Grave danger for civilians due to the conflict

Kul Kumari Chapagain has not been able to sleep for over a week since she lost her 21-year-old daughter Asmita in a roadside bomb planted by the Maoist rebels. The bomb went off on 9 February on the main highway of Nawalparasi district, 200 km south of the capital. It was targeted at security personnel, but hit the innocent college girl leaving her family and villagers shocked and devastated. Such incidents are a source of concern as local and international human rights groups warn that the situation for civilians is becoming graver due to the ongoing violent conflict between the Maoist insurgents and the state. For the last 10 years, the Maoist rebels have been waging an armed rebellion against the Nepalese government resulting in the death of over 13,000 people, including civilians, Maoists and security personnel. Since 1996, the country’s political crisis has been deepening after the launch of the ‘People’s War’ by the Maoists. Political instability increased after King Gyanendra assumed direct rule in February 2005 after sacking the democratic government led by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for failing to contain the Maoist violence and hold elections. There was huge relief in the country when the Maoists declared a unilateral ceasefire in September 2005 but it ended in January 2006 when the government headed by Gyanendra failed to reciprocate to the Maoist offer of peace talks. Since then, human rights groups have noticed a marked increase in violence after the Maoists and the security forces renewed their heavy military activities.

Many roads in western cities of Nepal have become dangerous due to the road blocks that are full of booby traps that have killed several civilians this year

The situation became much worse after the king announced local municipal elections, which were held on 8 February without the participation of the major political parties. Less than 20 percent of voters went to the polling stations. Only royal supporters were elected in the key municipal posts. Following this, the Maoists have intensified their military attacks against government offices and security forces. In the past month, several military encounters between the government and Maoists have taken place in major urban centres. This is of serious concern for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, which reported last week that the heavy military clashes were taking place in and around densely populated areas. It is in western Nepal in particular where the lives of civilians are now at high risk. In order to stop army vehicles from accessing the Maoist stronghold villages, the rebels have placed hundreds of road blockades with explosive devices on the main roads. Several civilians like Ashmita are falling victims. The local Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) has been critical of both the security personnel and Maoists with the former using civilian houses for defence during battle and the latter failing to clear the scattered explosives in civilian areas. “HRTMCC states that such irresponsible behaviour of the Maoists is against humanitarian laws,” said the group. “What had my daughter done? She was just a little girl,” said the devastated mother of 18-year-old Paru Biswakarma, who was killed on 12 February by an explosive device while trying to cross the main highway on her bicycle in Rupendehi district, 250 km west of Kathmandu. “Many villagers in this district are extremely worried about the safety of their children. They don’t even want to send their children to school anymore fearing that they might not return after class." She is not alone in her concern. “Risk to civilian life has been undermined and ignored by both parties in the name of military necessity. They have to be watchful of the potential harm their negligence can do to the civilians,” rights activist Kundan Aryal said. International rights watchdog Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that insecurity, especially for civilians, has been growing. “Should the fighting intensify, or even continue as before, there is a real risk of a breakdown in Nepal’s already strained healthcare, education system and basic economy,” it said. OHCHR has strongly condemned such insecurity, noting that there was a need to protect civilians against the dangers arising from military operations. “Both warring parties should be concerned about the lives of unarmed civilians. For how long can human rights groups remind them of the rules of war?” asks Marxist student leader Madan Pande, who is frustrated by the way he has seen many young girls and boys injured in explosions or caught in the crossfire between the Maoists and the security forces.