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Bulletin #41: Field Report

On Affected Dalit and Other Civilians in Siraha, Nepal, 8-9 May 2005
Jagaran Media Centre
May 31, 2005

There was a battle between Maoists and security forces in Dharapani, Bandipur, Mirchaiya and Choharwa in Siraha district on the night of 8-9 May 2005. This battle resulted in casualties, both human and livestock, and loss of property. The events of the night have not been completely verified. A team from Jagaran Media Centre (JMC) conducted an independent investigation on 21-23 May 2005. The focus of the fact-finding was on the effects of the clash on the resident civilian Dalit community. There seems to have been no other independent investigations till date. This report contains the main findings of JMC's fact finding.

The Maoists mainly attacked Bandipur, Mirchaiya and Choharwa. Bandipur was the worst hit by the attack. Bandipur village is situated on 2 sides of the main road. On one side, there is the bazaar and the houses of the "higher caste" people. On the other side of the main road, there is an army camp. The houses of the Dalit community surround the army camp. These houses are made of mud and straw.

The office building of the Kamalamai Irrigation Project was lying unoccupied to the south of the main East-West Highway. In March 2005, barely two months before the battle, the Randhawaj Battalion of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) occupied the building and set up its base camp. The building is very close to the market and the village, and was the centre of the fierce overnight clashes that began at around 10 p.m. on 8 May 2005 and continued until the morning of 9 May 2005. There was considerable loss of life and property around the camp. The JMC team observed that most of the losses were incurred during an aerial attack by the security forces.

There are 109 households in Bandipur. Among them, 101 are landless and Dalit and are mainly dependent on wage labour. These households are economically, politically and socially marginalized. With the loss of life and property, not to mention the uncalculated psycho-social trauma, these families are rendered even more vulnerable after the event.

Situation of the cluster in Bandipur

There is high-density settlement at Bandipur. The base camp is settled in the village. The Maoists attacked the base camp as their main target at night from around the settlement. The security forces put up their defense and counter attacked the front of the settlement. The aerial attack from security forces occurred in the same night. The burden of the battle was borne by civilians who lost family members and their assets. Given the intense nature of the battle, it can be assumed that both the security forces and Maoists bore losses though the exact nature of those will forever be lost.

Loss of human life:

We did not do anything wrong, nevertheless we were attacked by bullets. We are poor and we have no food. We have no money for treatment. They told me I should get surgery, how can survive? I am suffering from two bullets in my head and leg. My son Shiva Kumar Mahato is also injured by bullet. We do not have any supporters. She expressed her grief showing her wounds in body. -Rama Devi Mahato (injured women)

• 9 civilians were killed including a pregnant woman, two children (aged 5 and 8) and a 65-year-old man. 5-year-old Lukhidevi Shah, 8-year-old Sanjeev Shah, 65-year-old Kaushaldevi Chaudhari, 60-year-old Savitri Devi Poudel, 25-year-old Rekha Mukhiya, 24-year-old Amdadevi Mahara, 32-year-old Jogendra Mahara, 62-year-old Mal Bhogidevi Chaudhari and 33-year-old Sanjaya Thapa were killed during the cross firing.

• The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has accepted that 36 Maoists including one Battalion Commander have been killed and six others were injured during the fighting. In their press release, they claimed that 30 security personnel were killed. The security forces' version as known through their press release is that 5 security men were killed and some others injured.

• 19 civilians (women, child and elderly people) were injured of whom most are in a critical condition and undergoing treatment at the BP Koirala Health Science Academy in Dharan. Of the injured, most are Dalit.

• About 500 Dalits and others are displaced by the effects of the attack and its defense. The displaced stay in their relatives' houses during the night.

• The inhabitants seem psychologically affected by the attack. A professional team of trained personnel needs to assess the extent of the problem.

• 6 security men were abducted by the Maoists, of whom five are still missing.

Tragically I lost my married daughter that night in my house. My daughter and her unborn baby were killed by bullet at night. Rekha (my daughter) was giving birth to her baby. The wicked bullet killed my daughter and baby (Weeping). What was our fault? Why did they shoot at us? We do wage labor and always suffer to join hand and mouth. Even so, the gods behaved badly towards us. Now, we do not need sympathy, we demand relief as soon as possible. - 60 years old Ms. Ramani Devi Mukhiya (mother of killed daughter)

Physical losses

• The bullets and bombs have destroyed 60 houses of Dalits. The bullets also destroyed the utensils, clothes and other possessions of these households.

• One computer monitor, a table, 74 cartoons of alcohol and other materials were also destroyed at the Sharada Distillery.

That night, around 3 o’clock, we were sleeping. Suddenly a bomb from aerial attack destroyed the roof of our house. My daughter in law, grandson and I got injured from that attack. I am 85 years old, how can I live like this? (Weeping) My legs are not working because of the bullets that hit me. One leg is plastered. Was it right? Did I participate in the conflict? No. Why should they throw the bomb in my home? Oh god! What was my offence? Who listens to my grief? - 85 years old Bisweswor Yadav (injured by aerial attack)

Livestock loss

The team found that many domesticated animals (cows, oxes, goats and buffaloes) were killed. Some animals were injured.

Economic loss

Nrs. 1,200,000. This amount is based on the damage of houses (58), livestock (22), furniture and utensils. The expected relief costs have also been taken into account.

Conclusion and recommendations

• Independent fact-findings should be conducted to assess the extent of loss and damage.

• Relief measures need to be extended for the inhabitants. Medical aid (including psychological aid) is recommended without delay. Financial compensation needs to be given for the affected. Food and clothing needs to be arranged at the earliest.

• The government has to compensate families of those dead and seriously injured.

• An evaluation of loss of assets and physical stock needs to be undertaken and compensation provided.

• There are rumors of a re-attack on the camp. It does not make sense to shift the people who have been living in the region. The practical solution is to shift the camp out of the inhabited area. They cannot be expected to live away from their homes out of fear. The camp, which was set up only in March 2005, has to move.

• There is a need to evaluate the location of all existing army base camps that are situated in high-density residential area.

• International and national, government and non-governmental aid and relief should be forthcoming, but coordinated so that it is most effective.

• The integrated program focusing on long-term economic and income generative activities must be implemented in coordination with involved development agencies (government, donors, NGOs and human rights organizations) for the victims.

• The abducted security personnel should be treated as per the Geneva Convention and this must be a demand of civil society.

• Media must be freed of restraints so that it can conduct investigations and not have to rely only on the combatants' versions of what happened.

About Jagaran Media Center

Jagaran Media Center (JMC) is an organization set up by Dalit journalists to advocate on Dalit issues. It was established in 2000. Since its establishment, JMC has been active in raising the issues of Dalits locally, nationally and internationally.

JMC has been involved in various activities including discussions that create awareness among Dalits about their basic rights, social unity and inclusion. JMC broadcasts a weekly radio program and is currently producing a teleserial on Dalits. Also, JMC publishes a variety of documents, books and reports on Dalit Human rights.

JMC is proactive in advocating Dalit issues, but maintains strictly neutral politically.

For more information, please contact:
Jagaran Media Center, Anamnagar, Kathmandu
Suvash Darnal (Chairman)
Phone: +977 1 422 66 55
Email:darnal@wlink.com.np,dalitright@gmail.com
Website: www.jagaranmedia.org.np

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