1.5 Implication of conflict
The problem related to street children is a serious one for Nepal. But it has often been overshadowed. On the one hand, the organizations working in this sector do not seem to be making much of a positive impact. On the other, Nepal’s other problems seem to be encouraging the street children. Due to the conflict, many children were displaced from their villages and were forced to live in the city streets. Moreover, the conflict made it even more difficult for them to spend their lives on the streets. Many children entered the cities due to fear of the Maoists. In the villages, they would either be forcefully recruited by the Maoists or suspected by the army of being Maoists or their spies. Therefore, they ran away to the city out of their own will or were advised by their families to do so. But when they came to the city, they could not find a job for themselves, and the only alternative they had was street life. There are also cases where some children spent some time with the Maoists before escaping from them.
During the movement for democracy, in 2006, the situation of the street children became very tense. They were very frightened and unsteady during this period because of the curfew imposed by the government in the country’s major towns and cities. The army was deployed in every junction and alley. No one knew when fire would be opened. Given such circumstances, these children could not come out for many days. It’s hard to tell where they must have stayed during that period, but one can guess that they must have found shelter in some corner of the city and in junkyards, or they must have sought refuge with various organizations. Their other problem at the time was their work. When the movement was taking place, they were not able to collect waste plastic and junk. As a result of this, they couldn’t make an income and had to starve for many days.
There were even cases where some children were trampled by the crowd during the movement. These children came out when they saw the mob, but when the security personnel chased the mob, the children got crushed in the rushing crowd.
Shiva Lama has been living on the streets for seven years. He has bitter experiences of being harassed by the army. He feels that the army and the police harass the street children much more now than they did in the past. When he and his friends went out at night, to collect waste plastic, they searched them over, suspecting them of being Maoists. When they explained that they weren’t Maoists, the security personnel scolded and abused them. They also inquired the street children how often they met with the Maoists.
On the one hand, the army and police harassed the street children, and on the other, the Maoists forcefully involved street youths in their meetings. They experienced pressure from both sides.
Some street children were even detained on various charges, such as theft, fighting and drug abuse. Such children were threatened and intimidated by the police, who accused them of being Maoists.
The problem related to street children is a serious one for Nepal. But it has often been overshadowed. On the one hand, the organizations working in this sector do not seem to be making much of a positive impact. On the other, Nepal’s other problems seem to be encouraging the street children. Due to the conflict, many children were displaced from their villages and were forced to live in the city streets. Moreover, the conflict made it even more difficult for them to spend their lives on the streets. Many children entered the cities due to fear of the Maoists. In the villages, they would either be forcefully recruited by the Maoists or suspected by the army of being Maoists or their spies. Therefore, they ran away to the city out of their own will or were advised by their families to do so. But when they came to the city, they could not find a job for themselves, and the only alternative they had was street life. There are also cases where some children spent some time with the Maoists before escaping from them.
During the movement for democracy, in 2006, the situation of the street children became very tense. They were very frightened and unsteady during this period because of the curfew imposed by the government in the country’s major towns and cities. The army was deployed in every junction and alley. No one knew when fire would be opened. Given such circumstances, these children could not come out for many days. It’s hard to tell where they must have stayed during that period, but one can guess that they must have found shelter in some corner of the city and in junkyards, or they must have sought refuge with various organizations. Their other problem at the time was their work. When the movement was taking place, they were not able to collect waste plastic and junk. As a result of this, they couldn’t make an income and had to starve for many days.
There were even cases where some children were trampled by the crowd during the movement. These children came out when they saw the mob, but when the security personnel chased the mob, the children got crushed in the rushing crowd.
Shiva Lama has been living on the streets for seven years. He has bitter experiences of being harassed by the army. He feels that the army and the police harass the street children much more now than they did in the past. When he and his friends went out at night, to collect waste plastic, they searched them over, suspecting them of being Maoists. When they explained that they weren’t Maoists, the security personnel scolded and abused them. They also inquired the street children how often they met with the Maoists.
On the one hand, the army and police harassed the street children, and on the other, the Maoists forcefully involved street youths in their meetings. They experienced pressure from both sides.
Some street children were even detained on various charges, such as theft, fighting and drug abuse. Such children were threatened and intimidated by the police, who accused them of being Maoists.
Street children faced many hardships during the conflict. In this connection, organizations working for street children held discussions with the police several times. According to the police, it was likely that street youths would be used by the Maoists. But when we looked at the situation from our perspective, we found that street children and street youths were caught between both sides. This book includes stories of children who were affected by the conflict and later forced to take up street life. These children were harassed by the Maoists. We could not reach out to those who had been harassed by the government security forces. This book therefore reveals some negative aspects relating to the Maoists. But we have read in the national papers that the number of street children who were harassed by the government security is also around the same. We must therefore make it clear that we are not biased towards or against any particular party.