apologies
Sunday, July 31, 2011 at 06:38AM The Department of Customs under Nepal's Ministry of Finance has decided that they will not return the 32 refurbished laptops that were donated to Kopila Valley that my dad and I carried over here a few weeks ago. They will also not return our 6 suitcases. It makes me really sad but my Nepali chairman, Tope and I have tried everything in our power. I've exerted all my time and energy and patience and now it's time for me to move on.
My apologies to the entire Peck School Community for your laptops not reaching the children they were intended for. We all really appreciate your constant support and generosity.
And to my students, I'm really sorry. I will find another way to give you computer classes. Don't you worry.
For those of you who have questions or want to express your concern...
Arjun Pokharel (Chief Customs Administrator) apokharel[at]customs.gov.np
Reader Comments (90)
This is beyond belief. On what grounds can they 'steal' your belongings. Will they return all of these items to the USA ? If not, then something serious has got to be done. I can't believe that you will just walk away. C'mon Miss Scorpio, show what you're made of.
Maggie... You have done everything that you can. I think your friends, and followers now should help. We need to write to the Chief Custom's Adminstrator and use our voice.
We are love these children and Maggie. We need to help here everyone. Email .. get your family and friends to email. We need to help Maggie and the kids. We all always write that we support her. This is the time to show that. Spread the word. Lets get emailing!!
Maggie - Safe travels to China.
Laurie
Dear Sir:
I'm am writing to you in order to express my concern for the children at Kopila Valley School. We live in a world where computer literacy is essential. Your decision to withhold computers from the children that attend the school is of grave concern to those of us that support the deserving children of your country. The Nepali minister of tourism is a close associate of a good family friend and the neurosurgeon that established the neurosurgical training program at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital is a close personal friend http://www.aans.org/Media/Article.aspx?ArticleId=9789 . I encourage you to reconsider your decision regarding this issue as soon as possible. I'm confident that you have the power and good judgement to revisit this situation and resolve this issue in favor of your most valuable asset. Your country can only benefit from your wisdom in this matter.
Sincerely,
Max Suberi Ph.D.
i can't believe they aren't giving you what belongs to you..i think you should try taking actions to them..the laptops weren't illegally brought so i think you should receive all the items with all the procedures..
Email sent. Hope it helps. Sorry you have to deal with this sort of thing. Keep up the good work!
It really shows the disgrace of the Nepal’s government. I don’t think this type of work will help to give our country a good future...
I think we should bring this matter to public attention so something can be done...
Sorry for the incident Maggie, I think best portal to address this issue would be Mysansar.com. This website is the largest blog among neplese people living inside and outside Country and has done lots of work of putting direct pressure to government for any wrongdoing and making everyone aware of the situation. I think you should write a email to Admin of Mysansar (salokya@ gmail.com) i think he will publish your article and that might lead into great media attraction and direction.
Thank You
Hi Maggie,
I sent an email too, from London UK. If he sees global interest hopefully he will change his mind!
Good luck!
Annabel
thanks for your update. And thanks to all your friends that have posted. Please keep us informed.
Sent an email to Customs, i wish i was at nepal we would gather up and stage a protest against this in front of his office.
Maggie, I'm so sorry to hear about your ordeal. I have sent an e-mail to the Chief customs bureaucrat to express concern and have urged him to re-consider. I am now going to contact the Nepalese Embassy here in the UK and complain like hell!! :)
I think if enough people voice their outrage at this injustice the bureaucrats might change their minds.
It did occur to me that they may have expected you to pay 'the ransom' and that maybe in time when they realize they aren't going to make any money out of this they may just return the stuff.
Keep up the amazing work that you are doing.
Love and Best wishes,
Edward
Dear Sir, we are very disappointed to hear in Wales that your government will not release the possessions of Miss Maggie Doyne and her orphans. I visited Nepal in April and found it to be a beautiful and peaceful country, I cannot believe such corruption is going on depriving children of their education, I thought the Nepalese were such kind and sharing people. Please reverse your decision and return her property, I shall ask my friends not to go trekking in Nepal until this is sorted.
Kate Jones
Teacher, Wales.
Hi Maggie,
I will send an email to the customs official but I wanted to encourage you to contact Nicholas D. Kristof and share with him your challenges. He may have contacts in the US embassy to Nepal or other influence that can help you in this matter.
You have been an inspiration to me and I hope you can see this experience as a challenge to overcome and not a defeat. And remember to NEVER take no for an answer. :)
I knew one woman who sat in a government office in Eritrea for an entire month until they gave her the permission she needed to build a school.....Kill them with kindness and just keep coming back. Best of luck to you and the kids.
Another email out.
"Dear Mr Pokharel
It has come to my attention that you (or your customs personnel) have seized the luggage of Ms Maggie Doyne, including 32 refurbished laptops that were donated to Kopila Valley school.
Please do not hide between 'regulations' and have this luggage released.
You *know* what is the right thing to do, for those kids and for your country.
Thank you"
Thanks so much to everyone (especially nepali friends) for your support on this issue. I've been feeling extremely discouraged. Thanks for the boost. It's good to know i'm not alone on this :)
Hello Maggie -
I have written a rather stern email to the custom's official and copied it to almost everyone at the Nepali Embassy here in London. If they are not already aware of the amazing work you do they will be on Monday!. Perhaps by bringing your plight to the attention of enough people in high places the issue can be resolved and your wonderful children can have the computers and you can get your things back.
Good Luck
Laura
Sylvia- Maggie is not someone who just walks away- if that was the case- there would be no home or school there... doing anything in Nepal takes a long frustrating process that I personally know I would not have the patience for. I am sure she has done everything in her power and needs to focus her energy elsewhere now because that is the right thing to do.
Maggie- in the bigger picture- it's all just stuff. I am sad about the soccer balls because the kids would have really loved them- and the computer situation is very unfortunate but maybe it is a sign for now- maybe having 32 laptops would have caused even more trouble for you there... if anything they should be returned to the US and donated to children/ young adults in need- I will write them.
TIN- THAT IS NEPAL
THANKS FOR TRYING SO HARD AND BEING YOU. Knowing you have been stressed and through all of that makes me sad. The government can weaken us but we still are capable of love- and love is the greatest gift.
Love YOU sister- take care of yourself- don't stress too much- you'll lose all the wonderful weight you gained while home.
I tried to get the officials to agree to send the laptops back with Dad to the U.S. so we could donate them there but they said they are now custody of the Nepali government. I'm not allowed to touch them. I got the soccer balls, lice shampoo, medicine and personal gifts for the kids back after 6 hours of negotiations and paying 3,000 Nepalese rupees (45$) because they demanded 35% of the value of the goods, even though they were documented as being donations.
Maggie
I am determined that we are going to get the laptops back!! Not sure how we am going to do it but we are. First step is what this community is doing .. writing!! We need the Nepali government to know how globally strong your support is. I see the Tweets taking off. Social media is going to help us here!!
I have spoken to several friends so far this morning, and they are going to write.. and have their friends write and so on..
There are several more ideas I have, and will begin contacting them tomorrow when offices open up.
Your sister Kate is right, please do not stress too much on this. You have done everything you can on this and from your efforts, all the personal belongings are back. You need to keep your strength, the kids need a healthy you!!
Please take care of yourself.
Hugs
Laurie
In a few hours time that customs official will arrive at the office for a new workweek and open his email. We can make this a day he will never forget. Isn't that a great game?