3 SEED - Youth awareness and conflict transformation3.1 Establishment of SEED
After the Maoist attack on Ghorahi on 23 November 2001 the government drew up strong policies against the Maoists and initiated various search campaigns. The Maoists were equally ruthless and violent encounters between these two forces became routine.
The series of events described above, and others, made Tharu youths nervous and vulnerable. Since a majority of victims of such incidents were Dalits, Tharus or from other marginalised groups, they began asking various questions. They started discussing the reasons behind the victimhood of the marginalised groups, and also started analysing why the government and even the Maoists were prejudiced against them. Thinking along these lines led to the youths becoming organised and deciding to work on conflict transformation: from this SEED was born.
SEED, a local non-governmental organization was established in 2001 and registered at the Social Welfare Council, Kathmandu in the same year. It was also registered at the NGO Federation, Dang, and the NGO co-ordination committee. Its chief objectives are to raise awareness, improve living standards and organise stakeholders to ensure their rights. SEED has been working for conflict victims, the underprivileged, Dalits, orphans, widows and the elderly. Most of its programmes are centred on peace and governance, quality education at the primary level, and child rights.
Since its establishment SEED has been taking a holistic social approach and has been analysing social progress and transformation. It has been working hand-in-hand with local communities, local bodies and national and international agencies for conflict transformation. It started working with the notion that unless poverty is addressed at its roots, conflict transformation is impossible; it has been conducting various activities for poverty alleviation and conflict transformation.
Due to the dangerously unstable situation in the district during the conflict, discussions were initially held with the local authorities, VDC members and conflict victims on the mechanics of conducting SEED’s programmes and activities. During the conflict it was difficult to work with both victims and authorities, but it became necessary to identify ways to minimise the hazards of the conflict. With suggestions, inspiration and support from local groups, SEED started its work, beginning on a small scale.
3.2 Activities of SEED
In the first year of its establishment SEED received financial support from Manpur, Dhikpur, Halwar and Urahari VDCs; Goltakuri and Phoolbari VDCs expressed a commitment to work jointly with the organisation. With the active participation of local people and based upon local knowledge and suggestions, various strategies to support conflict victims were developed, that largely comprised three months knitting and painting training for female victim. During this training bereaved women from six VDCs had the opportunity to share their grievances. This programme also helped us to understand the anguish and sorrow of conflict victims and get to know them better.
National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) was impressed by the work SEED had begun with the Tharu community and the search for their historic identity and status, offered a partnership with SEED. The collection and documentation of Tharu history, traditionally transferred from one generation to another orally, has now been completed. Similarly, partnerships with local, national and international organisations increased. In partnership with Action Aid Nepal, SEED decided to continue to work for peace and security in Dang: the programme that began in 2003 goes on.
SEED also had the opportunity to gain experience in partnership with UK Department for International Development (DFID) in its community support programme from 2003-2004. SEED worked with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2003 for peace and development. In partnership with Shapla Neer, a Japanese NGO, SEED conducted a workshop to share experiences and an educational tour for freed Kamaiyas in 2005. Since July 2006, a quality education programme for conflict-affected children is in operation in partnership with Save the Children - Japan. SEED is also working with the District Development Committee, District Health Office and Rapti Eye Hospital.
3.3 Learning from conflict victims
Arranging support for conflict victims, the poor, Dalits and Janajatis was challenging. Developing strategies in support of such people was risky due to the conflict between the Maoists and the state. Due to the local domination of the Maoists and the military operations of both sides, one question was ever present: how to support the victims of both sides? This was the biggest strategic question SEED faced.
Strategic directions
To work intensively during the conflict with the support and cooperation of local conflict victims, underprivileged groups, Dalits and Janajatis, at a time when other organizations were reducing their activities due to the conflict.
To keep proportional representation of Dalits, Janajatis and women in the central committee, executive board and as members of the organisation.
To develop partnership with Village Development Committees (VDCs) from the point of the organisation’s registration.
To establish peace from the grassroots level utilising local resources, skills and capacities.
To focus on those who were most victimised, especially women and children conflict victims.
To work in geographically remote and underprivileged communities that have been ignored by the government and non-governmental organisations.
To create an environment to unite all those conflict victims who are in dire straits due to the conflict and unable to trust anyone.
To raise hope and optimism in conflict victims.
To work through the women’s forum to assist victims to share both their pain and their pleasures with each other.
