Read The Plight Of The Conflict Victims
Last Wednesday I invited some conflict victims and wanted to listen to their stories. I was shocked to know how pathetic was their situation. They literally cried while narrating their harrowing stories. It hurt me much and I almost shed tears after listening to their stories. Read their horrible stories through their own account.
Bhojraj Timsina, 32, hails from Kuika Village Development Committee-2 in Accham district. He says…
Maoists looted my house in 2055. I was studying Intermediate level but had to quit my studies after the Maoists threatened to take my life. I took all my family members to Bardia where we have little land. They settled there. I then joined a college in Bardia and continued my studies. I completed my Bachelors degree from Bardia and came to Kathmandu for Master’s degree. However, I couldn’t continue my studies in Master’s degree due to my poor economic situation. If the Maoists hadn’t looted my property and house, I think I could study Master’s degree. Now I am involved with Maoist victims. The government has completely ignored the issues of the Maoist victims and I am campaigning their issues these days.
Chini Maya Neupane, 33, is from Thanching VDC 7 of Trisuli Nuwakot.
I was living a happy life in Thanching till 2056. We had the land that would produce some 200 muri paddy. It was a good life with my three children and a loving husband. The Maoists captured my house and land and asked me to immediately leave the village. They charged that I was spying for the government. It was totally wrong allegation. I along with my children and husband came to Kathmandu. My children couldn’t continue their studies in Kathmandu. Worse, my husband bacame paralytic due to frustrations in Kathmandu because it was much tough to manage food and shelter in such an expensive city in kathmandu. I then had the burden of three children and the husband. Fortunately, two schools agreed to provide free education to my two children. However, my eldest son, Rikhi Ram Neupane, 20, started having problem in the chest. I took him to Ganga Lal Heart Center where the doctor asked me to manage Rs. 400,000. It was beyond my capacity. I then took my paralytic husband to the hospital and Dr Bhagwan Koirala agreed to arrange the heart surgery of my son at Rs 100,000. I didn’t have even that amount so I asked Kantipur editor to publish my appeal for help. Kantipur did publish my appeal and I started receiving donation amount from various people.
It was 2064. One day I received a phone call from Pokhara saying that some people are interested to provide me some money for my son’s treatment. They asked me to go to Pokhara. I then went to Pokhara on a micro bus. When I reached Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara. I got off the bus and was waiting for those people to meet. Two women approached me and handed me Rs 15,000. I was happy and was thinking to return to Kathmandu because I had to collect more money for my son’s treatment. However, two cars stopped by my side and some six, seven young boys and girls surrounded me. They said they are the members of Young Communist League. They then forced me into their car and took in an unknown location. I cried out and told them I came to Pokhara to collect money for my son’s treatment. But they accused me of conspiring agains the Maoists. They then took me to a big hall. I don’t know the location. They beat me and said they would severely torture me. When they took me to the hall, some boys and girls started beating me. It was so severe that I asked them to shoot me dead. They said they won’t kill me but would torture. I hadn’t eaten food. It was some 10 o clock in the evening. Fortunately, a boy came. I knew he was the commander of the YCL in Pokhara. He saw my documents and said he also belongs to Nuwakot. I hoped he wouldn’t torture me. I asked for help. He said I would be set free. Although his colleagues were saying I should be tortured further, he asked them not to torture me any further. He provided me food. Tomorrow morning he returned to the hall and took me to a nearby police station. I said I hadn’t committed any crime. The police took me to Chief District Officer (CDO). The CDO asked his policemen to send me for a detention. I asked the CDO why he was sending me for detention while I had come to collect money for my son’s treatment. The YCL had already looted my money. They had already taken away my other documents. The CDO said he was compelled to send me to detention because it was the order from the YCL. I had no option but to abide by the CDO’s law. I then stayed in detention for next 10 days. After 10 days, the CDO released me but he said I had to pay some money as a bail for my release. I paid Rs 1000 and left the detention center. I then returned to Kathmandu but didn’t tell it to anybody because the YCL had threatened me against saying it to anybody. The CDO had also asked me not to tell anybody. He had given me a receipt of the fee and said I shouldn’t show it to anybody.
I will never forget the incident. I want to tell it to Prachanda and want to hear how he will react. I don’t know how the government will address our plight but want to tell it to public. All the people should know this story.
Now tell me how the government’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission can address the issues of the conflict victims while they have so much to say. They must be allowed to tell their stories to public. It will privide them psychological redress.
There are other victims with more horrible stories. I will post them later.
