July 21, 2006

By BABITA BASNET

Although the ceasefire code of conduct signed by the Nepal government and the Maoists talks about facilitating the return of persons displaced due to people’s war to their native home and rehabilitating them in a peaceful and respectful manner, most of the internally displaced persons are yet unable to return. The Nepal Government formed after the 19-days of People’s Movement on April 24, 2006 and the Maoists signed the 25-point ceasefire code of conduct on May 26. The 19 th point of the code of conduct states “the properties of political leaders, workers and common people that were seized or locked out or not allowed for use in course of conflict shall be handed back and allowed for use to the concerned persons or families.”

There is no definite statistics about how many people were displaced during the last one decade since the start of People’s War in February of 1996 from Rolpa district but estimates put them to be around 200,000. Of them, fifty percent comprise of women and children. The conflict that erupted from Rolpa district soon spread to Rukum, Jajarkot, Gorkha and Sindhuli. Security personnel were then extensively mobilized to these districts. Subsequently, male individuals began to be gradually displaced. The displacement of women started only a few years later. The volume of displacement increased suddenly after the mobilization of Nepalese Army. Women and children were also displaced in big numbers. According to one statistic, the number of people displaced during 2003 and 2004 is maximum during the whole decade. Till 2003, the number of displaced persons was around 32,000. In subsequent days, the number increased substantially. When the Maoists started recruiting school students from Baglung, Achham and other districts from early 2004, there was a mass exodus from those districts. The record kept at border points show that up to 1000 youths left for India from Achham district in one month alone during that time. Around 900 people left for India in a single day during that period. Likewise, when the student wing of Maoists – All Nepal National Free Students Union (Revolutionary) – started forcing students in Tehrathum schools to become their members, the students fled to Terai cities of eastern Nepal . Of many reasons for displacement, killing of family members and extortion appear to be major ones. Family members and even neighbors started fleeing their village. Women’s displacement increased after the Maoists accelerated their campaign to seize lands, houses and properties. Likewise, there are many instances where the women fled their place after being subjected to interrogation by security personnel regarding the whereabouts of male members of their family. Many women have faced mental and physical torture after their male relatives went underground. According to Jayapuri Gharti, president of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Women Organization, about 1500 women associated with Maoists were ‘martyred’ during the ten years. She said, “There is a big number of women who were raped or subjected to different sexual violence by security personnel.” Majority of these victimized women are said to be working with the party and some of them have been displaced to urban areas. In 2060, Siloke Sangraula of Taplejung district committed suicide after being unable to pay Rs 15,000 donation to the Maoists. His wife is mentally disturbed till now. Tirtha Gyawali of Bhaluwang of Dang district became mentally ill after being displaced. In Lalmatiya of Dang, families of 70 households were displaced after Armed Police Force set up their training camp by asking them to relocate. In Nepalgunj, the displaced persons are living in tents, only some of them have since returned. A rich family in Bardiya has been living in a rented rooms in Nepalgunj since last three years after he was forced to move out of his place by the Maoists. The person said, “I have millions of rupees worth of properties in the village. But I have to live in a misery here.” Having to live in such tension, his wife Rajya Laxmi has already suffered heart attack twice. Naramaya Khatri who hails from Gamlangtar of Okhaldhunga is currently working in a cow shed in Balkhu. She was displaced after the Maoists threatened her husband former village leader Chandra Bahadur Khatri. Families of Bhairab Bahadur Gurung of Jugu VDC, Solukhumbu and Pradeep Sunuwar, former chairman of a VDC in Okhaldhunga are living a difficult life in Maharajgunj after being displaced by the Maoists. Many of them who used to be well-to-do in villages are now forced to work in brick-kilns and as construction workers.

