Peoples' Caravan Delegates Arrested in Nepal
April 29, 2004
Around 100 delegates who had attended the Public Launch of the Peoples Caravan for Food Sovereignty gathered in a peaceful demonstration near Ratna Park in downtown Kathmandu. The protestors, both foreign and local, were then pushed unto the back of the trucks and taken to Police Headquarters where many were questioned about the action. They were released later in the evening. Protest actions have become a daily occurrence on the streets of Kathmandu. And just as pro-democracy movements have intensified, so have incidences of police suppression of these actions.
| Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) |
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| Where Is Nepal? |
| Kathmandu, Nepal |
17 April 2004
Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PANAP) (1) Executive director, Sarojeni V. Rengam; South Asian Peasants Coalition secretary general, Biplap Halim; and All Nepal Peasants Association (ANPA) chairperson, Bamdev Gautam who is also former Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal, were hoisted unto police trucks during a Solidarity March and Rally that proceeded the public Launch of the Peoples Caravan (2) 2004 at 5pm.
Also arrested were Keshav Lal Shrestra, Vice Chairperson of ANPA (the former Nepali Minister of Local Development), and Bidya Bhandari,chairperson of the All Nepal Peasant Women's Association (ANWA) and former Minister of Environment, and Population. Caravan organizer Gilbert Sape of PAN AP, ANPA secretary general, Prem Dangal, and numerous other supporters of ANPA and the democratic peoples' movement of Nepal were also rounded up by police.
Around 100 delegates who had attended the Public Launch of the Peoples Caravan for Food Sovereignty gathered in a peaceful demonstration near Ratna Park in downtown Kathmandu. Occupying the main road in a sit-in action, the delegates waved flags and chanted slogans, "Long Live Democracy!", "Down with Autocracy!" and "Long Live Peasants Struggle!" Within 10 minutes of the action, about 150 police swarmed the area and encircled the protestors, hurdling them towards nearby police trucks. The protestors, both foreign and local, were then pushed unto the back of the trucks and taken to Police Headquarters where many were questioned about the action. They were released later in the evening.
"We took to the streets for three reasons, firstly to take the issues from the Peoples Caravan launch and Day of Peasants Struggle to the people of Kathmandu; secondly, to join the peoples movements in Nepal in their struggle for democracy; and thirdly to assert the Nepali peasants' calls for food sovereignty and social justice",explains Prem Dangal of ANPA.
Protest actions have become a daily occurrence on the streets of Kathmandu. And just as pro-democracy movements have intensified, so have incidences of police suppression of these actions. "The right to
freedom of expression is a central part of democracy, and in absence of these rights the only just avenue for the people is a continuous struggle on the streets", comments Rengam. "The action we took today to
commemorate International Day of Farmers Struggle (3) was also part of peoples struggle for food sovereignty, it is the right to decision making at the local level on food and agriculture policy" she adds.
Originally pulled into the truck with the men, Rengam herself became the object of protests led by women peasant leaders who insisted that she not be bundled off in the male designated vehicle.
The delegates who had just participated in the Caravan Launch at Tribuvan University, in the Kirtipur district of Kathmandu had undertaken the March to support and assert the rights and concerns of the Nepali peasants' movements in their struggle for democracy.
Commenting on the protest action Rengam stated, "This was in solidarity with the peoples' struggle for democracy, including food democracy and
right to decent livelihoods. We believe in and support the Nepali Peoples struggle that lies at the very heart of the movement for a fair and just society based on human rights and democracy".
"The peoples' republic should be introduced and the genuine demands of the people for a democratic system of governance should be respected. We come in solidarity of the peoples struggle!" asserts Biplap Halim of the South Asian Peasants Coalition and the Institute for Motivating Self-Employment (IMSE), on his arrest.
The main speakers from the launch took part in the March, and extended their support and solidarity for the Nepali peoples struggle for democracy. As noted by Josephine Sagayam of the Taminadu Women's Forum,
"Food Sovereignty is not possible unless the people have rights over decision making and have a say in the policies that affect them. Therefore it is imperative for the people to attain their democratic rights."
Earlier in the afternoon, over 400 people filled the Auditorium Hall at Tribuvan University to attend the Public Launch of the Peoples Caravan for Food Sovereignty. Hosted and organised by ANPA, ANWA and the Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), the launch highlighted the concerns and issues of the peasants' movement in Nepal on their Day of Struggle.
Food Sovereignty has been the rallying call of many grassroots movements the world over, and in particular the peasants movements. The Caravan will advocate for genuine agrarian reform that gives poor peasants access and control over land, seeds and water; yields which are free from pesticides and genetic engineering (GMOs); guarantees an ecological production for present and future generations; supports the rights of women; and strengthens the communities in rural areas.
For 30 days in September this year, the Peoples Caravan for Food Sovereignty will hold simultaneous events and solidarity actions in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Korea, China, Japan,
Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal; with the possible participation of groups in Thailand.
Be part of the journey. Join and support the People's Caravan.
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Endnotes:
1. Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific based in Penang, Malaysia, is the regional base for Pesticide Action Network (PAN), an international coalition of citizen's groups and individuals opposing
the misuse of pesticides and support reliance on safe, sustainable pest control methods. PAN AP is linked to more than 150 groups, working consistently with some 50 groups in 18 countries in the Asia Pacific
region.
2. For more information on the Caravan's Themes and Focus Issues, the Routes it will take and the groups involved please refer to http://www.panap.net/caravan/
3. After the massacre of landless on the 17th of April 1996 in Brazil, La Via Campesina declared this day the International Day of Farmers' Struggle. La Via Campesina is an international movement, which
coordinates peasant organizations of small and middle-scale producers, agricultural workers, rural women, and indigenous communities from Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. See: http://www.viacampesina.org
For More Information or To make further contact:
PAN - Asia and the Pacific
P.O. Box 1170,10850 Penang, Malaysia
Tel:604-6570271/6560381 Fax:604-6583960
Web: www.panap.net
Sarojeni V. Rengam, PAN AP, Tel: (+604) 657 0271. Email: saroj@pc.jaring.my, panap@panap.net,
Hand Phone: (+60) 16 478 9545
Jennifer Mourin, PAN AP. Contact Tel. No. in Nepal from April 15-20 c/o
RRN: (+977) 1-444 3371/4415418 /4422153 / Email:
Jennifer.Mourin@panap.net ,also jenmourin@yahoo.co.uk
Rural Reconstruction Nepal, contact Person: Mr. Mukunda, Tel. No:(+977) 1-444 3371/4415418 /4422153 / Email: mukunda@rrn.org.np
All Nepal Peasants Association, contact:
Mr. Prem Prasad Dangal,
Tel.No: (+977) 1-4288404 / 548971 / 5537795.
Email: anpa@mail.com.np
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