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3 March, 2006
For the urgent attention of His Majesty
King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev
Narayanhity Royal Palace
Durbar Marg
Kathmandu
Nepal
Brussels, 28 February 2006
Your Excellency,
I am writing to you in name of the 20 million members of the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). We have been informed by our affiliate in Nepal, the Nepal Electricity Authority Employees' Union (NEA-EU), about the existing plans by your government to split up the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
The ICEM strongly objects to the fact that your government is seeking to take advantage of the dissolution of the parliament last year to prepare a new electricity act, which would fragment the NEA and, ultimately, prepare the utility for privatization. The ICEM therefore joins the NEA-EU, together with the NEAEA, another ICEM affiliate, and the NEAEWC, in their protest against the proposed ordinance that would make this privatization possible.
As you know, the trade unions have actively stated their opposition to this ordinance through mass meetings, the wearing of black bands and picketing the office of the Managing Director of the NEA. The ICEM supports the ongoing campaign by the trade unions, including the continued picketing, the vehicle strikes in the central office area of the NEA and the various protest actions that will be organised throughout the country.
The ICEM urges you to halt the plan to split up the NEA and to discuss any possible restructuring of the company with the workers and their elected representatives.
Furthermore, I wish to repeat our call for the immediate release of all trade union leaders and members that have been arrested over the last few weeks in Nepal. The ongoing repression of democratic organisations in your country is violating a wide range of accepted international standards, and this needs an immediate remedy.
Thanking you in advance for your urgent attention.
Yours sincerely,
Fred Higgs
General Secretary
Cc: Mr. Narayan S. Thapa, Ambassador of Nepal to the Benelux and European Countries