Over 50 young women and men participated in a Vigil organised by Nepali Youth Forum (UK) in Strand near Nepali embassy, 21a Kensington Palace Gardens, W8 4QU on 11 January 2013 from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Varadakumar, the Executive Secretary of the Tamil Information Centre also joined in the vigil. He said “I am here to show solidarity with the Nepali women. Their struggle against violence is also our struggle, where hundreds of women have been subjected to sexual violence in Sri Lanka”
Shreya Paudel, a Nepali socialist who is the president of Middlesex University Students’ Union, said any woman being raped anywhere is wrong. The main case that sparked the protests in Nepal and outside is Sita Rai, a migrant worker returning from the Middle East, who after being held at Tribhuwan International Airport was robbed and then raped by a policeman with the help of government officials. People are shocked because she was attacked by public officials who were supposedly there to protect her. It was said many, Nepali workers go to the Middle East to work and this is one reason Sita Rai’s case has provoked widespread sympathy.
In November and December, there were other very serious cases that had shocked the people. Saraswati Subedi, a domestic worker, died under suspicious circumstances. Bindu Thakur and Shiwa Hashmi were burnt alive in what seem to be so-called honour killings. In all three cases the authorities behave irresponsibly and were highly obstructive.
The organisers also handed a letter addressed to the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Prime Minister’s Office, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu to the Embassy staff.
Shreya Paudel, a Nepali socialist who is the president of Middlesex University Students’ Union, said any woman being raped anywhere is wrong. The main case that sparked the protests in Nepal and outside is Sita Rai, a migrant worker returning from the Middle East, who after being held at Tribhuwan International Airport was robbed and then raped by a policeman with the help of government officials. People are shocked because she was attacked by public officials who were supposedly there to protect her. It was said many, Nepali workers go to the Middle East to work and this is one reason Sita Rai’s case has provoked widespread sympathy.
