1 BackgroundThe Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), or CPN (M), launched its “people’s war” (Jana Yudya) in 1996. In the beginning the party made great strides by helping ordinary people in the rural areas, but soon the situation in the countryside became unpredictable and frightening for villagers.
From the start, voices were raised to solve the conflict peacefully. Maoist and government leaders held peace talks but without positive results. In 2001, the Maoists broke peace talks by attacking the army barracks in Dang district without warning. The government led by the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba declared a state of emergency with effect from 26 November 2001, labeling CPN (M) a “terrorist” organization.
King Gyanendra seized power on 1 February 2005 blaming successive governments for failing to end the insurgency, but on 24 April 2006 the “people’s movement” forced him to return power to the legislature. Since then, the Maoists have emerged from underground and joined mainstream politics but many people continue to live in precarious circumstances. According to reports, CPN (M) continued to recruit minors after it and the government declared ceasefires in 2006.
1.1 Orphaned children
No happiness results from conflict. In the past decade, thousands of Nepalese were killed. According to a report by a local NGO, Informal Service Sector (INSEC), from 13 February 1996 to 31 December 2006, government forces were responsible for the deaths of 8,377 people and the Maoists for 4,979 deaths[i]. At the same time, according to another NGO, CWIN, 8,000 children became orphans after their parents were killed in fighting between Maoist and government soldiers[ii]. Other children were as good as orphaned when they had to leave their village homes to escape the risks posed by the Maoists and government security forces which included disruption to schools. Of the children whose parents were killed, most seem physically and mentally distressed today, many after having eye-witnessed the killings. During the 11 years of conflict, 485 children lost their lives – including 134 girls – and 545 children were physically disabled (among them 152 girls), according to CWIN[iii].
Put simply: one year of conflict has repercussions for an entire decade while a decade-long conflict affects an entire epoch. For example, Japan is still experiencing the effects of the Second World War, which ended in 1945. Those Nepalese who were directly touched by the conflict will feel its effects till the ends of their lives.
1.2 Displaced children
According to CWIN’s survey, 40,000 children were displaced during the conflict. For most, that spelled an end to their studies. Many families migrated to cities to escape risks in their villages. Others thought that they were sending their children out of harm’s way but after arriving in cities in Nepal and India, the children were forced to work as laborers.
According to CWIN’s survey, 40,000 children were displaced during the conflict. For most, that spelled an end to their studies. Many families migrated to cities to escape risks in their villages. Others thought that they were sending their children out of harm’s way but after arriving in cities in Nepal and India, the children were forced to work as laborers.
After the Maoists put pressure on children to become whole timers for the party, their parents started to send them to the capital with people they knew. These people offered to send the children to good schools in Kathmandu, and parents paid them Rs[iv] 10,000 to 20,000 per child, thinking it would be a better to send them away for a good cause than to let them remain unsafe in the villages.
A study was done in Humla district by the Women’s Law & Development Forum, with the help of UNICEF, from 29 December 2004 to 1 January 2005. According to one person involved, many children were sent from the district as orphans although their parents remained alive. The Chief District Officer did nothing to stop the practice, which further encouraged it. The fates of the hundreds of children who were lured to the city under false pretenses remain unknown.
1.3 Abducted children
Many people were forced to leave their villages and settle in cities during the conflict because of fear of abduction. Government forces took people who they alleged of being Maoists while the rebels seized those they accused of spying on them. According to INSEC, 63,985 people had been abducted by one group or another from 16th February 1996 to 15th September 2006. Many of those abducted were tortured severely.
According to CWIN, 31,087 students and their teachers were forcibly taken to attend Maoist programs of “people’s education” during the 11-year insurgency. The NGO reported that 254 were arrested by government forces.
International law prohibits the use of children under the age of 18 in any kind of war-related activity. While the Nepal Army does not recruit children, the Maoists have been accused of doing so. During the conflict, many people fled their homes because of the Maoist policy of “one house, one recruit”. From August 2005 to July 2006, 1,057 children went missing – 533 boys and 524 girls.
1.4 Physical and sexual abuse of children
On the one hand, the Maoists forced children to participate in their programs, while on the other, police tortured children for their involvement in Maoist activities. Usually police arrested children to try to get information, and then tortured them both mentally and physically. From January to August 2006 police arrested 19 children, according to records[v]. One girl committed suicide after she was tortured and raped in police custody.
On the one hand, the Maoists forced children to participate in their programs, while on the other, police tortured children for their involvement in Maoist activities. Usually police arrested children to try to get information, and then tortured them both mentally and physically. From January to August 2006 police arrested 19 children, according to records[v]. One girl committed suicide after she was tortured and raped in police custody.
Uma Chaudhary[vi] of Tikapur in Kailali district was arrested five years ago when she was 15. For five years, she worked as a domestic helper in the home of Colonel Ajaya Singh Thakuri in the capital Kathmandu. In a statement Uma gave after she was released, she said, “Some army personnel blindfolded me and took me to the Teghari ground in Kailali. They made me alone. At night they tried to remove my clothes and touch my body. At a time like that, I had no choice but to scream, and they gagged my mouth with their hands every time I screamed.”
