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| Kathmandu, Tuesday May 06, 2003 Baishakh 23, 2060. |
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Reported instances of HR
violation in mid-west
Post Report
KATHMANDU, May 5: Members of civil society who
had come under a loose group of "Coalition for Peace" recently have pointed out
instances of human rights violation and growing concern vis-a-vis the peace process after
making field visits to the mid-western region.
"Our objective was to create atmosphere for
peace talks. Additional objective was to lobby for it," said Shailendra Kumar
Upadhayay, who is the co-ordinator of the 18-member team. Other notable members of the
team, which visited Rolpa, Pyuthan include Malla K Sundar, Hiranya Lal Shrestha and Dr
Harka Gurung.
The team had visited parts of Rolpa, Dang and
Pyuthan in groups and had conducted interaction session among local people to enlist views
concerning the peace process through April 23-26.
Among others, the outcome of the interaction
sessions is that peace must be worked for even as there were apprehensions whether the
peace process would fructify at all. The members of the local population also demonstrated
concerns for development projects, which have been halted by protracted insurgency.
The high point of the report publicised on
Monday was that both the government and the Maoists ought to settle the issue whatever
that entailed. The teams had invited local leaders, members of civil society, civil
servants and local businessmen to conduct the interactions sessions.
The team claimed that the Maoists have mellowed
down and are currently encouraging all those who had fled the village to come back. The
locals have been also attributed to have said that while the government was also to be
blamed, it is the Maoists who troubled them most.
However the incident which rocked the Belawa
village in Dang has drawn the attention of the team. "Although nearly 9 innocent
Tharu youth were shot dead by army on November 25, 2002, there has been no compensation to
the next of kin," Upadhayay told reporters. The locals have suggested a number of
steps for the rehabilitation of the affected section of population in all the three
districts.
The report has also pointed out the intimidation
on the part of the army when the team had denied to give ride to an army personnel when
they were driving to Liwang. " The visit was arranged by SAP-Nepal.
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