Thousands of members of ethnic minority groups marched through Hong Kong demanding the police chief apologize for the shooting dead of a Nepalese man by an officer. The demonstrators - numbered by police at 2,000 and organizers at 5,000 - were largely dressed in black and included Nepalese, Pakistanis, Indians, Filipinos, Indonesians and Thais.

They also called for a full, independent and open public inquiry into the death of Dil Bahadur Limbu, 31. Hong Kong - born Limbu was shot in the head by a police officer who responded - alone- to a disturbance call from Ho Man Tin on March 17.

The police say homeless Limbu was given several warnings to stop his alleged assault with a wooden stool before the officer fired two shots. The first shot missed and the second hit him in the head.

At yesterday's march, which began in Wanchai, protesters walked largely in silence to SAR government headquarters, with many carrying white playcards bearing slogans against ethnic injustice and demands for fair treatment by the police.

In response, the police said every case is investigated in a "fair, just and impartial" manner, regardless of race.

Ganesh Kumar Ijam, adviser for the Hong Kong Nepalese Federation and spokesman for the march, said the community wants a fair, open and thorough inquiry into Limbu's death.

Ijam also called for the officer involved - who has not been named - to be suspended from tasks "involving risks to the public" while an inquiry is being held.

He read out a letter addressed to Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen and asked among other things, why was the officer unaccompanied at the time of the shooting; why was Limbu shot in the head and why other means of restraint were not used.

"The Nepalese community is deeply shocked by the violent action of the police constable that day and believes the killing of Mr. Limbu could have been avoided, " Ijam read from the letter.

"We demand apologies from the police commissioner to Dil Bahadur's family."

Limbu's older brother, Ram Kumar Limbu a British army officer who was also born in Hong Kong but now lives in Britain, said: "I am upset, tired and feeling unwell."

"I am grateful for the support of those who came to protest, as well as to the media. I plan to seek justice [for my brother] and have lodged a complaint to the police."

Ram Limbu is taking advice from Hong Kong lawyers over the case and plans to stay in the territory for another two weeks. Ijam said Dil Limbu's wife and daughter will fly from Nepal to Hong Kong this week to seek support from the government. Mrs Limbu is believed to want her daughter to be educated in Hong Kong.

Article Courtesy: Adele Wong (The Standard, HK)

Photos by Pokharacity.com (Click on the Thumbnail to view it)