A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

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

Incessant General Strike on 14th Day: 4/19/06

COCAP Report - April 19, 2006; Kathmandu

 

The HR Monitoring Team of COCAP has continued its regular monitoring of the ongoing seven party's peaceful demonstration and violation of Human Rights. The team has observed that the general strike called by the seven party alliances which continues for the 14th day in a row is perhaps the longest in the country’s history. The leaders of the seven parties have stated that the strike will continue unless the king accord to their demands.

 

The strike is taking momentum every day as more and more people are coming to the street to join the pro-democracy movement. Meanwhile, the king has started giving audiences to diplomats and former prime ministers to have political consultations. The opposition parties call this a meaningless step by the king. King Gyanendra is isolated in his efforts to retain power illegitimately.

 

The government in an attempt to foil the general strike has kept leaders of opposition and human rights activists in detention from last several days. The government has now doubled the period of detention orders on imprisoned human rights activists and opposition politicians.

 

As proceeding days, the pro-democracy movement started across the country from early morning. It was really an extraordinary scene to see people coming out to the street to join the peaceful rallies organized in various places despite rain outside. People holding umbrellas and some fully drenched marched ahead demanding immediate restoration of democracy and end of monarchy.

 

As usual COCAP monitoring team began its work from early and went to several demonstration sites to witness the events and monitor human right observance.

 

As reported, tens of thousands of protesters rallied in the protest rallies in the capital. There were mass rallies in New Baneshwor, Sukedhara, Gongbobu, Basundhara, Samakhusi, Pathan, Bhaktapur, Chabahil, Anamnagar etc. 

 

As reported there was a peaceful rally of disabled people organized by "Coordination Committee of Disables for Movement". The rally started from Baneshwor Chowk from 2 PM. The rally had a participation of more than 20 people with physical disabilities. Police reached the scene and apprehended few disabled people from the scene.

List of few of the detainees from Baneshwor.

 

1.       Sukh Dev Paudyal

2.       Tej Kumari

3.       Deepak Koirala

4.       Jagdish Prasad Tiwari

5.       Madan Paudyal

6.       Roopmanga Neupane

7.       Tara Dhakal

8.       Om Poon

9.       Bhoj Raj Chettri

10.    Anup etc.

 

There was a peaceful rally taken out by women of Seven Party Alliances around Anamnagar and Dillbazar. There was organized a demonstration by lecturers and teachers of higher secondary schools and colleges from the valley where more than fifty persons were detained. The rally had a large participation of women waving party flags and placards bearing pro-democracy slogans. The women marched ahead chanting anti-monarchy and anti autocracy slogans. The women loudly chanted anti-monarchy slogans and demanded the king's immediate step down. The rally covered several places and ended in Anamnagar. The rally was addressed by several women leaders associated with seven party alliances.

 

Report from COCAP Eastern Focal Point.

Eastern Focal Point of COCAP, NESPEC, has reported that there was organized a protest rally of "Federation of Community Forest Nepal" in Udayapur. The rally was participated by almost five thousand people with cultural programmes and music. The injured medical team of NESPEC due to police attack yesterday had resumed its duty of medication on the spot of demonstration today. 

 

Report from COCAP Western Focal Point.

Western focal point of COCAP, Dalit Empowerment Centre, Baglung has reported that there was organized a protest rally of seven party alliance. The rally was full of protesters chanting anti-monarchy slogans and Loktantrik songs.

 

Report from COCAP Mid Western Focal Point.

Similarly, Mid Western Focal Point, SAC Nepal, has reported that there was organized a funeral rally of Setu BK, who was shot dead by police personnel yesterday. They have changed the earlier name Gyanendra Chowk as "Setu BK Chowk" posting a sign board today.

 

(On Behalf of COCAP HR Monitoring Team)