To The Royal Nepal Embassy

10 February 2005

Dear Ambassador,

I am writing to express my organization's urgent and strenuous protests against the suspension of trade union activities and democratic freedom by the power of Nepal's King.

According to the newspapers over 1.000 Nepalese, including leaders of political parties, trade unions, student groups and journalists, have been rounded up. Among those detained leaders was Mr. Pusker Acharya, a vice president of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC). Other union leaders are hiding themselves from the King. Meeting of more than three persons have been banned and communication with the outside world has largely been cut off.

Workers and people all over the world are apprehensive for Nepali people's life under the supervision of the military. They have no freedom of assembly, expression or opinion.

JRU, an affiliated union of ITF, protests against the rule of an absolute monarchy and calls on King of Nepal to restore people's democratic life, from the standpoint of trade union that fights to protect workers' rights and union activities.

We are aware that a country such as Nepal is faced by many problems, including political insecurity. However I would point out that the suspension of democracy and the violation of basic human rights will do nothing to resolve the problems. Your monarchy will receive criticism and only result in the isolation in the international community. We call on King of Nepal to release all the detained people, including trade union leaders. And we shall be exerting maximum pressure on our government to demand the immediate restoration of democracy together with ITF.

Yuji Oda
President
Japan Confederation of Railway Workers' Unions