A big number of families belonging to security personnel who were displaced has not yet returned. “My husband’s throat was slit in front of me. I could not even give him water when he died. How can I return to the same place, same house, same bed where my husband was killed? I want to die here only,” said Prema Shahi who is living in Nepalgunj. After her husband was killed by the Maoists, she has been living with her daughter in Nepalgunj since three years. A number of girls who fled their villages to escape Maoist recruitment are now working in restaurants. And many of them are forced to engage in flesh trade. Many girls who sell foodstuffs in streets of Butwal revealed that they also engage in prostitution. “Prostitution is not our wish, it is the compulsion,” said a 19-year-old girl who sells tea near bus park. She had fled Arghakhanchi to escape Maoist threats. Many girls are also working as domestic helpers in Kathmandu and other cities. The family of Prema Wali is currently in Kathmandu . Her family was made to flee the village in Rolpa by the Maoists because their house was rented by police post. Her family had initially come to Kathmandu to treat her brother who was mercilessly attacked by khukuri by the Maoists. Sarala, mother of Prema, said, “Sons can go to any place but where can I send my daughters?’ The house in village is currently locked up. They do not have any faith that they would be safe when they return home. Many families are similarly suspicious about their security and are unable to return whereas some families are still stopped by the Maoists to return. The family of Ananda Bahadur Shahi of Dailekh are still not permitted by the Maoists to return home. Similarly, many other persons who face charges of being ‘informer’ think it is impossible for them to return. Of the 1000 displaced persons in Nepalgunj, around 148 persons have returned home in the first phase under the initiative by the Maoists, political parties and different organizations. It is estimated that around 30,000 people have been displaced in mid-western region alone. Most of their lands and houses have been confiscated by the Maoists. On the other hand, some youths who had earlier joined the Maoists and later fled their organization, say that they cannot return home yet since they believe that the Maoists would not leave them alone. The Maoist leaders have not yet spoken about their policies regarding such youths. First of all, in order to facilitate the return of displaced persons the Maoists need to release their confiscated properties, which is not happening in all places except a few. Neither the state is able to provide them adequate security guarantee to return.

(Basnet is a scholar of Peace Fellow with WISCOMP – Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace)

“There Is No Environment For Returning”

-- DIWANI GHIMIRE

My name is Deewani Ghimire. I am living a life of a displaced person since last five years in Kathmandu . I was born in Sindhuli district in 1985 (2041 BS). My father joined the Maoist party when I was 12-years-old and the same year he was arrested by security personnel. I did not know what the word Maoist meant when he was arrested. Policemen used to frequently come to our house saying it was a residence of a Maoist. They used to threaten my mother whereas I and my brother used to witness the incidents silently. Father was jailed thrice in separate incidents. Once there was even a news that he was killed. Later on, when a complaint was registered at the Human Rights Commission regarding his disappearance, he was found in Bhadragol Jail in Kathmandu . Due to repeated harassment by security personnel, my mother also joined Maoists. That was when the ill fate struck me and my younger brother.

Me and my brother both used to go to a same school. We were looked upon suspiciously for being children of Maoists. Apart from education, we also had to look after our farm field. Nobody helped us saying we were Maoists. In 2001 when there was the first peace talks between the government and the Maoists, my mother and father were released and for a brief period we lived together. But when the talks collapsed we all fled to Kathmandu . My father was re-arrested from Kathmandu where we were living at a house of acquaintance. And my mother ran into hiding. Since both my legs had been burnt when I was a child, I was not physically fully able. After we started living the life of displaced persons in Kathmandu , we could no more go to school. My brother who was sharp in studies worked as a helper in microbus to support our family. I started working in garment factory where I had to face bad behavior from people. Despite having adequate lands and properties in village, we were living a miserable life in Kathmandu . In course of torture by security personnel, my mother became unable to walk properly. In the meantime, my father was released from jail. But he was accused of leaking information about Maoists. He now faced twin threats – from the security personnel as well as Maoists. At present, there is peace talks between the government and the Maoists and the Maoists have said they would allow the return of displaced persons. But we are unable to return because of twin threats. We cannot return before they publicly withdraw charges against my father. Because of these problems I could not study further. Although I had passed SLC in first division, I could not join college. But this year I have joined a college. I want to return home if there is environment of security. Due to mental tension, many persons have suffered. I have seen two women become mentally ill. One of them was forced to see the killing of her own son by the Maoists while the other one went through extreme financial difficulties. These days, people want to associate with one political party or the other. But I am fed up with politics as I have seen my family suffer. I want to live without joining any party but by believing in democracy. Will the new Nepal have any space for me?