National 7 (Spotlight Weekly)

Outraged By Disregard

Warning against the culture of impunity, the victims of Maoist violence want their concerns to be addressed in the peace talks

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

The victims of Maoist violence have given a strong warning to both the government and the Maoists not to overlook them when entering into any agreement. They have also demanded the formation of judicial probe commission including representatives from victims, rights activists and the state to fairly investigate the killings of unarmed and innocent civilians by the Maoists and provide compensation based on the recommendation of such commission.

"We have been watching the recent developments with a degree of detestation. We have seen the people who killed our near and dear ones hogging the limelight. Like every Nepalese, we also want peace. But the manner in which the government and the Maoists are moving ahead gives us no option than to warn them that any move to undermine our sufferings will not bear good fruits," warned Ganesh Chiluwal, president of Maoist Victims Association (MVA) - an association of victims of Maoist violence.

The MVA and Society of Orphan Victims of Terrorism (SOVT) have jointly presented a 13-point agenda of the victims. "We want the talking sides to include our agenda in their dialogue," said Chandra Guragain, vice-president of SOVT.

Victims of violence : Unheart voices

Their agenda includes forming judicial probe commission, giving legal punishment to murderers of innocent people in the name of people's war, discouraging the culture of impunity and immunity, including victims in the talks process and providing relief package and rehabilitation to them, among others.

"It is extremely disappointing that even after two months of cease-fire nobody is raising the concerns of people like us," said Gyanendra Aran. "If the voices of victims like us are ignored, they will have to pay. The bitter experience of the past has made us tougher and we don't even fear death. Let the government and the Maoist realize that if they do not take proper steps to address our concerns, we might be forced to pick up arms." Aran's father was killed by the Maoists last year in Ramechhap.

"The Maoists are yet to clarify why my father and so many others were killed. We don't buy their empty rhetoric. We have been orphaned for no reason except to fulfill the Maoists' aim of creating a vacuum in villages by killing all influential leaders there," said Aran. "There should be probe on the killing of parents of so many orphans like us. The Maoist leader should apologize publicly and clarify reasons for the killings," said Binita Gyawali, treasurer of SOVT, whose father and influential Nepali Congress leader Ram Mani Gyawali was killed by the Maoists in Gulmi last year.

Om Bahadur Oli, a teacher from Dang, was even more threatening. "They (Maoists) have charged that I am an exploiter and a spy. I challenge them to prove this," said Oli who has been forced to abandon his village since last couple of years. "There is blood not water in our veins. If our grievances and concerns are not addressed, we will pick up guns to teach a lesson to those who are presently being escorted in government helicopters," he said referring to the welcome being accorded to Maoist leaders who are currently in town for peace talks with the government.

According to him, despite the provisions in the peace code of conduct signed by the Maoists and the government, his family is still not being allowed to return to village. "I have twice tried to go back to my village after the cease-fire, but they did not allow me."

"Until and unless our concerns are properly addressed, let no one even think of including the Maoists in the government power let alone allowing them to lead one," said Chiluwal. He was particularly angered by the response of Maoist leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai who recently told press that "peoples die in the course of revolution" and that raising cases of individuals could jeopardize talks. "We are shocked to hear that. Why were innocent individuals killed? They must justify the killings," he said.

Reacting to the government's preparation not to press charges on the alleged killers, who are currently in custody, of Krishna Mohan Shrestha, chief of the Armed Police Force (APF), and his wife, the brother of the slain top cop Jesh Mohan Shrestha recently said he was surprised and outraged. "Peace is the wish of every one of us. We want the deaths of our brother and sister-in-law to be the last ones. Let there be no more deaths. But whoever is responsible for the killing must be delivered justice," he said.

The Shrestha couple, along with their bodyguard Surya Bahadur Regmi, was killed while they were on a regular morning walk days before the government and the rebels announced the cease-fire. There have been reports that the government is preparing not to press charges against Krishnahari Sainju and four others who were arrested in connection with the assassination of APF chief.

At a time when peace is the overriding concern of the majority of Nepalese, the voices of the victims are being muffled by those of people longing for calm. But political leaders and the rights activists believe that although it would not be wise to disturb the peace process at present, the two sides should, indeed, take into account the sufferings of the victims and make proper strategies to address their concerns. They could begin with providing proper compensation and facilitating their rehabilitation, they say.