• Civil Service Union Banned
• Nepal Telecom Unions in agitation!
• FM Radios start news cast; FNJ facing yellows
• Employers in aggressive mood based on government backing
• A glimpse of workplace examples of the ill-intention of Government
• Maoists Atrocities are As of Government
• Pyramid of Unemployment
• Political News Update

Civil Service Union Banned [top]

The Civil Service Act is amended through ordinance; it has banned the existing legal & representative unions-- Nepal Government Employees Organization (NEGEO). The amendment has ill-intention to divide Government employees under number of peaces- posts wise & group-wise "guided associations". The ordinance has massively axed the facility of social security being provided to the government employees by removing provision of existing Pension system by introducing a provision of Lump sum amount at retirement. It is being designed to terminate 10,000 government employees in the name of administrative reform.

DAO seizes NEGEO assets

The District Administration Office (DAO), Bajura, has seized all the assets of the Government Employees’ Association (NEGEO) on August 1, stating that the office was acting as per the orders of higher authorities. Following the move, the DAO employees, with the help of police, took control of the NEGEO office and seized all its furniture. The DAO has also frozen NEGEO bank accounts too.

Civil servants hit the street

On July 22, amidst police intervention, hundreds of government employees took out a rally in the capital on Friday to protest the promulgation of the Civil Service Ordinance, which, they claim, denies them their right to association and makes employees fully unsecured.
The ordinance has attacked the civil servants’ right to organization," a leaflet handed out by protestors said. A large number of riot police monitored the march and confiscated the posters they were carrying.

Police manhandled civil servants and snatched away their placards as soon as they converged near Sundhara to stage a silent protest rally organized by Nepal Government Employees’ Organizations (NEGEO). Infuriated by the police intervention, the employees then marched through the inner parts of the city in areas chanting slogans against the government’s repressive measures.

They held a mass meeting, where employee leaders said they would not relent until the government withdraws its "draconian" law and ensures employees’ right to join a trade union of their choice.

AFP quotes an organizer as saying "The NEGEO and the 38 professional organisations have more than 300,000 members across the country and all were ready to fight for their rights granted under the ILO convention."

"We have chalked out a month long protest programme against the government’s decision to ban all professional organizations to protect our civil and human rights," NGEO chairman Murari Bhattarai said.

"The NEGEO and other professional organizations have decided to mark July 14 as the Black Day because it was the day when the government deprived the employees and other professionals their rights to form unions," Bhattarai said.

On July 20, GEFONT issued a press statement and condemned the government. "The government step to ban Nepal Government Employees Organization is the clear indication of Totalitarianism by violating the freedom of association provided by The Constitution of Kingdom of Nepal 1990. Moreover, banning an organisation registered under National Directives Act by amending Civil Service Act through ordinance is totally unjustifiable."
Along with national trade union centres, 38 professional organisations have also extended their solidarity in favour of NEGEO movement demanding immediate repeal of the amended Civil Service Ordinance.

It is known that management has started to harass unionists of various PEs by demanding clarification with union leaders who had joined NEGEO street protest of July 22.

Nepal Telecom Unions in agitation! [top]

The Nepal Telecom (NT) management has declared to resume around 173,000 pre-paid and 30,000 post-paid mobile lines shortly. The decision came in public when both the largest unions of Nepal Telecom handed-over hundreds of thousands public signature collected by them as the part of their ongoing protest programme. This happened after month long protest programme continued by the unions.

In July 11, authentic union of NT, Telecom Employees Association of Nepal (TEAN) and Nepal Telecom Workers Union (NTCWU) had commenced first phase protest programs in a bid to create pressure on Nepal Telecom management to resume stalled pre-paid and post-paid mobile services. The unions handed over a memorandum to the management demanding early resumption of stalled post and pre-paid mobile services and permission to distribute new post and pre-paid cell phone lines. The unions have stated in the memorandum addressed to the management that they have been forced to initiate the protest after the management failed to fulfil the workers’ demands within the deadline.
The two workers’ unions of NT had initiated the protest programme earlier on June 14 and had issued an ultimatum of seven days to the management requesting the management to resume services and start distribution of new cell phone lines. However, on June 21 the unions had postponed their strike till July 10 after the management pledged to comply with their demands as soon as possible.

Tanka Lal Shrestha, president of authentic union-TEAN said that the unions have also informed the management that they will be forced to adopt more strict measures if the demands are not fulfilled in time. "We have also warned that the management and the government will be held fully responsible for any untoward incident that might take place in the course of the protest programs," he said.

The two unions have long been demanding the management to resume operation of stalled cell phone services stating that the company has already incurred losses close to Rs 1.2 billion and cannot bear any more losses. They have also been stating that they cannot sit idle and watch NT do nothing at a time when other competitors are making preparations to penetrate the sector.

The government had interrupted services of pre and post-paid mobile phone services four months ago on February 1 citing security reasons. Although it had allowed NT to resume services of about 43,000 post-paid cell phones registered in Kathmandu Valley on May 2 and some major cities after wards.

