June 25- The Third National Women Workers' Conference concludes today in Kathmandu with a commitment towards women representation inclusive and participatory. The Conference started by paying tribute to the martyrs of the Loktantrik movement was inaugurated by GEFONT Chairman Comrade Mukunda Neupane.

"While reviewing the Peoples Movement II, known as Rhododendron Revolution, major mentionable aspect is the huge women participation never witnessed before in the history of Nepal" said chairman Neupane delivering his opening remarks. He congratulated entire women of Nepal o­n behalf of Nepali working class for the courageous participation for such a landmark change.

KATHMANDU, May 18 - In respect of the sacrifices and participation made by the Nepalese people in the peaceful joint people's movement,

In due attention to the fact that the people had shown keen interest through the peaceful joint people's movement that took place some time back, o­n establishing that people are the sole source of state power of the independent and sovereign Nepal, as the people are the sole source of state powers and sovereignty,

With determination to fulfilling the peoples' mandate given by the Nepali people as per the roadmap of the seven political parties and the 12-point understanding between the seven political parties and the CPN-Maoist in the peaceful joint people's movement to restore a inclusive state by restructuring the state by formulating new constitution and to restore sustainable peace through democracy, and constituent assembly.

(Bangkok, 7 May 2006) Political leaders and civil society representatives stressed the regular monitoring of the situation in Nepal and sought strong solidarity for democratic movement in both the countries in Bangkok, Thailand.

Speaking at a brainstorming and seminar o­n 'Fighting for Democracy: Experiences of People's Movement in Nepal and Thailand', organised by the Thai Solidarity Group for Democratic Movement in Nepal, Sulak Sivarak, senior civil society member and democratic activist in Thailand, highlighted the role of monarchy and democracy in various countries. "Institutions are for the people, but neither for the constitution nor the sake of continuation of royal governance. The future of Nepal has to be determined along with the spirit of the people's movement", he said.

Professor Surat Horachaikul, Director of South Asia Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, emphasized people to people contact to make sure that their issues would reflect at the new constitution in Nepal. However, the sustainable democracy cannot be guaranteed merely by the constitution. There are many issues such as civic education and reflection of people's agenda in the state systems to lay people to develop free will, he said.

Nepalese youths and students, along with human rights activists, trade unionists and women rights activists in Thailand rallied against King Gyanendra of Nepal's recent crackdown o­n peaceful protests and increasing state brutality against the people in Nepal. They also sent a protest letter to the king through the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

Shouting slogans like "Restore Democracy!", "Reinstate Parliament!" "Stop Human Right Violation!", "Win Win Loktantra (Democracy)!", "Down with Autocracy!", the Nepalese Youth and Students Residing Thailand and the Thai Solidarity Group for Democratic Movement in Nepal organised a peaceful protest in front of the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok this morning.

April 21- At least 500,000 democracy fighters marched in Capital cities defying 18 hours long curfew. After massacre in Kalanki the curfew extended 7 more hours, the city dwellers face 25 hours curfew continuously.
This hardship is no way comparable with the sacrifice of our freedom fighters who accept martyrdom during yesterdays protest. Three protesters shot dead by security forces. Corpses forcibly seized by police from the Kathmandu Model Hospital. Among them a small business operator young man Basu Ghimire -22 o­nly identified two deceased bodies are unidentified till today. There is speculation of more loss of life in Kalanki massacre yesterday according to the protesters in the frontline. There are over hundred protestors critically injured and countless numbers have sustained injury.

April 12, 2006

The meeting of the topmost leaders of the seven political parties is held today in the afternoon in Kathmandu. The decisions of the meeting are made public through this communiqu�:

1. The peaceful joint movement launched under the leadership of the seven political parties for an end of the autocratic monarchy and for the establishment of full-fledged democracy is becoming more effective and forceful. It is our conclusion that o­nly the joint peaceful mass movement can fulfill the objective of the o­ngoing movement. In this movement, the participation of broad masses of the people including the leaders and activists of political parties, mass organizations, media workers, professional and community organizations and human rights workers has been widening. In the course of the movement six brave persons has got martyrdom. Thousands of people are arrested and wounded. We pay our heartfelt homage to the martyrs and extend our thanks to all those who have participated in the movement. We cordially appeal to all workers, peasants, women, youths, students, intellectuals, civil servants, employees of all public and financial institutions, teachers, university teachers, doctors, engineers, industrialists, business person, journalists, human rights workers, writers, litterateurs, artists and brothers and sisters of all caste, language, religion and region to participate more effectively in a peaceful and non-violent way in the movement.

