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RELEASE THEM NOW !!!
Supreme Court Issued Show-cause Notice on the arrest of Secretary General;
Zonal chief Released!
February 13, 2006. Today after hearing the Habeas Corpus writ-petition, the apex court of the nation-the Supreme Court issued Show-cause Notice against Royal Regime why GEFONT Secretary General has been put under detention. It is to be noted that GEFONT Zonal Committee Chairman Dharmananda Panta has been released yesterday by the order of the District Court of Kanchanpur- Mahakali Zone. Meanwhile, GEFONT Mechi Zonal Committee threatens to the local administration- district of Jhapa to organise general strike if the comrades in detention will not be freed immediately. By this pressure, all three detainee GEFONT cadres Bandhan Munda, Ganesh Chauhan and Om Karki have been released yesterday. Still under detention are Zone Committee member Nar Bhadur K. C. and members of GEFONT affiliates Chandra Bahdur Chaudhry including Secretary General along with dozens of unionists of various organisations. Altogether 36 GEFONT cadres had arrested since January 19, 2006 till today so far.
LabourStart starts worldwide campaign!
February 06, Kathmandu
LabourStart - an online news service maintained by a global network of volunteers in order to serve the international trade union movement by collecting and disseminating information and assisting unions in campaigning and other ways has now launched a campaign to free jailed Nepali trade unionists. Some 1,600 plus persons have sent their protest to Royal Regime in order to release Nepali jailed trade unionists up to February 14. >> More:
ILO DG to intervene Nepali authority Deputy Director of the International Labour Standards Department, responsible for Freedom of Association Karen Curtis wrote a letter on behalf of ILO Director General assuring to trade union movement that world tripartite body will immediately intervened on Nepali situation. Acknowledging receipt of WCL General Secretary Mr. Willy Thys communication dated 23 January for requesting ILO’s intervention with the Government of Nepal in respect of the arrest and detention of trade union leaders and members of the GEFONT and NTUC. >> More:
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About GEFONT
General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) was established on 20th July 1989. As there was no union right in Nepal; GEFONT was launched underground. GEFONT has 27 affiliates (as of April, 2009), which cover all three fields- the agriculture, industries and services; covering various sectors such as manufacturing, textiles and clothing, carpet industry, transport, hotels, restaurants and catering, tourism, printing, auto-mechanics, food production, breweries, chemical and metal industry, rickshaw pullers, tea plantations, street vendors, private school, hair dressers & beauticians, employees of security sector, thanka painting, tax- counselling, courier & cargo service, gold & jewellery work, construction and agriculture. As a largest trade union Confederation in Nepal, GEFONT represents over 300,000 workers from all affiliates. Over 33% women have been elected in National Executive Committee of GEFONT from its 5th National Congress. GEFONT is one the founders of international trade union body- the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) established on November 2006. It has been elected in General Council both at International and Asia-Pacific Regional level from the founding Congress. GEFONT affiliates are affiliated with various Global Union Federations (GUFs).
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Trade Unions submit charter of demands; Ultimatum of 35 days [top]
February 13; Kathmandu
Three trade union confederations GEFONT, NTUC and DECONT jointly submitted the National Charter of Demand to the labour minister today. The charter of demands consists of basic demands applicable to entire Nepali workers covering both the formal and informal economy. Basic demands applicable to all workers include Wages increment, establishment of Integrated Social Security Fund, Effective Labour Inspection system, assurance of Basic Workers Rights, end of all sorts of discrimination including discrimination against women workers, demanding concrete plan for New & sufficient employment, Social Dialogue incorporating frame work agreement, issues of displaced workers by violent conflict and diplomatic protection of Nepali in foreign employment. In addition the sectoral demands have also been covered by the charter for almost all sector of Nepali world of work. In the context of Royal Regimes’ effort to amend the labour law through ordinance ignoring labour rights, the charter of demands has responded the proposed amendment along with counter-proposals against its anti-labour aspect. The Confederations organised a press conference in order to make public the tabled Charter of Demands. Addressing the press conference GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane warned the regime- "Unions request to fulfil the demands within a period of 35 days."