FM Radios start news cast; FNJ facing yellows [top]

Along with the declaration of State of Emergency, all of the FM Radio stations which were airing popular News cast barred to do so. After lifting up of the "Emergency" the FM stations united under Save Independent Radio Movement (SIRM) tried to negotiate with the regime in order to continue news based educational popular programmes. GEFONT along with various other organisations extended their solidarity with SIRM. The regime however rejected their request, thus one of the station Nepal FM 91.8 disobeyed Government directives and aired news programme. It generates a new wave in the SIRM agitation.

Furiously the government issued directives seeking clarification with FM station aiming to deregister their licence. The case reached to the Apex court. Surprisingly on August 10 the bench of the apex court dismissed government argument and gave verdict in favour of FM station stating that "it is connected to peoples right to information, thus not to cancel registration."

Now all FM has resumed their news broadcast, the FM station stanched their right by the authoritarian regime!

Meanwhile the regime has created a Royalist "Journalists Federation". It is an aim to challenge struggling FNJ, which is demanding complete press freedom post February 1st period.

Employers in aggressive mood based on government backing [top]

Employers and management in local level have become aggressive against workers after formation of autocratic government as an outcome of February event. However the central level business leadership is trying to pose itself in neutrality. Following is the glimpse of unfair examples of Employers side:

• Nicon Plastic has ousted 20 workers who were eligible for permanent appointment
• Aman Plastic has ousted 2 workers
• Jyoti Spinning has terminated the enterprise union leader and even after the restoration order of the court, ousted him again
• MyShop has harassed three union leaders by changes in duty hours and abuses and then ousted from the job
• Nepal Lever denied to dialogue on submitted charter of demand
• Owner of Hotel Ratna, the former Superintend of Police has frequently harassed & terrorised workers & union leaders by arrests, termination and revolver
• Compelling workers to resign from union committees in Bhudev Khadya udyog, National soap, Nepal Pasmina, Kathmandu Metropolis etc

A glimpse of workplace examples of the ill-intention of Government [top]

• Direct denial of union registration by labour offices in various places and a number of enterprises - in Kamalamai Iron Rolling Mills of Biratnagar, Abdul Haphiz biri Udyog of Sarlahi, garbage cleaners union in Janakpur Municipality etc
• Direct order to stop CBA election in enterprises - Surya Nepal, Krishna Oil, Indian Airlines
• Order of local authority to remove union board from Rastriya Banijya Bank and Electricity Authority in Udayapur
• Order of local authority against the submission of charter of demand in Udayapur cement factory
• Threatening by Local Authority to the workers not to involve in union activity in Janakpur Cigarette factory
• Leaves are denied while activists go for union work
• Police and Security force is victimizing transport workers - seizing of licences everywhere, compelled a number of drivers in Banke district to sleep in the highway after putting off clothes in hot season. A case of driver Gupta inhumanely forced by security men to wash face by urine
• Barracks in various schools which caused more than 300 students and teachers injured, 2 dozens have lost life in school premise encounters of Maoists and security force
• Armed force travelling frequently by public buses & frequently exploded by Maoists and more than 70 general people including women & children have lost their lives this year

The Regime Seems Reluctant to Implement Law

The Management of the Blue Star Hotel in Kathmandu has not deposited any money in the provident fund of the employees for 64 months. Similar is the situation in Hotel Garden, Everest, Himalaya, Radisson and other reputed hotels in the capital. This way the hotel manager is turning the workers away from the guarantee of social security. But, the government looks reluctant to take action to the hotel managers for their illegal action.

Former DSP and the proprietor of Hotel Ratna of Biratnagar terminated some workers from job, threatened to resign from the unions, imprisoned some those who opposed his order and also threatened to death pointing a gun at their head. The victim workers filed a case demanding an action against the proprietor. But the government never heeded the appeal of the workers.

Workers on Cross Fire and Beating

Western Nepal always witness horrible situation. One of the common phenomenons is using school by the security forces and the rebels. The rebel organises its activities in the school frequently. Following that the security forces often visit the venue and harass and even threatened the poor teachers.

Maoists Atrocities are As of Government [top]

There is another side of the coin with regards to Maoists extremism. Adopting the 19th century’s bourgeois tactics, they are active in using NTUC against GEFONT and vice versa. They are compelling the trade union leaders and members to support the Maoists or pay levy to them. If the leaders and the workers decline to obey them, they threaten them to face any consequences. The Maoists have started this campaign widely from Ilam to Hetauda.

Maoists not less than government against workers & trade unions

• Forcing industries, schools, colleges, transport and market to close frequently
• Hotel tourism industry damaged by Maoists causing heavy job loss
• Factory closures in considerable number aggravating unemployment
• Explosion in public places including schools, hotels, enterprises and offices
• Kidnap, abuses, tortures and murders
• Forced donations
• Compel to resign from union
• Effort to de-unionise the workplaces
• Trying to smash the only remaining democratic institutions the trade unions in grass root level

Workers of Shree Ram Sugar Mill of Rautahat are asked for levy by the Maoists. Santa Rai the President of IPWUN-GEFONT has been threatened to resign from the post, or else face the action. Similarly the Maoists have compelled the workers of Tokla Tea Estate to resign from their job. These are the just examples, there are many more incidents regularly taking place.