Dear sisters and comrades,

Warm greetings from Committee for Asian Women.

We call upon your urgent and serious attention o­n the latest situation in Nepal and plead for your strong solidarity to the democratic movement. For the last 10 days, a mass struggle, called by all the democratic forces in Nepal, has brought thousands and thousands of people from all over the nation, to the streets of all main cities. People have been resisting regardless of arrests and curfews. People have defied the curfew and prohibition orders. Katmandu valley and majority of the municipalities were under curfew last week, but everywhere curfew was broken by the people .

Due to increasing support from the masses-the people, the nationwide strike and street protests have continued and will continue indefinitely till the autocratic king steps down!

In response to the people�s movement, the autocratic King of Nepal has used excessive armed force to suppress the peaceful democratic movement. As a result, many people have been seriously injured, killed or imprisoned. Hence the repression from the government side is increasing as well!

At this point in the history of Nepal, your strong solidarity/protest is urgently needed in order that the democratic movement is victorious and the regime of the autocratic king comes to an end.

Dear sisters and comrades.

In the last four days of the mass democratic struggle: nation wide strike in Nepal (6-9 April 2006).

There were thousands and thousands of people all over the nation poured o­n the streets of all main cities, regardless of the arrest and also the curfew. Peoples have defied the curfew and prohibition orders. Katmandu valley and majority of the municipalities are under curfew, but everywhere curfew is broken by the people

April 9- Nepal is boiling now. People are rising! They are daring to challenge every autocratic restriction-prohibition order to day long curfew imposed by the absolute monarchy through its illegitimate regime.

We understand peoples' opposition has generated unimaginable and unexpected 'tension' to the royal regime. That's why persons employing by the King in the post of "minister" are murmuring -" we are seeing new faces in the demonstration, they are not o­nly the members & cadres of Seven Parties Alliance (SPA), they must be 'terrorists'!"

The seven Party Alliance has called a nation wide general strike from the 6-9 April 2006 in Nepal. ANWA, other mass organizations, Trade unions, civil society, professionals, students, youths and professionals have supported the general strike. 8th April is a very significant day in our democratic movement. In the year 1990, 8th April was the day when multi party democracy system was established in Nepal after the victory of the people�s movement.

Leaders of civil society have urged all people to take part in the general strike called by the seven agitating political parties.

A public appeal issued by Dr. Mahesh Maskey and Professor Krishna Khanal o­n behalf of Civil Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP) o­n Monday has flayed the government�s attempt to foil the peaceful movement of the people and urged general people to defy the government�s threat and take part in the movement for the restoration of peace and democracy.

At a time when the government is working to foil the valley centered general strike of the seven agitating political parties, three labour unions working in the field of transportation have expressed solidarity to the general strike of seven party alliance.

Issuing a press statement o­n Monday the Nepal Independent Workers Union, Transport Worker�s Union and Nepal Transport Workers Meet expressed commitment to make the general strike slated for April 69 a success despite the warning issued by the government.

Leaders of major trade unions in the country have strongly opposed the newly promulgated ordinance to amend Labour laws saying that it has curtailed a number of rights of the workers guaranteed by country's laws and the constitution.

In a joint press statement, three largest trade unions in the country - the General Federation of Nepal Trade Unions (GEFONT), Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) and Democratic Confederation of National Trade Unions (DECONT) - said the royal government has imposed "most unfair, unfavourable and anti-worker" ordinance to amend existing Labour Act-1992. They claimed that the new ordinance had been promulgated by defying previous understanding reached between the trade union bodies and the Central Labour Advisory Committee (CLAC).

We the National Garment Workers Federation , Bangladesh ( NGWF ), are a national trade union federation of garment workers in Bangladesh. o­n behalf of our 20,000 members we are writing to protest strongly against the arrest of GEFONT Chair Mukunda Neupane and its Secretary General Binod Shrestha along with former Health minister Dr.Mathura Prasad , trade unionists from NTUC Manju Bhattarai & Radheshyam Pathak and NNTA Vice President Mr. Baburam Thapa. We are outraged by this move and condemn your government's continued attack o­n the democratic rights of the Nepalese people. It is of course a welcome news for us that GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane and two NTUC colleagues have been released. However, GEFONT Secretary General Binod Shrestha remains in detention, after his arrest before the dawn of January 19 at his own residence andhas been handed over detention orders of 90 days. Similarly your administration has unnecessarily arrested NTUC central leader Ms. Manju Bhattarai o­n the afternoon of Jan 20 and its Nawalparasi district leader Mr. Radheshyam Pathak from his residence; where as Vice President of Nepal National Teachers Union (NNTA) Mr. Babu Ram Thapa has been arrested at a time while NNTA was holding central committee meeting in its own HQ.

Nearly after o­ne month, GEFONT Secretary General Binod Shrestha has been released from the detention today. Along with Com. Binod, GEFONT Gandaki Zonal Committee member Nar Bahadur K.C as well has been released from Pokhara by the order of Court. From this release, except Ram Prasad Mandal- memebr of GEFONT Janakpur Zone, all of 34 detained GEFONT cadres have been released.

Among those released today are NTUC member Shyam Khatri and NNTA Vice-president Babu Ram Thapa along with 21 other political leaders & cadres.

1. Some of the journalists detained through municiple election and democratic movement released. Mr. Dwarika Upreti (Kathmandu, Publisher, Roadmap Weekly) Mr. Dharma Gautam and Mr. Dhiren Chemjong (Sutradhar Weekly, Ilam) released o­n 12 February, 2006.

2. Mr. Narayan Datta Kandel (Sub-editor, Indipendent News Service, Executive Member, Freedom Forum), Siva Devkota (Chairman, Nepal Press Union, Nuwakot Branch) and Mr. Shyam Shrestha (Editor-Mulyankan Monthly and Civil Society Activist) journalist Ms. Chamina Bhattarai and Mr. Shambhu Mahato (Bara), Mr. Keshab Neupane (Biratnagar), JB Ghale and Tikaram Ghimire (Butwal), Bijaral Paswan and Siva Patel (Rautahat) and Mr. Dil Bahadu Air (Doti), Mr. Sudarshan Acharya and Mr. Bhaktadhwoj Bohara (Kathmandu) are still in detention.

3.Editor, Achham Sandesh Weekly, Mr. Ekindra Kunwar and Editor of 'Hamro Seti Weekly' Mr. Birendra Rawal (both from far western hilly district) have received life-threatn by the maoist. The reason is not stated.

February 12, Kathmandu

GEFONT today filed a writ-petition in Supreme Court in order to release its Secretary General Binod Shrestha and other inmates from the illegal detention. Along with Secretary General there are still dozens of trade unionists behind the bar throughout the country including GEFONT Zonal Chairman Dharmananda Panta.

According to Nepal Bar Association which is taking care all of the cases o­n behalf of all detainees in connection of Democratic movement, similar petitions have been fielded all over the country.

GEFONT Secretary General Binod Shrestha asked entire working masses to keep continues o­n going democratic movement in the country. Talking to GEFONT leadership this morning from the Duwakot Armed Police Detention Camp Secretary General expressed thankful ness to the international trade union movement, various organizations and individuals for their concerned & solidarity.

Sunday, January 29, 2006; 3:30 PM

WASHINGTON DC, Jan. 29 � Hundreds of people filled the Lafayette Park this afternoon in front of The White House in o­ne of the larger show of anti-King Gyanendra sentiments in the nation's capital since his Feb 1, takeover of power in a small Himalayan kingdom of Nepal last year. The protest drew grandmothers, children, retired Royal Nepal Army and Nepali police officers, recent DV lottery winners, businessman, former politicians, representatives of Amnesty International-USA , o­ne politically active students fresh off from the stone throwing streets of Kathmandu and few others from out of state came to testify their growing impatience with the Royal regime's hollow promise of bringing peace and ending violence in Nepal. Even though President Bush seemed nowhere in sight to listen to the plight of the Nepalese gathered, the setting seemed to electrify the crowd that was gathered.

No recognised political figure has filed nominations so far for the upcoming municipal elections, as the deadline for registering names for the polls is coming to a close o­n Thursday. There is, however, possibility of a sudden increase in the turn out for the registration of names later in the day, before the deadline closes at 5 p.m. this afternoon, the EC officials said hopefully.

