A Voice For the Voiceless

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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

Bulletin #19: Update from the NDD

(On February 5, 2005, dozens of pro-democracy activists in Kathmandu formed the Nepal Democracy Alliance and began circulating e-updates to inform the world about the crisis in Nepal following the imposition of military rule by King Gyanendra on February 1.)

State-sponsored Massacre and Arson in Nepal: Preliminary field report from Kapilbastu district
“This incident needs thorough investigation! I do not know how we can get medical professionals in the team… many of them need medical support, I am also confused about the humanitarian support, is there any way to get humanitarian support!”

(Field Notes from a Human Rights Worker on a clandestine Fact-Finding Mission to Kapilbastu on 2nd March 2004)

From 17th to 25th February 2005, a mob calling itself the Village Defence Committee launched horrendous atrocities in different villages of Kapilbastu district. At least a dozen of people have been brutally killed (our team has identified 10 from four villages, out of the 21 affected villages in Kapilbastu) several others injured, a girl raped, 325 houses set on fire leaving about 2000 people including children homeless and terrorized.

The incident started when a group of Maoists came to abduct two people including a retired Sub-Inspector of Police. People of that village gathered to protest against the Maoists. The gathering turned into a mob, led by the Village Defence Committee.

With support from government authorities, this mob then moved to 21 villages, killing people, torturing them, raping, looting and setting fire on the houses. The villagers who were part of the mob reported to the fact-finding team that they were told by the Royal Nepal Army that they either join the Village Defence Committee and support their action or else they would be labelled as Maoists.

On 20 February 2005, the mob entered into Shivapur village, set fire on 305 houses and attacked several people. In Shivapur and nearby village they killed Prem Bahadur Raskoti, Yam Bahadura Dala Magar, Bishnu Panthi of Jahabari Village Development Committee and Dukhi Chamar, Jhinkan Yadav, Ramjan Musalman, Ram Das, Binaya Tula Musalman and Ynjana Musalman of Patharaiya and Ganeshpur Village Development Committees of Kapilbast District.

Kunja Bahadura Budha Magar, Prem Lal Budha Magar, Gothe Budha Magar were among the many who were severely injured.

A 12-year old girl [name withheld] was raped by some people in the mob. When a school teacher reported this case to the police next day, policemen in a police van came to the village, and took Sita and her father to the District Police Office, Taulihawa.

When fact-finding team reached the village on 2nd March 2005, it got the information that the victims were still detained by the police. No one has been allowed to meet these two victims. The government authorities have threatened the school teacher and other people of the Village Development Committee for reporting the rape case. Some neighbouring women who spoke about the incident were ordered that they should report to the office of the Chief District Officer on 3rd March 2005.

A local resident [name withheld] described to the fact-finding mission that on 20 February 2005, a mob of about 1000 people came to the villages setting fire on houses. He said, “I escaped as they were saying, ‘catch him…catch him…’ Prem was also there, trying to escape from the mob.

As they were targeting those among the [internally] displaced people, we were scared. However, they got hold Prem. They started beating him with axe, knife, sticks and their boots and fist. I was just 100 meters away. I just witnessed. I could not do anything. They set fire on both mine and his houses. After an hour or so, a group of security forces arrived, arrested about 38 people, but they released them on the same day.”

The villagers in Shivapur reported to the fact-finding team that the Royal Nepal Army had been telling people that they either go with the Defence Committee or otherwise it would prove they were Maoists. Villagers also said that they were asked by the security forces to work as informers against the Maoists.

Family members of those who were murdered have not received the dead bodies for funeral rites. These corpses were taken away by the security forces. The family members of the those killed suspect these incidents occurred at the instruction and instigation of the government authorities.

Many people who were injured lack proper medical services.A 35-year old man [name withheld] displaced from Gam Village Development Committee of Rolpa District a year ago, said, “when they (6-7 people) came with the sticks and beat me, I was still trying to save the property that I had.

They set them on fire. Police gave me some pain-killers but I was told to do x-ray of the hand as the health post person said my hand is fractured. However, I can not afford the medical examination costs…. Now I can not raise-up my hand.”

Many people have burns and other injuries all over the body but lack medical services. About 1800 people, who were rendered homeless after the arson, have been staying out in the open.

Some of the local residents have provided support, giving out rice and beaten rice. But such support is very insufficient.

Twenty-one Village Development Committees in Kapilbastu district are living under the terror of these so-called Village Defence Committees. They include, Ganeshpur, Sirsihawa, Bhagawanpur, Mirgauli, Khururiya, Pathariya, Jabari, Bisanpur, Milmi, Ajgara, Shivapur, Lalpur, Thunaina, Udaypur, Maharajgunj, Hardena, Charne, Birpur, Manpur, Guddi and Baraipur.

INSN is the International Nepal Solidarity Network, which has activists in over a dozen countries around the world who are working to bring democracy to Nepal. Visit their website for regular updates related to the Nepal crisis.