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Swedish MPs protest against Royal take over [top]
A number of Swedish parliamentarians and Nepali community residing in Sweden gathered together in front of the Swedish parliament at Stockholm Wednesday to protest the one year’s dark rule of King Gyanendra. The protestors said- "the struggle in Nepal is no longer between the king and the Maoist, but between a dictator and the people." >>More
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Various Regional organisations protest Nepali Crack down [top]
February 1, 2006 Today to protest 1 year of royal takeover in Nepal, different regional rights-groups are marking the February 1 with various activities through out the world. CAW- Committee for Asian Women, ADTU- Alliance of Democratic Trade Union in Thailand, APWSL-Asia Pacific Workers’ Solidairty Links, CCC-Clean Clothes Campaign- the Netherlands, Labour Start UK are among the leading organisations. On the occasion GEFONT National Executive Committee has sent a Solidarity message addressing to the Colleagues of ADTU. Signed by GEFONT Chairperson dated January 31st the solidairty message says- "It is you colleagues who always add more energy and inspiration in order to continue peoples’ movement for rights & democracy. Thank you so much." >>More Story:
Rights groups call upon King Gyanendra to repeal Feb 1 proclamation
Full text of solidarity message
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Trade Unions condemn political killings [top]
February 10, Kathmandu
Three recognised confederations- GEFONT, NTUC, DECONT today jointly issued a press communiqué condemning political killings by the royal regime. The Unions strongly draw attention of United Nations, OHCHR to penalise Minister for Home affairs and the Chair of the Council of Ministers under the international law, who encouraged the security man for violence. >>The full text of release
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GEFONT delegation visits OHCHR in Kathmandu [top]
February 3, 2006; A high level GEFONT delegation led by Chairman Mukunda Neupane paid a courtesy call to Mr. Ian Maritn, the UN Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal. On the occasion, Mr. Neupane briefed on trade union rights situation in Nepal specially focused on repressive measures escalated by autocratic Royal Regime.
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Trade Union’s appeal to join today’s protest rally [top]
GEFONT along with 2 other recognised National centres have jointly appealed to the entire working masses to join protest rally called by 7-party alliance in order to mark 1 year of repressive direct rule of the King. Issued yesterday (January 31, 2006) the press communiqué stressed why Nepali working class should oppose Royal regime.
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GEFONT to extend solidarity to the PAPAD demo [top]
GEFONT has decided to lend active solidairty support to the struggling professionals who are organised under the banner of PAPAD- Professionals Solidarity for Peace and Democracy. PAPAD is organising a protest rally on January 30 afternoon. "Now entire nation is in boiling stage, the regime has made whole nation a wider jail. In this context we should actively support every movement launched by our colleagues working in difference occupation and profession" said Chairman Neupane during informal meeting in GEFONT HQ. >>More
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GEFONT boycotts CLAC Meeting [top]
January 27, 2006; Kathmandu
Today, GEFONT decided to boycott meeting of Central Labour Advisory Committee, citing non-conducive environment for the meeting. The letter issued to the chairperson of the Central Labour Advisory Committee (Labour Minister) by HQ was sent CC to trade unions, employer’s organisations, ILO, National Human Rights Commission and the United Nation Higher Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCR) as well. >> More
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Political News Update [top]
UML requests OHCHR to ban assassin participating in UN Peace keeping force February 12, Kathmandu, Acting General Secretary of CPN (UML) Amrit Kumar Bohara today requests Chief of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Mr. Ian Martin to ban unified command of security force who kills Martyr Umesh C. Thapa to participate in various peace keeping operation of the United Nation. Mr. Umesh Thapa was killed on February 8 shot-dead by RNA soldiers on February 8 during the so-called election of municipality in western Nepal. Slain Thapa was declared 1st Martyrs of Loktantra (Democracy) by the 7-Party Alliance. >> More
February 1st Royal address continues autocracy In an address to the nation to commemorate his usurpation of absolute powers last year, King Gyanendra said, "The nefarious designs to portray Nepal as a failed state a year back has now begun to unravel with acts of terrorism being limited to petty crimes." The agitating political parties termed the king’s February 1st address to people as a continuation of autocracy and authoritarianism. The parties also stressed the need to intensify the people’s movement in order to restore democracy and people’s sovereignty. Interestingly, whatever the King claim in his proclamation, general public is internalising it just opposite. Here is brief reality check on Royal address made by a National Daily- The Kathmandu Post. >> More:
King’s proclamation to the nation
Reality check on Royal address
Supreme Court verdict kills Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) The Supreme Court, in a historic verdict on February 13, put the king-appointed and controversial Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) to death, terming it "unconstitutional". A five-member full bench, comprising Justices Kedar Prasad Giri, Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Ram Nagina Singh, Anup Raj Sharma and Ram Prasad Shrestha handed down the verdict unanimously in response to a writ petition filed by advocate Santosh Kumar Mahato. While delivering the verdict, the bench has also addressed three other major constitutional issues -- source of state power, use of Article 127 of the constitution, and whether the king’s actions can be questioned in a court of law. King Gyanendra constituted the RCCC on February 16, 2005 like a Kangaroo Court under an emergency provision of the Constitution and later on gave continuity to the "anti-graft body" through a royal decree under Article 127 when he withdrew the three-month long emergency on April 29, 2003. The all-powerful body was given a role of both judge and jury, which legal experts claim is against the basic tenets and principle of natural justice. >> More
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