The Election Commission (EC) had fixed the deadline for today for the nomination of candidature for the municipal election slated for February 8.

"People who have filed their candidacy at the EC were not known political figures," said political activists gathered in front of the EC Office in Kathmandu. They claimed that those who filed their nominations were people inclined to the palace.

Our district correspondents have reported similar conditions in the respective districts, saying the EC offices remained vacant and no o­ne showed up to file nominations till this afternoon.

The alliance of seven political parties in Nepal continued a protests and demonstration in New Road and Basantapur, inner core city of Kathmandu to defy the restriction of Government o­n political activities inside the Ring Road.

Because of Friday�s protest program was foiled by the curfew, the alliance of seven political parties organized huge protest rallies in Kathmandu o­n Saturday. The police intervened the mass meeting at Basantapur as thousands converged at the venue for the gathering. Dozens of demonstrators were injured along with some policemen in the clash that took place after the police intervention o­n the demonstration. Dozens of leaders and activists were arrested during the demonstration.

Opposition activists clash with police, hundreds of demonstrators arrested in Kathmandu (3:30 p. m.)

Tens of thousands of opposition activists and professionals defied prohibitive orders in the capital, Kathmandu, Saturday-- a day after the day-long curfew imposed to thwart the peaceful mass meeting organised by the seven party opposition alliance.

Activists affiliated to the opposition alliance clashed with police as the latter tried to prevent them from organizing mass meeting and protest rally at Hanumandhoka, Basantapur area Saturday afternoon, a Nepalnews correspondent o­n the scene said.

According to preliminary reports, Police have taken into custody over 100 leaders and activists as they defied the prohibitive orders and chanted anti-king slogans. The opposition activists unfurled flags of their parties and demanded restoration of peace and democracy in the country. The opposition parties said police used force and took into custody hundreds of their party leaders and workers.

KATHMANDU, Dec 2 - Thousands of CPN-UML activists took to the streets in the capital Friday demanding restoration of democracy in the country.

The party took out rallies from 18 different locations in Kathmandu and converged into a single rally at Dillibazar which later converted into a mass gathering at Naya Baneshwore.

UML said over 75,000 people participated in the rally. This is the most significant number of UML activists that have participated in a protest against the "autocratic government" since the Feb.1 royal takeover.

The activists chanted anti-king and pro-democracy slogans. 

It is almost a year since King Gyanendra autocratically took over power from the democratic state in Nepal. This was unconstitutional move has led to anti people, anti-human rights and anti-democratic policies since 1 Feb 2005. Despite the numerous protests inside and outside Nepal calling for return of Parliamentary democracy , independent from the monarch�s control and a stop to all human rights violations, the autocratic king continues to stay in power. The king�s regime continues to attack the people�s movement (including the women�s movement, trade union movement, media persons, students� movement, NGOS and other civil society) and suppress all opposition.

Hence, it is crucial for us to keep up our strong protest against the King�s rule and its illegal government and pressurise them to step down and return the power to the people. Our consistent protests against the King�s regime will continue to make him and his regime weaker and will also give great moral support and solidarity to the peoples� movement and struggle in Nepal.

All Nepal Womens Association (ANWA) together with eleven women�s organiaations organised a protest rally o­n 20th September 2005. Security forces attacked the peaceful demonstration programme. More than 40 leaders and political cadres were injured during the police suppression and about 200 people were arrested.

ANWA organised a press meet o­n 21^st September 2005. o­n 28^th September, Ms Bidya Devi Bhandari together with leaders of Joint Women Association Struggle Committee visited Mr. Ian Martin, Head of Office, Office of High Commission for Human Rights in Nepal and submitted a memorandum.

In Nepal, even though CPN (Maoist) has announced ceasefire, the government has not shown any interest towards the ceasefire announcement. The King continues to walking the countryside, providing interviews to news agencies.

Source: Central Committee Member, ANWA

Information o­n the proposed change in labour law is in this website. Send protest letters to the King, the Royal Nepal Embassy in your countries. A Sample letter is given below...

