PPCC calls on parties to cease use of Children in political activities

Expressing grave concern over the incidents of abduction, recruitment and use of children for political activities by the Maoists, security forces, and the political parties, Partnerships for Protecting Children in Armed Conflict (PPCC) has urged all to halt such activities.

A press statement issued by the PPCC, a network of national and international organizations working to protect the rights of children affected by armed conflict urged all political parties to make public commitments not to forcefully use school children for political purposes and to take active steps to implement this promise at all levels in the country.

“The Maoists, security forces, and the political parties have abducted, indoctrinated and used children for military and political purposes throughout the country, according to trend observed and cases documented by members of PPCC throughout the country,” the statement added.

The PPCC said that on 18 September 2006, the student wings of the CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist forced massive numbers of young children to participate in their national conventions in Bharatpur and Kathmandu. The children were forced to travel long distances on the hoods of overloaded buses to the convention sites in order to create the perception of mass support.

Although leaders of all parties have denied using children, PPCC has also verified the abduction of 1,570 students over the past year in Bara, Bardiya, Banke, Kailali, Surkhet, Dang, and Bajura districts, where PPCC actively monitors violations of children’s rights, the statement added.

“We are deeply concerned about children being pulled out of school against their will in order to participate in political events,” the statement quoted Tory Clawson, Country Director of Save the Children US in Nepal and member of PPCC as saying.

“Children should be in school, studying and socializing with their peers, not forced to march in rallies. Nepal already faces many challenges in delivering quality education to its children – the last thing Nepali children need is to have forced participation in rallies added to the list of obstacles to their education,” she cautioned.

Both the security forces and Maoists used children as spies and for other purposes during the decade long Maoist insurgency. nepalnews.com pb Oct 09 06