Demonstration
Monitoring Network

Secretariat
Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP) 

Joint
Press Release 

Date: May 4,
2010

Situation
on ground: The Demonstration
Monitoring network observed the possible Human Rights violation during
the third day of general strike called by the UCPN Maoist on May 4,
2010. Three people were injured in the clashes between the protestors
and the locals in Satungal of Kathmandu. Among the injured, Bijaya Lama,
19 of Hetauda has serious injuries in the head and is being treated
at Neuro hospital Bansbari after being referred by the local Bageshwari
hospital. Another protestor Rajesh Lama, 16 of Dhanusha and local Dharmaraj
Thapa Magar of Machchhegaun, Kathmandu were treated in the local hospital
for minor injuries. In another incident, the protestors vandalized four
shops along eastern gate of Singhdurbar at around 9.40 am today. 

Review of
the overall Situation:
Despite the strikes being peaceful, it has created difficulties in the
exercise of people's rights. Daily wage workers are the most affected.
Consumers have reported scarcity and hike in the prices of daily used
goods including cereals and vegetables. This has risked people's most
basic right to food.  

The closure
of industries and businesses has prevented people from exercising their
right to work and right to profession. Some shoppers in Kathmandu reported
the shortage of medicines. Coupled with halt in the transportation and
difficulty in drinking water supply, there is fear that people will
also not be able to exercise their right to health.  

Closure of
educational institutions has prevented all the children and many youths
from exercising their right to education. It is likely to trigger many
psychosocial problems. 

As the strike
prolongs, people have complained of not being able to perform many cultural
activities including death rituals and prayers.  

The duty to
protect all human rights of its citizens solely lies on the state. The
Network reiterates its call upon the government to create an environment
to end the strikes through dialogues soon. 

As the largest
political party in the country, protesting UCPN Maoist also has to take
these difficulties of the nation's citizens seriously and seek earliest
possible solutions to the current problems through dialogues. Other
political parties also have responsibility to be engaged in the negotiation
process and facilitate dialogues. 
 

Badri Prasad
Siwakoti

Network Coordinator 

 

Note: Demonstration Monitoring Network is
a loose network of social organizations working in the human rights
sector of Nepal. Currently it has 19 member organizations including
NHRC, OHCHR, Collective Campaign for Peace (COCAP), INSEC, CAHURAST,
HURDAN, Advocacy Forum, HURON, HURFON, INHURED International, SAFHR,
PBI, HUDEP Nepal, Women Foundation, JCYCN, RILEC Nepal, HimRights, Partnership
Nepal and Nepalese Society of Victimology.