National 2 (Spotlight Weekly)

Severe Hardships

The people displaced by the conflict are living a miserable life full of apathy and hardships

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Tens of thousands of people who have fled their natives to escape the brutalities of the conflict have ended up worse off as they struggle to make their ends meet in district headquarters, capital city and even Indian cities.

Having fled their villages leaving behind what little properties they had in form of farm fields and houses, these displaced people are finding it tough to cope with lives in cities. According to estimates at least 150,000 people from rural parts of the country have migrated from their natives due to insecurity.

Poor people : Displaced and marginalized

"Actual number of such displaced persons could be unimaginable. Tens of thousands have left for India to work. Likewise, thousands are living in district headquarters and some have traveled to nearby cities. There are at least 9000 such people in Kathmandu city alone," said Ganesh Chiluwal, president of Maoist Victims Association (MVA). Chiluwal has been coordinating efforts to help the IDPs in Kathmandu.

Though there has been no comprehensive study to assess the hardships of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), Chiluwal says that economically these people are worse off than they were in their villages. "Many of these people had to flee their villages as the Maoists have charged them with various accusations. They have left behind their fields and houses. They know no other work and are merely surviving the city life. Most of these people do not have any jobs at all. They borrow from their friends and engage in odd jobs like working as porters to make some money. Some are employed in brick factories, garment factories and so on," said Chiluwal.

Bhagat Singh Budhathoki, 37, left his Gelu Village Development Committee (VDC) of central hilly district of Ramechhap four years ago because the rebels had threatened to kill him. He was a local political worker belonging to rival party. Budhathoki fled his native along with all his kiths and kins. "But it has been extremely difficult to survive in Kathmandu city. I have been knocking the doors of social organizations to help me pay the school fees of my children," he said. "Back in my village, my farm fields may be barren but here I am roaming around this unfamiliar city without any goal."

Bal Bahadur Singh, another middle-aged man had fled his Odanoku VDC in mid-west district of Kalikot for a different reason. A son of Singh had joined police force inviting the wrath from local Maoists. Not able to bear the constant pressure from the rebels who wanted him to force his son to join them instead, Singh fled to Kathmandu two and a half years ago. "I am staying with some friends here. There is no money even to eat food. There are children in my home but I have not been able to send them to schools," said Singh, who is desperately looking for job.

Man Singh Roka, 40, was a local worker of Nepali Congress party in Kurli VDC of mid-western district of Rolpa. He was continuously threatened by the Maoists. "It was after the rebels tried to snatch (for forced recruitment) my two sons (14 and 16 year olds), who were then studying at a local school, that I decided to leave the village four years back," said Roka, who is suffering from asthma but has no money to go for treatment. All three districts ñ Ramechhap, Kalikot and Rolpa ñ are hotbeds of Maoist activities.

Rows of huts : Nowhere to go

Even after the ceasefire, these displaced persons have not decided to return back to their native lands. Roka said that he still thinks that rebels will harm him and his family if they return. "Just a few months ago, a friend of mine returned to his village only to be killed by the rebels. His wife had come to capital to take him home but unfortunately he got killed," said Roka.

Maoist leaders, on the other hand, disagree that they have not allowed people to return back to their villages. "Those who are making such accusations are themselves criminals who have committed some crimes in their villages and are, therefore, afraid to return back," said Krishna Bahadur Mahara, spokesperson of the Maoists talks team and the party's politburo member.

The situation of the displaced persons was further worsened after the government suspended the distribution of Rs 100 daily allowance to them after the announcement of truce in January 30. Consequently, the Maoist victims are launching their own agitation against the government demanding it pay attention to their woes.

The government has claimed that people who have left the country especially to India have started returning home since the ceasefire. "The local administration as well as NGOs has been providing support, to some extent, to those who have been taking refuge at the district headquarters. The large-scale rehabilitation after the peace process will depend on the outcome of the peace talks. The government is going to expedite labor-intensive, income generating programs like food for work programs at the district level," Dr. Shankar Sharma, vice chairman of National Planning Commission had said a few weeks after the ceasefire was announced.

But the displaced persons accuse the government of being indifferent to their situation. "We are in extreme hardships but the authorities have not shown a bit of concern to our plights," said Khadka.

Fueled by resentment, the victims of Maoist violence have started giving strong warnings 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 hugging the limelight. Like every Nepalese, we also want peace. But the manner in which the government and the Maoists are moving ahead, it 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).

Two months ago, the MVA and Society of Orphan Victims of Terrorism (SOVT) had 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).

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.