Dozens of human rights activists, trade unionists and women rights activists in Thailand expressed solidarity with the movement for democracy, human rights and peace while marking the first year of King Gyanendra’s takeover of state powers in the Himalayan kingdom.
Shouting slogans like “Long Live International Solidarity”, the activists organised a peaceful demonstration in front of the Royal Nepalese embassy in Bangkok Wednesday morning. The participants denounced what they called the crackdown on democracy as well as the continuing gross violations of human rights in Nepal.
The participants held placards showing photos of alleged atrocities committed by the state against the people of Nepal, demanding immediate release of all political detainees, and the end of atrocities and violence in the country.
They also urged the international community to stop selling arms to the royal government in Nepal. The speakers also questioned the relevancy of the upcoming municipal election, given the planned boycott of it by all the major political parties in Nepal, adding that such an election should be conducted by a democratic government and not the royal one.
During the demonstration, representatives of the organisers handed over a joint appeal issued by some 48 NGOs, civil society organisations and trade unions around the world to Arjun K Mainali, deputy chief of the mission at the Royal Nepalese embassy in Thailand, for the purpose of bringing it to the attention of His Majesty King Gyanendra.
Demanding the immediate restoration of multi-party democracy and peace in Nepal, the participants set free some pigeons and balloons and also displayed anti-king banners, according to a statement issued by the organisers.
The speakers at the demonstration included Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, President of Alliance of Democratic Trade Unions (ADTU), Thailand, Supawadee Petrat, Coordinator for Mekong Region of 1000 Women for Nobel Peace Prize 2005, Nongluck Parnthong, Coordinator of Slum’s Women.
Network (SWON), Chalida Tajaroensuk, Consultant of FORUM-ASIA, Parat Nanakorn, Coordinator of Asia Pacific Workers Solidarity Link (APWSL), Wilawan Chetia, Chairperson of Thai Labour Solidarity Committee, and Ji Ug-pakorn, lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University.