A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

E-Bulletin, Issue 5

Dalits Victimized by Haliya System

By the Jagaran Media Center

Baitadi, Nepal, November 16, 2005: Several months ago, the District Dalit Network (DDN) of Baitadi, in conjunction with the Community Self Reliance Center, organized a meeting to discuss the rights of female members of Haliya families.

The Haliya system is a Nepalese version of indentured servitude, where a family borrows money from a landowner, and in return, must work on the landowner's land, often for life. The family does not receive any salary for what they produce, only a small share of the harvest. A majority of the Haliya families come from the Dalit community.

Forty-five women and 11 men participated in the event in Baitadi. Through their discussions, the participants concluded that women and children have been damaged the most by the Haliya system.

Some of the hardships suffered by the women include working for 19 hours a day to satisfy the demands of both the landowner and their own families; receiving only half a kilogram of rice per day for their labors, suffering verbal threats and abuse. They're also being compelled to serve the landowners beyond their required duties. In addition, Dalit women are expected to work even when they are ill or pregnant. Their children cannot attend school, because they're needed to help work the land. When husbands leave to look for work elsewhere, the women have sole responsibility for their family. They are also in constant danger of the landowner seizing back his land.

In “The Bonds of Labor”, Iain Guest depicts individuals and organizations involved in fighting for better working conditions for Dalits in Nepal.


Mute Dalit Woman Raped in Siraha

By Jagaran Media Center

Gulariya Muksar, Nepal, November 16, 2005: A young, mute Dalit woman living in Gulariya Muksar was raped on October 4, 2005 by a man from the Chaudhary caste as she went to fetch hay from a field with her younger brother.

Villagers found out about the incident when the 16-year-old married woman, and a member of the lowest caste in Nepal, communicated in sign language that she was a victim of sexual assault. The villagers called a meeting the next day to investigate the allegations. Manoj Chaudhary was the man accused of the rape. He admitted he was guilty when the location of the assault was identified by the victim.

After the young woman’s brother corroborated her story, the Panchayat (meeting of the villagers) punished Chaudhary, who is also married, by fining him 16,000 rupees, a little more than USD$200. The rape victim was provided with 8,000 rupees for her suffering and the balance was reserved for social work. The Panchayat also decided to keep the crime a secret from the public.

The incident illustrates the virtual immunity granted to members of the upper castes in Nepal. Although the sexual rights of the victim  were clearly and brutally violated, her upper-caste assailant paid only a small penalty and had his actions protected from public disclosure.

Discussion about the rape and its consequences has not been forthcoming, despite fears among the poor Dalit families. They are concerned because several Dalit women in the district have been victims of rape, yet the crimes go unreported, and their attackers remain anonymous. When the identity of a rapist is determined, he can easily conceal his transgression and clear his name by paying the fine.

There is little safety for Dalit women anywhere. The woman was at her paternal home when the incident occurred.

The victim is married to a blind man from the Baluwa village. There are still some unresolved questions about whether her husband will accept her now that she has been raped and about what is to be done if she conceives a child as a result of her attack.


Rickshaw Rallies for Justice and Equality

By Jagaran Media Center

Dhangadhi, Nepal, November 16, 2005: In a move that Dalits hope will increase their solidarity and focus attention on caste-based discrimination, several Dalit NGOs organized rickshaw rallies in five districts in Nepal on October 30.

Society in Nepal is divided into castes, and the Dalits, who occupy the lowest caste, have long suffered severe racism, discrimination, and mistreatment at the hands of Nepalese in the upper social stratums. The rallies protested the persistence of this situation.

At a rally in Dhangadhi, planned by the District Dalit Network (DDN), workers and representatives of various organizations pulled 75 rickshaws through the streets, carrying banners that read “End Caste-Based Discrimination” and “Exclude Criminals From Society Who Practice Discrimination.” The participants also shouted slogans, urging unity among Dalits.

The litany of grievances of the Dalits is long; however, the Dalit utilized the opportunity provided by the rally to articulate their vision for a more just and tolerant society. The demonstrators voiced demands for adequate representation in Nepalese schools, job guarantees for educated Dalit, and respect and security for people who marry between classes. Objections to the Haliya system—which impoverishes Dalit farmers—were raised. In addition, Dalit pointed out prejudiced labor relations and the existence of landless Dalit peasants.

After the rally, Prem B.K.,  Vice President of DDN spoke. He said it was shameful for this pervasive discrimination to stretch into the 21st century and urged everyone to fight for its elimination. The president of DDN, Ganesh B. K., demanded reparations for the wronged Dalit and supported severe punishment for those still guilty of caste-based discrimination.

In addition to Dhangadhi, committees at Dang, Banke and Kanchanpur also organized grand bicycle rallies, advocating the end of caste-based discrimination.

AP Director Iain Guest describes Nepalese civil society and the growing Dalit activist groups in his book “First Brush with Advocacy”.


Teashop Bans Dalits in Saptari

By Jagaran Media Center

Saptari, Nepal, November 16, 2005: Dalits have been banned from the premises of a teashop in the Saptari District of Nepal.

The owners of the teashop, Pashupati Bhattarai, and Bhupraj Bhujel, have attempted to justify their decision to deny service to Dalit by claiming that their presence drives other customers away. Bhujel said, “Fearing the presence of Dalit would severely affect the business, so we decided to ban them.”

When Manju Marik, Jukti Marik and Tiliya Marik, president of Dalit Mahila Jagaran Kendra (Dalit Women’s Awareness Center) tried to enter the shop, they were also turned away. Their experience was accompanied by a barrage of insults aimed at their Dalit status, including derogatory remarks about Dalit who work with dead carcasses and clean toilets for only a few rupees.

Dalit can still patronize the establishment, but they must remain outside. Marik reported that Dalit are forced to drink tea sitting on the ground and wash their own glasses when they are finished. Other Dalit customers also complained about the indignities.

Several leaders from the Dalit community, including Ram Prasad Bhattarai of the Saraswoti Community Development Forum, and Yukti Marik, president of Dom Utthan Samaj, have spoken out against the situation, saying that treating the Dalit in this fashion is in direct violation of their constitutional rights and should be punished accordingly.



Jagaran Media Center
Post Box No.19619
Anamnagar, Kathmandu
Nepal

Phone: ++977-1-422 6655
Fax: ++977-1-425 6780
Email: darnal@wlink.com.np
Website: www.jagaranmedia.org.np