A Voice For the Voiceless

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The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Massive Demonstration: 4/06/06

 In the first Day of Nation Wide Protest and HR Activist Beaten

COCAP Report - Kathmandu: April 6, 2006

 

The nationwide general strike called by the alliance of the seven political parties to restore democracy and to wipe out direct rule of King Gyanendra has begun from Thursday April 6, 2006. The government took all the measures to thwart the general strike by mobilizing army and the armed police forces. More than 400 activists, leaders and supporters of political parties have been arrested.

 

The peaceful protest by the activists, leaders and supporters of seven political parties have been arrested, beaten and brutally misbehaved with corporal torture. Human Rights activists’ attempt to protect the innocent public from being arrested and beaten has been forcefully ignored by the police personnel. Human Rights activists have been charged with abusive words with casual physical force by the police personnel. Many vigilantes deployed by security force in plain clothes have been observed at many places of Kathmandu valley. Those police personnel in plainclothes have brutally beaten the commoners and protesters in Samakhusi, Chabil and many other protest hit areas of valley.

 

COCAP’s Human Rights Monitor, Yagya Aryal, has been brutally beaten by the police force at Baneshwor. At that moment, he was requesting security personnel not to beat demonstrator in the narrow alleys but to do according to the law. All of a sudden, security persons attacked and was deliberately beaten him using abusive words.

 

As reported by Nepali Congress, Meena Pandey, Sujata Koirala, Dinbandhu Shrestha, Shashank Koirala and other leaders and activists have been arrested. CPN -UML reports that Bidhya Bhandari, Rajendra Shrestha, Prem Dangal, Teeka Pokhrel, and others have been arrested. Dr Kedar Narsing KC’s leg has been factured during scuffle this morning. Likewise, the central office of ANNFSU, Dillibazar, has been captured by police force since the mid day.

 

Large numbers of army and police forces have been deployed inside the ring road areas to prevent political activities. Activists of the seven political parties gathered in masses in different parts of the valley and demonstrated against the government move.

 

Life in the valley has been completely paralyzed by the strike. Shops, commercial centers, academic institutions and other business sectors remained completed halted. The roads by and large remained deserted. Very few vehicles belonging to I/NGO’s, Ambulances, press, medias etc. were seen on the street. Some vehicles plying in the roads have the number plated being kept obscure. Meanwhile, few private vehicles defying the strike were vandalized by the mob. Vehicles in many number have been reported to be burnt by the protesters in different places of valley. However, large numbers of people are seen riding bicycles. Few pedestrians can be seen walking leisurely on empty roads.

 

Report by COCAP’s focal points from different regions:

 

As reported by COCAP’s Eastern Focal Point, NESPEC, Udayapur, the first day of nationwide strike by seven party alliance is observed successful. The lives of the major areas of the region remained to a standstill. Vehicles, both public and private, were off the roads. Most of the offices, academic intuitions and other businesses remained closed. It is reported that majority of the employees at Udayapur Cement Factory and other supporters gathered outside the factory. They stopped their work and barred the General Manager of the factory from entering his office.

 

As reported by COCAP’s Far Western and Mid Western Focal Points, SWEET Nepal and SAC Nepal respectively, the general strike have been observed fully in the area. Most of the shops, offices, academic institutions and other businesses remained closed. Public as well private vehicles were off the road. Protesting political activists and supporters were seen at times in the street of the major cities of those parts.

 

As reported by Dalit Empowerment Centre, Western Focal Point Baglung, there is no influence of general strike in the near by areas of Baglung, since first two days of strike has been withdrawn by the parties in the wake if Chaite Dashain festival.

 

(On behalf of COCAP Human Rights monitoring team.)