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27 November, 2006
The ICEM has written to the leaders of Maoist political parties in Nepal, protesting against the recent attacks on trade union representatives by Maoist groups in the country.
The latest of these assaults took place on Saturday, 18 November, at a mill owned by Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper Nepal Ltd., in Gaindakot in the Nawalparasi district of Western Nepal.
NICIWU's Tika Ram Paudel
Tika Ram Paudel, the Central Treasurer of ICEM affiliate Nepal Independent Chemical & Iron Workers’ Union (NICIWU), and Shree Mahato, the NICIWU Vice President at Bhrikuti’s mill, were brutally attacked by Maoists.
Both were beaten after Paudel, who had been receiving Maoist threats over the last few months, was summoned “for consultation” by Maoists, who had suddenly appeared at the plant.
Regrettably, more reports on violence against trade unionists have come out of Nepal recently. The ICEM was also informed by its affiliates of an attack on GEFONT trade unionists by Maoists in Hotel Malla.
These violent incidents are deplorable in view of the fact that the country is just months out of a period of brutal repression by the government. Last spring, the people of Nepal removed their autocratic King Gyanendra from power. And within the past month, a peace agreement was signed between Maoists rebels and the government, ending a ten-year period of fighting.
In the ICEM letter, the Global Union Federation joined the call by NICIWU to “strongly demand the Maoist leadership to respect the peace code of conduct,” as well as “to investigate the incidents immediately.” Reportedly, the Maoist leadership has already committed itself to investigate the incident. However, earlier such promises have been broken. The ICEM will continue to monitor the fragile state of peace and security not only in the Himalayan country as a whole, but also inside the workplaces of Nepal.