30^th September, 2005
To
His Majesty King Gyanendra
C/o The Ambassador
Royal Nepal Embassy
(Write Country name)

Subject : Stop the Proposed Amendment in Labour Law through Ordinance by the Royal Regime

Your Majesty King Gyanendra

On behalf of the Asian Women Workers Movement and Labour Movement, we wish to express our grave concern about the serious violation of women�s rights, human rights, and labour rights in your country as a result of the declaration of state of emergency o­n February 1, 2005. We condemn your unconstitutional seizure of executive power, as this denies all forms of freedom and fundamental rights for the people of Nepal and is against all principles of democracy.

It has been brought to our attention, that a communication made by Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MOLT) (dated Sept 16, 2005) to all recognised 3 trade union centres in Nepal, proposes an amendment to the Labour Act. The letter, in a threatening language calls for written comments within seven days for an amendment by the Royal Regime. Further, we understand that in case of no-comments, the ordinance will be put forward as accepted by concerned parties.

NEW DELHI: For the first time after King Gyanendra dissolved the Nepalese Parliament and imposed emergency eight months ago, a high-level Indian political delegation will pay a three-day visit to the country from Wednesday to assess the situation. The five-member delegation, headed by CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury and comprising Chandra Sekhar Sahu (Congress), D Raja (CPI), Surendra Mohan JD(S) and D P Tripathi (NCP), has been invited by the seven-party alliance of major Nepalese parties for restoration of democracy, Yechury said. The leaders who have extended the invitation to the Indian delegation include former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and communist leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Our attention is attracted by the communication made by Ministry of Labour and Transport Management (MOLT) dated Sept 16, 2005 to all recognised 3 trade union centres along with the FNCCI. The threatening languages in the letter is surprising in the sense that a call is made o­n the propose amendment by Royal Regime by quoting "ministerial level decision" to send a written comment with in seven days and in case of no-comments the ordinance will be put forward as accepted by concerned parties.

Recognised trade union centres and employers organisation are the social partners o­n the equal footing the government. Therefore we, o­n behalf of thousands and thousands of workers affiliated to GEFONT, NTUC and DECONT would like to rememorize the government about the equal status of the social partners and we extend regret seriously and object o­n such types of autocratic process.

Considering the need of timely revisions in the labour act 1992 which was enacted just after the establishment of multi-party democracy with a view to regulate labour market of the county, the representatives of our national centres are in serious homework with the representative organisation of employers- FNCCI. In the course International Labour Organisation (ILO) also came into supportive involvement in the process where 7-point agendas was finalised to focus between two social partners and after conclusion of Second National Labour Conference of January 2005 consensus o­n 19 points principle could be made based o­n which taskforce with 3 each from both the sides is working o­n the issue of labour law amendment. In the situation the propose draft ordinance without consultation with employers and workers organisations has created serious doubt o­n the ill-intention of the regime.

CAW along with Tie Asia, was part of a Fact Finding mission to Nepal. In view of the struggle for democracy in Nepal, it was felt by both regional groups to have an independent outside view of the situation of women workers in the country ridden by political suppression and armed conflict.  As this is o­ne of the thmatic work areas of CAW, the fact finding was planned. The fact-finding team was in Katmandu from 8^th -18^th. September 2005.

An anti-corruption panel in Nepal has sentenced ousted former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to two years in jail after convicting him of embezzlement.

Mr Deuba denounced the verdict.

"There is no basis for this case. This is political assassination. We will fight it politically," he said, the Associated Press news agency reports.

� No Autocracy, Want Democracy in Nepal �

�Respect Trade union rights ! �

� We are with you, Asian Workers Solidarity�

� Demand Constitutional Monarchy Back!�

read the banners in a protest by labour groups including Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link, (APWSL), Committee for Asian Women (CAW), Centre for Information and Labour Training (CLIST), Alliance of Democratic Labour Unions, ICEM Thailand. Thai Labour Campaign, Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, Asia Pacifica Women Law and Development (APWLD), Transnational Information Exchange � Asia (TIE-Asia) outside the Royal Thai Embassy in Bangkok.

The protest was against the undemocratic rule of King Gyanendra of Nepal and demanding restoration of multiparty democracy, stop human rights and labour rights violation. Around 40 people gathered outside the Royal Nepal Embassy around 10.00 am o­n 1^st July 2005. CAW was represented by programme officers for the theme political suppression and the finance officer. There were many colourful banners in paper, cloth, headbands, and body banners. Slogans were written in Thai, English, Nepali, Bahasa, Chinese and Korean.

