights movement feeling insecure and scared. Activists should be least concerned about themselves while fighting for the security and human rights of all Nepali citizens. I have not yet received any threat from either the government or the Maoists. If you die, you are relieved from this tragic world. If not, you have opportunities to do many things when you are alive.

In a sense, there has been a lot of new awareness about human rights in Nepal. We have realised that we have to speak up when others' rights are violated. Otherwise, they won't speak up when our own rights are trampled.

The army and the state claim that they never arrested the disappeared people.They will say anything.
They totally denied the killing of Maoists after they were arrested in Doramba. They claim innocence over the raping of young girls in Chisapani Karnali. After the Doramba investigation, the army threatened human rights activists. But we are not alone. There was strong international support, which is the reason why the army eventually admitted their mistake. But frankly speaking, not even ten percent of their mistakes have been exposed publicly.

What about the Maoists?
They are also grossly violating human rights. It's difficult to say whether they are acting as terrorists or rebels. If they are rebels, then they should stop killing and abducting unarmed civilians and give up arms.