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

Pro-democracy Demonstrations Continue on 19th Day: 4/24/06

COCAP report - April 24 2006: Kathmandu

COCAP HR Monitoring team has observed the valley totally prepared for forthcoming protest by the seven party alliance that is going to be held tomorrow around the ring road. Meanwhile, there was a tussle in different areas of Kathmandu valley injuring at least seven demonstrators . Police fired rubber bullets aiming at the agitating protestors at Bashundhara. The rally was led by Shasanka Koirala. About 10000 people were marching towards Maharajgunj Chowk through Basundara where there was clash in between police and demonstrators. Police personnel tried to intervened the protestors. They lathi charged at the protestors with rounds of tear gas. An innocent house wife, Ms Gurung, has been injured by police gunfire while she was standing in front of her house.  While asking the security personnel all about their feelings about the ongoing use of unnecessary force, one of the sub inspectors at Basundhara says " We can't demonstrate in the street; but we are also pro-democratic".

As reported by members of COCAP monitoring team, a massive demonstration of 10,000 was held at Gongabu with overwhelming participation of demonstrators in the rally. Majority of participants in the ralley were women. They burnt effigies of King Gyanendra and prince Paras on the spot. The demonstrators ended in mass gathering and the gathering was addressed by the renowned leaders with the opposition seven parties.

In another report, a boy of ten years, Dilip Shrma, got fractured his arm during scuffle in police and the demonstration at Chabahil.

The students of free student union at Teaching Hospital have launched dummy referendum with three options- Republicanism, Democracy (Loktantra) or Monarchy. The organizer of this poll reported that this kind of referendum was for collection of public opinion on regarding national political guideline.Student6s, doctors, staffs, visitors, clients and many people of different walks of life have cast their votes. Similar poll was recently organized in Pokhara which  resulted in 22,000 votes for Republicanism, 14,000 for Loktantra and 53 for Monarchy.

Kirtipur

All Party  United Movement Committee, Kirtipur, has organized a public meeting which was gathered in Nayabazar accumulating many smaller rallies from parts of the city. The meeting was addressed by Ram Krishna Maharjan, Narayan Maharjan ( Nepal Labour and Peasants' Party), Krishna Khanal (Professor, Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace), Navaraj Subedi ( General Secretary, United Peoples' Front Nepal), NP Saud ( NC Democratic, Central Committee Member) and Bamdev Gautam ( CPN UML). Stuents, local people, cadres of political parties, intellectuals, civil society leaders and professional had spontaneous participation in the meeting.  They were chanting slogans for against monarchy. Speakers at the programme focused on the unending protest till the sovereignty will be restored to the people.

Situation Study of the Present Demonstration

Demonstration against royal proclamation continues across Nepal.
The royal proclamation made by king Gyanendra on April 21 does not address the main demand of the pro-democracy movement and aspiration of Nepalese. The people across the country are enraged that the royal proclamation was to deceive the public and was eyewash. To condemn the royal announcement there has been mass protests across Nepal on Sunday as well. The government in order to quell the pro-democracy movement clamped curfew for yet another day. Ignoring the curfew and shoot at sight orders bluntly large protests were made in different parts of the valley and across the nation. The demonstrators made it clear that their movement will continue till there demand for the formation of constitution assembly is met. The demonstrators also warned the seven-party alliance (SPA) leadership to march ahead towards the movement's goal without any surrender with the King.

Report from Regional Focal Points

NESPEC, Udayapur,  Eastern Regional focal point of COCAP, has reported  that  a la massive rally was organized in Udayapur. The rally was organized by seven parties alliance. They have give ultimatum to representatives of District Development Committee of Udayapur including Chairman, Vice Chairman and its working staffs to resign from their posts with in three days. Similarly, they have announced to organize a massive protest rally on 13th of Baisakh.

Dalit Empowerment Center, Baglung, Western focal point of COCAP has reported that a protest rally organized by Federation of Nepalese Industry demonstrated in the city. There was participation of more than 15000 people.

SAC Nepal, Banke,  Mid western focal point of COCAP, has reported that a mass rally of seven parties was organized in the central . Working staffs of District Development Committee have assisted the injured persons with monetary assistance. Reports from Bardia and Dang said that demonstrations were organized in these districts.

On Behalf of HR Monitoring Team of COCAP