The employees of Government service in Nepal were allowed to form a 'single' association as per Civil Servants Act. The legitimate organization recognized after the Supreme Court Verdict of August 16, 2001 is Nepal Government Employees' Organization. However, this hard won right is now in stake; the regime is secretly planning to amend existing Civil Servant Act with a provision of virtually no-union proposal. They are of a opinion that right to association should be granted to o­nly non-officers; workers will be divided into several pieces based o­n their 'post'. Moreover, their plan is to freeze all non officer post in the days to come and hire them under contractual agreement through recruiting agencies aiming to de-unionise government service. This o­ngoing conspiracy against organisation has been informed the concerned agencies including, ILO, PSI, and other Global Union families.

• Altogether 25 trade unionists have been arrested in Nepal after the royal military takeover and some leaders of Trade unions are under threat to arrest and are compelled to go into hide-outs. Mainly, Chairperson, Vice chairperson & Secretary General of GEFONT and President of NTUC are under threat of arrest as warrantees and are in hideouts
• Fundamental rights provided by the Constitution were fully expelled during February 1 to April 30. Now the state of Emergency in papers has been lifted but suppression is at the same level in practice

The representatives of six political parties of Nepal met Indian Minister for External Affairs Mr. K. Natwar Singh at his office today. The delegation handed him over a copy of their consensual road map for restoration of full democracy and peace in Nepal. Mr. Singh was happy and expressed full support to the proposed road map. The meeting lasted for more than 45 minutes in a happy and relaxed ambiance.

On 4^th June 2005, a joint meeting of the women's associations of Nepal was held successfully. The meeting was organized by ANWA in its central office Alok Nagar, Kathmandu. Some important decisions were taken in the meeting.

The meeting strongly condemned and criticized the King�s regressive step of 1^st Feb 2005. The King�s steps have hampered and threatened women's rights. The meeting came to a common consensus to continue struggling to end autocracy and achieve complete democracy and also support and express solidarity with the seven political partys� joint struggle. Women committed to keep up efforts to strengthen the movement till success is achieved.

Effective May Day rallies in Nepal this year. May day have been celebrated as workers democracy day and professionals like lawyers, university teachers, journalists, engineers and medical practitioners also joined the workers rally and other programmes during may day celebration. More than 10,000 workers and TU leaders marched with demand for peace & democracy in the heart of the capital citywhere prohibition order against demonstrations was also issued by the autocratic administration. As the invitees of Nepali Trade union movement, Participation of the representatives of 7 Global Union Federations, 3 national centres from abroad, ILO & ICFTU-APRO has been highly significant.It has been the first rally led by Trade Unions and Associations of Professional. Workers have become the first to come in the street in such a large number with demand for restoration of democracy, human rights, trade union rights, academic freedom and rule of law in the country.

April 23: Former Minister Prakash Man Singh arrested becuase he did not present himself to the unconstitutional Royal Commission for Corruption Control. A �pull-push' was observed between Police and NC(D) cadres when RCCC sent 2 dozens of policemen for his arrest.. He was finally arrested but he refused to give his statement to the officials of unconstitutional commission. He has been handed over a seven day detention order.

April 26: Former Prime Minister arrested at midnight. First at midnight 12:05 they shouted to come out of his house after capturing the house from every side. Ther were in civi dresses and some black masked. He asked for their identity. They started to quarrel. Deuba & the whole family including his 90 year old father from the upper floor of the house requested them to come in the daylight. But they continued to ask him to come down. Finally at 2.00 oclock in the night they threatened to break the door and then at 2:15 he came to him and they arrested him & led to Police training centre.

Former Minister Prakash Man Singh, the leader of NC(D) and son of Ganesh Man Singh (Commander of the popular mass movement of 1990 for democracy ) has been arrested by the unconstitutional Royal Commission which has been formed by the king in order to suppress political party leaders in the name of corruption. It is to be noted that the king appointed chairman of the Royal commission is o­ne of the highly corrupt bureaucrat of former partyless autocracy before 1990 movement.

Singh was given order to present himself within 24 hour for a so-called enquiry related to a water supply contract during his ministerial period in the government. He refused to recognize the unconstitutional commission. And hence he has been arrested and put under the detention for 7 days. Notable is the unconstitutional jurisdiction given to this Commission by the king to enquire, to prepare case, to start hearing and to give punishment, as if there is no judicial system in the country.

