H15205
Headlines : Human RightsNepal police detain stripping protesters
Along with this protest outside the Nepalese parliament against the practice of forcing young Badi girls into prostitution, marginalized ethnic groups brought Kathmandu to a standstill last night with a widely observed strike.
The strike, called by a group which represents the Tamang ethnic minority largely halted transport across the capital, a sector staffed largely by poorly paid workers from ethnic minorities.
At the same time, the Nepalese left is pushing for a fully Republican constitution with proportional representation, compensation for those with relatives killed by the Royal Army during the civil war and the nationalization of properties accumulated by the King during his reign.
[Posted By Szamko]Republished from News.com.au
POLICE in Nepal overnight detained 13 men and women who tried to strip in front of parliament here to protest the decades-old practice of forcing girls from their community into prostitution.
“We detained five Badi men and eight Badi women as they tried to strip off their clothes during a demonstration” outside Nepal’s parliament complex, Kathmandu police chief Sarbindra Khanal said.
“This is a restricted area, and protesting is banned,” he said.
Members of the poor Badi community are one of the most disadvantaged groups in the country. For generations, many have been forced into the sex trade because of a lack of other options.
“Around 400 Badi people have arrived in Kathmandu to press their demands,” Subash Darnal, one of the organisers of Wednesday’s protest, said.
Posted by Szamko
Just tries to tell the truth.
Schools and businesses were shut down. Government Offices mostly stuck to Situation Normal etc etc.
The demonstrations drew ethnic and low-caste minority groups in general.
Here’s one of the Badis
On the whole, everyone seems pretty mellow.
Voila the freed bonded laborers — Kamaiyas. Nepal didn’t make bonded labor illegal until July 2000. Apparently the so called Liberated Ones do not feel that their situation has improved since.
But.
Does it look like they’re laughing? (you can see it better if you look at the full picture)
The Tamang Liberation National Front called for the strike. Tamangs make up about 5 percent of Nepal’s population.
The Tamang Liberation Front used to be better known as “Maoist rebels” — but last year they dumped armed resistance to buoy a peace process. Yay!
Another minority group fighting for representative government is the United Dalit Republican Front. Dalits (“Untouchables”) were also out in force. 13 percent of Nepal’s population have been condemned to the status of “Untouchable”.
Ya basta, no estas solo, venceremos y vamanos!
What do you think Shazam? Could they have been inspired by the Climate Camp crowd? I’m thinking of this Open Love Letter to the Global Justice Movement in particular :
I hope so.