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Asian Solidarity for Human Rights in Nepal |
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Written by Lee Siew Hwa, Programme Officer, CAW
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Thursday, 09 February 2006 |
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Summarized Report for Asian Solidarity Action !
1st February 2006, Royal Nepalese Embassy, Bangkok. About hundred men and women gathered outside the embassy to express their solidarity with the peoples of Nepal in their struggle for freedom for autocratic rule of the King, for peace and democracy in the country. People from different people’s movements including the labour movement, human rights movement, women’s movement joined the protest. The protest was part of a joint action in many countries of the world ( USA, UK, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Hong Kong etc.) and true to the spirit of international solidarity, the protest had people from Thailand, Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, The Netherlands.
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The day started with debriefing on the current situation in Nepal to the protestors. At 10 am, the crowd which had gathered in an enclave opposite the embassy moved to the embassy gates which had been shut by then (though they were open earlier!) and many policemen gathered to barricade the gates. Holding banners saying
" BAD KING GYANENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV OF NEPAL
DEPRIVING NEPALESE PEOPLE OF PEACE, DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS’
"RELEASE ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS"
"RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS
STOP ARMS SUPPORT TO NEPAL"
"APPEAL TO THE KING AND MAOISTS…STOP VIOLENCE"
the protestors chanted slogans against the autocratic rule of the king and the violence spread by the Maoists. Many banners had pictures of police brutality, of people’s voices being suppressed, of manhandling of leaders during peaceful demonstrations. .JPG "Image") Speakers who expressed solidarity on the occasion came from Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions (ADTU), Thailand, Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL), Thailand, Women Workers Unity Group (Thailand), Slum Women’s Network (SWON), Thailand, Thai Labour Campaign, Thailand, and Forum Asia, Thailand. .JPG "Image") .JPG "Image") .JPG "Image") Speakers reiterated the importance of peace and democracy for development and rights of all people and that social movements in different Asian countries have opposed dictatorship through struggles and joint solidarity. Change cannot be brought about by autocracy, but through people’s power. The fight for democracy is a fight for rights of all groups of people, it’s a fight for human rights, labour rights, women’s rights. At 10.30 am the Ambassador came out amidst the police force, took the joint appeal , said thanks and rushed back into the embassy. He, however refused to receive the letter addressed to the Maoists, to end violence and respect the resolution of the seven parties. .JPG "Image") The speeches were interspersed with slogans and demands for democracy and people's power. CAW was represented by two of her staff who coordinated from the background and took pictures. Solidarity message from General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) was read. .JPG "Image") The programme which continued till 11 am finished with setting free 5 doves symbolising peace and freedom. Colourful balloons carried aloft the banner saying Bad King, Depriving Nepalese People of Peace, Democracy and Human Rights. .JPG "Image") .JPG "Image") Long Live International Solidarity!!! |