Press StatementThe so-called lifting of emergency in Nepal by King Gyanendra appears to have confused friends of democracy in Nepal in India as well as abroad. In fact, the emergency has not altered a singular data in the reality of Nepal. The political prisoners are still in jail, press censorship remains, civil liberties are suspended and the direct and autocratic rule of the King continues. The irresponsible and illegal Royal Commission persists harassing political leaders and activists stubbornly. We therefore, strongly condemn the attempt of King Gyanendra to hoodwink the people at large and earnestly ask our friends everywhere to see through the new ploy of King Gyanendra.

The all round, ever deepening problems of Nepal cannot be solved without King Gyanendra surrendering every vestige of the power and authority he has usurped unconstitutionally. The restoration of duly elected house of representatives can bring the democracy to the track. The restored house there after, should undertake convention of Constituent Assembly, to address the restructuring of the state and outstanding socio-economic contradictions as well as the Maoists insurgency.

May 1, 2005

Your Majesty King Gyanendra:

We are deeply saddened by the return to authoritarian rule in Nepal with your recent action of taking over government followed by suppression of people�s movements including the women workers� movement, among others.

Our country, the Philippines, also lived through 14 years of dictatorship (1972-86). The country, its people and the economy paid dearly for this authoritarian period in terms of political instability, a muzzled press, withdrawal of basic freedoms, the cream of the younger generation (our youthful activists) joining the underground, many either killed or jailed, a devastated economy, and so o­n. Indeed, our country lived through the worst of authoritarian rule but we survived and, in the end, prevailed with the 1986 peaceful People Power uprising that dismantled the dictatorship and restored democracy and constitutional rule.

In behalf of the Philippine labor movement, we are concerned about the violations of democratic rights, human rights, women�s rights and labor rights which started with the declaration of the state of emergency o­n Feb. 1, 2005. we have learned that with the dismissal of the Royal Government of Nepal, you issued a decree which suspended all trade union rights and banned meetings of more than five persons.

Moreover, we also learned that key union leaders and activists are in the list of over 1,400 persons targeted for arrest or close surveillance. Many trade union and women leaders are being taken without an arrest warrant and denied a trial because they demanded the restoration of democracy. These actions do violence to basic human and labor rights.

The Communist Party of Nepal (UML) strongly condemns the unprovoked attack and vandalism done by plainclothesmen deputed by the royal government inside the Party Headquarters at Balkhu in Kathmandu o­n April 25. The following misdeeds of the government security men under disguise have amply unmaskedthe undemocratic and dictatorial face of the unconstitutional royal government in Nepal.1. It is deplorable that the state security personnel in plainclothes wearing masks and wielding small arms broke into the Party Headquarters without any warrant immediately after the funeral procession of SadhanaAdhikari, the wife of late leader Man Mohan Adhikari. The CPN (UML) was mourning the death of imminent woman leader Sadhana Adhikari at the Party Headquarters. Her dead body was kept inside the Party premises for paying homage. Different party leaders and activists from different political parties were present to pay solemn tribute to her. The funeral procession was started at 1.30 PM and mourners joined it. Thus the whole party leaders and activists were mourning at the demise of their beloved women leader. o­n the contrary, the government security personnel attacked the youths and party activists who were present at the Party Headquarters to mourn the death of a woman leader. Thus the state security personnel grossly undermined humane treats under the direction of the royal government. 2. A gang of plainclothesmen, 25 in number and some of them were masked and carrying small arms, entered inside the Party Office and indiscriminately attacked various party activists at around 4 PM. Half adozen of the masked personnel went up to 4 th floor of the Party office chasing party members. Some of them entered in the library room and smashed a door of toilet suspecting o­ne of the wanted members to be inside the toilet. In fact another student leader named Jhapat Rawal was inside the toilet. The student leader was dragged out and brutally beaten. Similarly, another youth leader Narayan Basnet was manhandled inside the Party premises. They kicked the locked doors of the office of the Party General Secretary, Central Auditing Committee and Central Disciplinary Committee and threatened party members with revolvers. Thus the plainclothesmen continued their mischievous hooliganism for about 40 minutes inside the Party. They were apparently looking for some youth leader to arrest them. The plainclothesmen were carrying their surveillance of all mourners and visitors noting down car and motorbike numbers even when the people were paying their homage to late Mrs. Adhikari. Some of the visitors were arrested o­n the way.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:

The King of Nepal has announced that India has agreed to resume military supplies to Nepal after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. If this report is true, it is a wrong and unjustified step. The Indian government had correctly decided to stop military supplies after the King of Nepal had suppressed parliamentary democracy and imposed an emergency. The CPI(M) and all other democratic forces in the country had welcomed this decision.

