KATHMANDU, AUG 06 - The government announced on Wednesday that it would form a committee to investigate into alleged police excesses against a peaceful protest by Dalit lawmakers and activists at Bijuli Bazaar, Kathmandu on Tuesday.
 |
| Dalit activists chant slogans during a protest demanding equal rights in the new constitution at Bijulibazaar in the Capital on Wednesday. Photographer: Sanjog Manandhar |
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam said that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident based on the investigation report. Furnishing his clarification over the police action against Dalit protesters in Parliament on Wednesday, Gautam said that police had to use force to take the situation under control after the protesters turned violent.
He said the security personnel were compelled to act after the protesters obstructed the vehicular movement and attempted to vandalise the vehicles plying the road.
“The government is saddened by the unexpected incident,” he said.
Following the serious concern from cross party lawmakers, a Parliament meeting had directed the government on Tuesday to furnish clarification over the excessive use of force against the Dalit lawmakers and activities.
The protesters turned violent and charged at the security personnel who had no other option but to react, said Gautam, adding that at least a dozen police personnel, including two Deputy Superintendents of Police Rewati Dhakal and Dan Bahadur Karki, were injured in the incident. “There is a video clip of the entire incident. Parliament can study that if necessary,” he said.
Unamused by Gautam’s explanation, Dalit lawmakers accused the home minister of speaking the language of police. “Home Minister Gautam is trying to protect police officials. We demand strong action against police brutality,” said Nepali Congress lawmaker Man Bahadur Bishwokarma.
As many as 26 Dalit activists, including Bishwokarma himself, UML lawmaker Jeetu Gautam, UCPN (Maoist) lawmaker Daljeet Sirpaili,
were injured when police rained batons on the protesters on Tuesday.
The Dalit community has been organising a series of protest programmes, demanding proportionate representation in the central and provincial governments and legislature. They claim the draft constitution has curtailed their rights guaranteed by the Interim Constitution, saying that the Drafting Committee has removed the provisions supportive of Dalit s agreed by the first CA.
Civil society, rights activists join the stir
A day after a violent clash with the security forces, Dalit leaders continued their peaceful demonstration in the Capital on Wednesday, with civil society organisations, rights activists and public of all quarters on tow.
A rally, taken out from Babarmahal, converged into a corner assembly outside the Constituent Assembly (CA), remained peaceful throughout.
Dalit s have been demanding at least three percent representations at the centre, five percent at provincial and 10 percent at local levels. They are dissatisfied at the removal of the Dalit -friendly provisions that were guaranteed by the previous CA.
The demonstration was jointly organised by the United-Joint Dalit Struggle Committee, Dalit Lawmaker’s Coordination Forum and Dalit civil society organisations. They have put forth a nine-point demand, including the retention of the provisions endorsed by first CA and the committee formed to study and determine constitutional records.
Addressing the mass gathering, Dalit leader Min Biswakarma blamed the major political leaders of ignoring the past agreements and vowed to continue the protest until their demands are met. “ Dalit s, who had fought against the Rana rule, the Panchyat and Shah, are once again forced to fight for their rights against Bahunbad,” he said.
Lawmaker Daljit Shirpaili said that he would happily sacrifice his life for the rights of his community. “We will brave police brutality to continue our fight,” said Shirpali, who was among those hurt in Tuesday’s clash with police clash. Sharmila Karki, president of the NGO Federation of Nepal, said the Dalit s movement is for social justice and is a national issue.
Over a dozen leaders and activists made cash donations for the treatment of the injured. Meanwhile, expressing serious concern over the police excesses against Dalit lawmakers and activists during a peaceful protest on Tuesday, the Accountability Watch Committee has demanded an immediate investigation into the incident and action against the culprits.
0 Comments: