Nepalis demonstrate in US, UK, HK and Australia

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Feb 2 - Nepalis living in USA, UK, Australia and Hong Kong
marked February 1 as a "Black Day", with rallies and demonstrations,
demanding immediate restoration of democracy and civil liberties in Nepal.
In New York, Nepalis chanted slogans against the Royal regime, asking the King
to restore full democracy and return power to the people.
Journalist Kosmos Bishwakarma writes from New York that the Ralph Bunche
Park reverberated with demands for the restoration of civil liberties, suspended
after the King's takeover a year ago.

The demonstrators, wanted to draw world attention for suspension of all military
aid until the army is brought under civilian control.

"We want our freedom back," shouted Shailesh Shrestha. Ahead of him were
Mridula Koirala, restaurant entrepreneur, renowned painter and Fulbright fellow
Ashmina Ranjit, senior lawyers Khagendra GC, Binod Roka and Keshav Seadie
and Dipak Thapa, author of 'Kingdom Under Seige'. Alliance for Democracy and
Human Rights and Nepalese Democratic Youth Council (NDYC) organized the
rally.

The organizers posted letters to US President George W Bush, UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan and Jose Manual Barroso, president of the European Union,
requesting them to pressurize the King's regime to release all political prisoners
and restore democracy.

Similarly, Nepalis in Hong Kong, gathered at the Kowloon Park gate
demonstrated with placards and banners against crackdown on civil liberties
after last year's February 1 takeover. Far East Overseas Nepalese Association
(FEONA Hong Kong), Asian Student Association (ASA), Hong Kong Support
Group for people's movement in Nepal organized the rally.
Nepalese Forum for Human Rights and People's Democracy (NEHURIPD)
organized a demonstration in Winyard Park of Sydney in Australia, where
demonstrators displayed placards demanding restoration of democracy, respect
for human rights and human dignity in Nepal.

Similarly, groups supporting democratic movement in Nepal organized rallies in
London as well to put pressure on the King to restore democracy. Solidarity
Nepal UK was among the organizers there.