There were many other cases of sexual harassment of young children like Uma during the conflict.
1.5 School closures
According to government statistics, there are 35,000 schools across the country, both government and private-run, where about 500,000[vii] students are studying. During the conflict, many schools were disrupted and nearly 200 private schools were forced to close by the Maoist-affiliated student union, which accused private schools of turning education into a business.
According to government statistics, there are 35,000 schools across the country, both government and private-run, where about 500,000[vii] students are studying. During the conflict, many schools were disrupted and nearly 200 private schools were forced to close by the Maoist-affiliated student union, which accused private schools of turning education into a business.
The primary victims of such closures were children. Schools should open a minimum of 185 days every year, according to the government’s work schedule, but in Nepal in the last five years, they have run barely 150 days annually. After the success of the second “people’s movement” in April 2006, the number of strikes has actually increased.
According to CWIN, 3,735 schools countrywide were closed from time to time for a period of 18 months in 2005 and 2006. Similarly, 3,838 schools were directly affected by the conflict.
Although it is generally accepted that children as well as schools are zones of peace, both the Maoists and the government acted otherwise. It’s reported that by August 2006, Maoists had built bunkers at 56 schools while the army had erected security posts in eight schools. Despite the political changes in the country, security posts have still not been removed from these schools.
Many students were affected by the clashes between the Maoists and security forces which took place at three schools. On 13th October 2003, Sharda Higher Secondary School in Mudvara of Doti was attacked by government forces while the Maoists were organizing a program there. Four students died and nine were injured, in what is considered the deadliest incident in a school during the fighting. Also, six Maoists were killed in by the security forces in the same incident.
The concept of “Education for All[viii]” by 2015 has been introduced in Nepal. But according to government statistics, given in the August 2006 edition of Prachi bimonthly, 20% children who have reached school-going age are still unable to attend school. The school drop-out rate is also very high because the conflict.
The Millennium Development Goals report mentions that by 2015, 50% of the children admitted to Class 1 will have reached Class 5. At the moment, 63% of Nepalese children leave school without completing primary education.
The study shows that military activities conducted by both the State and Maoist rebels in the school premises have traumatized the students. At a time when the Maoists have laid down their arms and participated in the peace process, the students in heavily affected areas like the Mid- and Far-West have experienced serious problems, such as trembling, being constantly frightened and unable to concentrate on studies, which are some indications of such trauma.
1.6 Conflict-affected children in Kathmandu
Most victims of the conflict, including children, were from remote parts of Nepal but Kathmandu was not untouched. On 18 September 2006, the Maoist affiliated student union forced children to take part in their national conference. Many of these children were too young to understand the politics involved. During the day, all schools in the Kathmandu Valley were forced to close and the union forced local buses and some from private schools to carry children. Because the buses were too few in number, they carried children on their roofs. The slogan of the event was: “Janatako chhora chhori sabai akhil krantikari”. (“All ordinary people’s children are Maoists.”)
Most victims of the conflict, including children, were from remote parts of Nepal but Kathmandu was not untouched. On 18 September 2006, the Maoist affiliated student union forced children to take part in their national conference. Many of these children were too young to understand the politics involved. During the day, all schools in the Kathmandu Valley were forced to close and the union forced local buses and some from private schools to carry children. Because the buses were too few in number, they carried children on their roofs. The slogan of the event was: “Janatako chhora chhori sabai akhil krantikari”. (“All ordinary people’s children are Maoists.”)
Not only that, these children were asked to head bands bearing the red star logo[ix] and chant slogans. Maoists in other parts of Nepal also used young children in their programs. The party created a children’s union that included students from Class 1 to Class 10. As such activities affect children mentally as well as interrupt their studies, education officers and human rights representatives asked the Maoists to stop the practices, but they were not taken seriously.
There are many examples of the Maoists vandalizing and setting fire to schools in Kathmandu. By 15 September 2006, security forces had set up posts on the roofs of half a dozen schools in the capital.
Because of the conflict, thousands of families migrated to Katmandu, in many cases to live in a single cold dark room. In such places, without fresh air and in dim light, it’s very hard for children to study. They get sick for lack of a healthy environment.
Conflict-affected children, as well as those associated with armed forces and armed groups, must be reunified with their families as soon as possible. The commitments expressed by the government and responsible political parties in relation to the protection and development of these children, must be implemented as soon as possible.
[ii] Source could not be found
[iii] Source could not be found
[iv] Rs (or NRs) is short for rupees, the national currency of Nepal. 1 USD is around 77 NRs. Live rates are available at www.xe.com.
[v] Source of records not specified
[vi] Real name changed
[vii] This figure is quoted from the original Nepali text. The given number of students is too small. It should be 5,000,000.
[viii] Education for All (EFA), http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=46881&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html
[ix] Red star symbolizes the Maoist party