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Resources > Global Issues > Nepal – Democra... > The Struggle for ... > Protests > Katmandu Protests...

Katmandu Protests: 12/16/05

General Strike Breeds Violence

By the Collective Campaign for Peace

Katmandu, Nepal, December 16, 2005: The Friday general strike organized in response to the 12 civilian killings by military personnel during a festival celebration two days ago was characterized by widespread destruction of property and rioting. The general strike or Band, as it was called by organizers and participants, was planned by the Seven Party Alliance.

The violence was not limited to a few isolated incidents.

Over a dozen vehicles were vandalized and more than 40 protesters were detained by the police. Both demonstrators and the police threw stones at each other, and the police tried to subdue and disperse the crowds in New Baneshwor, Exibition Road, Putalisadak, Lekhnath Road, Gangabu, Patan, and several other areas in downtown Katmandu by swinging batons and firing teargas at the protestors. During a clash between demonstrators and an unidentified group of people in Jaisidewal abd Bhimsen Sthan, several people were injured after being attacked with knives and rods.

The COCAP human rights volunteers rescued the people hurt during the rioting and transported them to hospitals to receive treatment. COCAP volunteers were assisted by human rights observers from another NGO.

Neither public nor private property escaped damage. Bricks and stones littered the demonstration areas, traffic was blocked except for the passage of diplomatic vehicles and ambulances, and the air was filled with the smell of burning tires.

All markets and commercial neighborhoods are still closed, and security regiments patrol the streets to make sure the violence does not flare up again.

In all, over 40 protestors were arrested for their activities in Katmandu, and more than 60 were injured. Seven policemen were also hurt during their participation in the rioting.

Other regions of Nepal also witnessed protests over the military killings as well. The city of Bhaktapur was filled with police to deter protestors from imitating the violence in Katmandu. The atmosphere in Biratnagar, Jhapa, Chitwan, Pokhra, Nepalganj, and few other places also remains tense.

A list of some injured demonstrators is below:

   1. Kiran Dhital
   2. Krishna Bhattarai
   3. Ramesh Joshi
   4. Asok Karki
   5. Devraj Bhattarai
   6. Mohan Hari Shrestha
   7. Suvaram Basnet
   8. Raj Kumar Rawal
   9. Santosh Gautam
10. Deepak Neupane
11. Bikash Lama
12. Sundar Neupane
13. Suresh Rawal
14. Kusum Raj Baral
15. Jit Chantyal
16. Kumar Gautam
17. Man Bahdur
18. Chinta Mani Sapkota
19. Sambhu Ram Subedi

- COCAP Human Rights Monitoring Team

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