Maoist Atrocities Cross the Limit

"If a question is asked to Nepal Teachers Association and Nepal National Teachers Association on the abduction of teachers, you have to face a counter-question, ’of how long?’". "I was taken in custody for seven months without any reason", said teacher Prem Singh Bohara, Asst. General Secretary of Nepal Trade Union Congress. He further added "My release would not be possible if there were no national and international pressures."

There are thousands of teachers who have been abducted. The incidence of abduction is more severe in the hill districts. There is no single teacher who has not been abducted at least few hours. After the Maoists started their notorious project- "the People’s War", a total of 126 teachers have lost their lives since February 13, 1996. Of the total 126, Maoists alone have killed 74, as INSEC, a leading NGO reports. Babu Ram Adhikari, Secretary General of Nepal National Teachers Association, claims that the number of teachers being killed in the "People’s War" has crossed 150.

Tulasi Chaudhary Central Member of Federation of Agricultural Workers (FAWN-GEFONT), was abducted by the Maoists on a night of October 6, 2004 from his home in Nawalparasi. He was found the next day close to his house in the state badly injured both of his hands and legs mutilated. He was rushed to the Butwal Hospital for a treatment, unable to treat him there, the hospital referred him to the Teaching Hospital Kathmandu.

Bir Bahadur Gurung spouse of Parbati Gurung, a worker of Butwal Spinning Mills, was shot by a group of 4 people on December 4, 2004 on the charge of not providing food and shelter. The victim was taken to the Butwal hospital but the hospital referred to Palpa Mission Hospital for his treatment. In course of his operation, 62 pieces of bullet were found in his body. He was brought to Kathmandu for his further treatment.

Bomb Blast Affects Workers’ Employment

The Maoists hurled bombs at Hotel Soaltee, Fishtail, Gaida Wildlife, Hayat Regency, Nepal Lever, Colgate. Coca Cola, Gorkha Brewery and Sangahai Plastic and Everest Paper Mill this year. This has adversely affected the workers with the threat of being the hotel and other industries closed and thus losing their jobs.

On July 18 CPN (Maoist) detonated the Reliance Spinning Mills, which is the largest spinning mill of the country providing employment to thousands of workers. Similarly the rebel torched & detonated Jyoti Spinning Mill which destroyed about NRs. 15 million worth property and forcing 1,000 plus workers being jobless.

This act of Maoists is against humane values which have pushed more than 10 thousand peoples from families of workers to the street by explosion in the mill in a situation where country is in heavy unrest with fast declining employment opportunities.

They further forced to shutdown Unilever Nepal one of the subsidiary MNC of Hindustan lever, India just after the company made agreement in CBA with GEFONT affiliates- the only union in the company.

No One spare-off by the terror of extortion

The Maoists have claimed 25% of the wage from the teachers and levied war tax to other industries. In Dailekh the Maoists have demanded NRs. 63000 where in Rukum they have asked for 150000 as the ’war tax’. Not a single Industry outside the valley is spared from this terror.

Pyramid of Unemployment [top]

Unemployment has been sharply increasing due to the closure of industries. Ten thousandsof workers have been displaced in this year alone. As many as 37 garment industries where hundred of workers were being employed closed this year in the Kathmandu Valley alone. Due to the closure of industries, a total of 7,929 employees have been turned to be jobless. The regime announced liquidation of Lumbini Sugar Mill, one of the PEs aiming to privatise it has forced to 800 plus workers out of job.

Political News Update [top]

UML open for democratic republic

The 9th Central Committee meeting of CPN-UML, on Aug 25, decided to carry forward the current movement in favour of a democratic republic.

The Central Committee meeting, at the conclusion of its discussion on party General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal’s political paper, also decided its slogan for the movement: "Let’s end autocratic monarchy and restore complete democracy through constituent assembly."

Issuing a press release Thursday, the UML said, "Since the King’s October 4, 2002 and February 1, 2005 moves have violated the tripartite agreement of 1990, the UML has decided to take the current movement toward democratic republic."

Three of 68 Central Committee members wrote a note of dissent against the decision.

Standing Committee member Mukunda Neupane and alternate standing Committee Bishnu Poudel and Central Committee member Krishna Gopal Shrestha wrote the note of dissent. They are in argument that the decision for democratic republic would put into shadow party’s political line of people’s multiparty republic.

Meanwhile, the party also ruled out the demand for the party’s early convention and decided to focus on the current movement against regression. "The issues raised in the 9th Central Committee meeting will be continued in the 8th General Convention in future," the statement said. The Central Committee also decided to form a task force to formulate the party’s official stance on issues such as state restructuring, intra-party democratization and review of the party’s past performance.

The meeting has also called on Maoists to immediately give up violence and initiate negotiations with mainstream political parties to coordinate against the King’s regression.

For more Political update: DEMOCRACY: The CPN (UML)’s E-news bulletin; 1-23