As part of the Thai labour movement and Asian women workers� movement, we are having a protest gathering here in the Royal Nepalese Embassy to express our deepest concern about the serious violation of democratic rights, human rights, women rights, and labour rights in Nepal. This is a direct result of the declaration of state of emergency o­n February 1, 2005 by the King Gyanendra of Nepal.

It is our understanding that following the dismissal of the Royal Government of Nepal, the royal coup issued a decree, which basically suspended all trade union rights and banned meetings of more than five persons. In addition to this decree, we are informed by our counterparts in Nepal that key union/women leaders and activists are included in the list of more than 1,400 persons currently targeted for arrest or close surveillance.

Furthermore, there are many trade union and women leaders and activists who are being arrested arbitrarily without an arrest warrant and denied a trial because they demanded for democracy to be restored. These actions are unacceptable and clearly a violation of all internationally recognized trade union rights and human rights.

"Release Political Prisoners, Stop Violence, Killings & Restore Democracy" read the banners.

CAW along with Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions, Centre for Labour Solidarity (CLIST) led a protest outside the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Bangkok o­n 22^nd April 2005. The protest action started at 10am and continued for around 2 hours. Around 50 trade unionists and labour activists joined the protest. From CAW, the coordinating officer, the programme officers and the documentation officer joined the protest.

 

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From ANWA, the present Vice President Com. Goma Devkota, Sabitra Bhusal-CCM, Sarita-CCM Neupane were arrested. Democratic National Youth Federation Mamata Giri, Urmila Acharya, Urmila Bhattarai, from All Nepal National Free Student's Union, Maya Tamang and many other women activists were arrested. In Kathmandu alone, there were more than 300 activists and leaders who were arrested. Among them, there were 31 women. We have not received any detail report yet from outside the valley. The chair of ANWA, Bidya has not been released.

We strongly criticize and condemn government suppression during the peaceful demonstration. It is a matter of criticism and irony that the King's government is suppressing people's movement in the name of democracy and human rights. We think that o­nly a strong people's movement can end the autocracy. The momentum is increasing day by day. The movement conduction committee of the party has set up the program for the next month.

Dear friends, we are so inspired by your support and it gives us additional courage that other peoples� movements are by our side during this critical situation. We seek your continuous support in future.

Thanks for your strong and warm solidarity!

Sujita Shakya

ANWA

Mr. Dharmananda Pant, the Chairman of Mahakali Zonal Committee of the GEFONT has been arrested from his own residence by the security personals; exact reason is not disclosed yet.

Sources to the GEFONT Mahakali Zone opined that his arrest would be linked with recently held Zonal convention of GEFONT which has re-elected him in the position of Chairman for next 3 year term. The secretariat of the Zonal committee claims Mr. Pant had led a procession prior to the formal procedure of the Convention in the city where sizable number of unionists had chanted slogan in favour of peace, democracy and the trade union rights which was in the information of local administration.

Sudden police intervention in GEFONT Central Office o­n February 18, 2005 at 10.00 hrs. in the morning and threatening & terrorising activities to the available office bearers and workers is the major event in national scenario. No o­ne was allowed to go out and theentire office was searched by the team of the police. fter the search, they forced all to go out of the building and then locked the main gate. The key was taken to the police ofice and was returned o­nly in the late afternoon at 18.00 hrs.

Dear friends,

We express our heartfelt solidarity o­n the auspicious occasion of 95th International Working Women's Day for the better world, peaceful, prosperous, justful world. We are grateful and thankful to our entire international arena to supporting to people's move against king's step. We believe that your solidarity will strengthen our activism to end autocracy. We humbly request again to pressurize the government to release our chair Bidya Devi Bhandari and all the arrested and detained leaders and activists.

In solidarity !

Sujita Shakya

Chief

Central Department of Foreign Affairs

ANWAFor pictures, please follow this linkhttp://freenepal.blogspot.com/2005/03/photo-anti-monarch-rally.html