By experiencing the pain and bitterness of conflict-hit communities, SEED was brought closer to affected families every day of its work. When SEED began its programmes, women and children used to turn away or look at the floor while sharing their experiences; some used to leave without speaking. Some children used to hide in their homes whenever they saw new faces, since they thought that strangers were either Maoists or the army.
Those affected by conflict and their communities were unwilling to talk with unfamiliar faces. Those seeking to share their pain were unable to talk and could only cry. There was no option but to listen and wait patiently. But after a while SEED gained the confidence of people and victims became intimate with the organisation and shared whatever they wanted to. It created a comfortable environment for the organisation to work in all sectors. The organisation considered how to bring happiness back to these people and started advocacy for their civil liberties.
Where we developed a relationship with a community and gained the confidence of the people, we were able to work there in any situation. As we came closer to the people, their support and cooperation our work moved faster. The locals had effective access to information, counselling and assistance and started having faith and reliance on SEED. The organisation was also able to provide moral and physical support to the people in the event of any problem. Public auditing increased the transparency of the organisation and thus its acceptance among the people
Including committed local youth in the SEED team made it much easier to work in difficult situations, visit the field at any time, determine the truth of any reported incidents and respond accordingly. An example emerges from the diary of Devendra Chaudhary, a social mobiliser: “I was in Kauwaghari village on June 16th 2002. Military people had surrounded the village to make a search. I did not have an identity card and was very frightened, but the women of the village saved my life by telling the military men that I was their brother. This incident inspired me to be in the field even during difficult times.”
We utilized local knowledge, skills, resources and approaches as a priority during our work. This allowed us to learn from the locals and although had no former experience of working in conflict, we realised that people were the best source of such knowledge.
Witnessing the violence of the conflict close-up, made a deep impression in the minds of children. To ease the life of such children and minimise their mental trauma, children’s clubs were formed in local schools and various programmes and competitions organised. Small children rejoiced in taking part in the peace process and children like Pramila Chaudhary called for peace in their songs.
Pramila Chaudhary sings…
Bring peace in our heart,
Put a pencil in the hands that hold the gun
Studying is my desire, teach me,
Put a pencil in the hands that hold the gun
Sandip Gautam sings……
Nepalese should not have to be displaced,
They should not have to cry due to violence.
We're small today, tomorrow's pillars,
Don't neglect our child right as tillers.
Sushila BK sings….
The coming peace in this nation is far and difficult,
Reading for students is difficult.
Hope peace talk is going to hold,
We need not only democracy, we need peace with justice.
3.4 Threats to work during conflict
SEED, which was born out of conflict, had to tolerate tensions and challenges from both the Maoists and security forces time and time again. On any pretext they tortured SEED staff, ordered them to come to the jungle at night and asked for the detailed information about the organisation’s work. They also threatened to abduct members of the organisation or forbid the organisation to operate if its members did not join their groups. State forces repeatedly conducted searches at SEED and accused its work of being pro-Maoist. Once, when security personnel met the SEED chairperson, they interrogated him, searched his body and bag, inspected his address book and arrested him for an hour, and put psychological pressure on him, on the accusation that he was a Maoist.
In his journal, Bhagi Ram Chaudhary, chairperson of SEED wrote, “It was April 3 2004, representatives of the UN Review Mission and myself were travelling to Kauwaghari by car. Maoists stopped us at Phoolbari-6, Dhakana, and were about to set fire to the jeep: when I told them the purpose of our visit they took no action and even promised to help us. When we began our work, we encountered lots of obstacles. We had to meet with both Maoists and the government administration on the same day to inform them of our work plans, which gave rise to substantial risk. Despite the critical situation, we were successful in accomplishing our objectives since we were working for the victims of both sides and we had a clear vision of what we were doing. We worked without favouritism to either side.”
Even other political parties viewed SEED’s activities negatively. Although SEED had enemies and those suspicious of its motives everywhere, it never flinched from its aims and objectives. Identifying solutions for such external problems, it worked intensively and effectively in the community. To end the conflict and establish peace, SEED worked hard and with great patience between the guns of the warring parties.
Manpur VDC made a room available for SEED to establish an office. When the Maoists destroyed the VDC building in December 2002, the organisation had to bear a loss of about Rs 50,000. SEED demanded compensation from the Maoists, and it received consolation but never the compensation. Eventually, the Maoists begged to be pardoned, which made SEED more confident to work in dangerous circumstances.