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Resources > Global Issues > Nepal – Democra... > The Struggle for ... > Bulletins > Bulletin #10: Upd...

Bulletin #10: Update from the NDD

(On February 5, 2005, dozens of pro-democracy activists in Kathmandu started an e-update to inform the world about the crisis in Nepal following the imposition of military rule by King Gyanendra on February 1, 2005)

Federation of Nepalese Journalists Decide to Demonstrate

Christopher Warren, president of International Federation of Journalists, is set to lead a protest demonstration of journalists organized by Federation of Nepalese Journalists tomorrow. Media freedom has been severely repressed after the military coup by King Gyanendra on February 1, 2005.

Nepali Congress Issues an Appeal

Faced with King Gyanendra's seizing of power through the military coup, the Nepali Congress has finally decided to launch a nationwide peaceful and non-violent movement for democracy. In an appeal issued yesterday, Girija Prasad Koirala, has asked people to come out to the streets.

"The challenge cannot be faced only by one political party or one section of society alone," he said, adding that "It is time for all the political forces to come to a united front for establishing full democracy in Nepal."

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress, Kathmandu District Committee has demanded that the government reveal the health situation of Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala. It has also requested the National Human Rights Commission and other human rights organization to take the initiative on this.

Youth and Student Organizations Decide to Launch Movement

On February 15, five different political organizations belonging to the five political parties in Nepal met and decided to launch a joint movement for full democracy. Sharply condemning King’s actions, they have asked forces both inside and outside the country to support the struggle for democracy and full popular sovereignty by the Nepali people.

The statement was signed by Bhim K.C., Vice-President of the Democratic National Youth Federation (Prajatantrik Rastriya Yuwa Sangh), Pushpa Parajuli, Central Committee Member of Nepal Tarun Dal, Raju Khadka, President, the All Nepal Democratic Youth League, Bhisma Angdangbe, Vice-President of Nepal Tarun Dal (NC-Democratic affiliated) and Raj Narayan Shah, President of Nepal Youth Forum.

In a similar vein, seven leading student organizations have also joined hands for a united struggle for democracy. They have unveiled various programs of political mobilizations starting from February 18.

Military Repression Goes Unabated : Political Leaders Continue to be Arrested

The military government of the king has continued to repress political and media freedoms in the country, despite rhetoric of adherence to democratic norms and values.

Nepali Congress spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC and president of Nepali-Congress affiliated Nepal Women's Organization, Meena Pandey were arrested from the Nepali Congress Central office in Kathmandu, while they were speaking at a press conference.

When some cadres asked the police to produce arrest warrants, one of police officer said they did not need to do that in a situation of emergency. This has made it clear that the so called commitment of the king to rule of law is a mere fig-leaf designed to fool people. The security personnel also disturbed a meeting of the Nepali Student Union.

On last Monday and Tuesday, four students were arrested from the Ratna Rajya Campus and one from Shankar Dev Campus, both located at the heart of Kathmandu.

Similarly, the Deputy District Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) of Baglung District has also been arrested by security personnel yesterday. In a situation of severe repression, it is very hard to know the repression against political leaders and cadres of various parties in different part of the country.

Reports have also been received that security personnel have illegally seized the passport and other important documents of Pradeep Poudel from his home in Lainchaur Kathmandu on February 1. He is vice-president of the Nepal Student Union.

Media Continue to Feel the Brunt of Military Repression

The police has arrested editor-in-chief of a The City Times, Mr. Sujeeb Bajrachary. He was seized from his office located at Ason, at around 5:30 pm on Wednesday.

Chief editor of Rajdhani daily was summoned by the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu District Administration Office and inquired him about various news reports published in the daily. While the details of the inquiry is not known, Rajdhani has been publishing news reports about the suppression of the media.

In a report published in Kantipur Daily, eleven weeklies and one daily papers published from Kavre district were completely shut down due to the military rule and emergency. Sixty journalists have lost their jobs since then.

Meanwhile, the president of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Christopher Warren, has asked the government to unconditionally release the Secretary General of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Mr. Bishnu Nisthuri. The military government of king Gyanendra has kept him in custody for the past two weeks.

Corrupts of the Panchayat Era in Anti-graft Mission !!!

The king's military government has formed a royal commission against corruption. But ironically, most of the members of the commission have been accused of blatant corruption themselves, involving shameful public demeanor and serious human rights violations during the 30 years of autocratic rule between 1960-90.

Intellectual Demand Immediate Release of Prof. Lok Raj Baral

Various members of intellectual community in Nepal have demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Prof. Lok Raj Baral. He was arrested a few days ago from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on his way back from New Delhi. He was former Nepalese Ambassador to India and is a prominent political scientist in South Asia.

Professors Resign

The campus chief and vice-chief of Prithvi Narayan Campus resigned yesterday following violent intervention by military and police against student demonstrators. They have cited the abnormal teaching and learning situation in the campus as reasons for their resignation. This was reported in yesterday's Rajdhani daily.

Unarmed Students Killed During Military Offensive in Eastern Nepal

Kantipur daily has confirmed that unarmed students were killed in military offensive the day before yesterday in Jante Morang District in eastern Nepal. Dinesh Majhi and Mahendra Rai, both ninth-graders and Dev Raj Adhikari, seventh-grader of Jante Secondary School, were killed as they were celebrating saraswoti puja (worshiping goddess of learning).

After the military rule began, reports about military actions have been completely blacked out. Whatever sketchy reports have been able to arrive here have indicated that civilians are increasingly caught between the crossfire.

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