Whither the disqualified?

From The Nepali Press
Whither the disqualified?
Durga Lal KC in Kantipur, 19 December

FROM ISSUE #533 (24 DEC 2010 - 30 DEC 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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LAMAHI (DANG). Disqualified Maoist combatants are having a difficult time rehabilitating into society. They complain that society still treats them like it did during the insurgency years and that it is difficult to mix with people. More than 400 ex-combatants were designated as unqualified and sent home from the camps by UNMIN.

"Society still perceives us negatively as combatants," says 20-year-old Tufan Singh Kathayat of Kohalpur. "Some look at us with a feeling of revenge. Some belittle us, saying that we didn't qualify. We picked up guns when we were supposed to go to school. Our friends have progressed, what do we do now? Where do we belong?"

They say that they have not been able to get appropriate jobs. They feel put down because of lack of education and employment. The disqualified combatants claim that the rehabilitation program was not enough to enable them to earn a living. They also complain that they did not receive the aid allocated to them through an agreement between the government and UNMIN.

"The rehabilitation program did not have concrete results. If this situation continues, we will be compelled to pick up guns again," Kathayat says. He, along with two dozen other disqualified combatants, left home in search of work in Lamahi.

"I don't have an income now. At home, they ask me why I have returned. My friends have jobs, what have I achieved? How can I stay home in such a situation?, " says Sunil Basnyat of Bardia. They also feel that the Maoist Party has deserted them. "They promised us many things but left us alone in the end," says Bhim Bahadur Budathoki. "It was not right for them to destroy our lives."

The disqualified combatants say that although they were given vocational training after being disqualified, it was not enough for them to start a business. More than 100 disqualified combatants have undergone training in veterinary, electrical wiring, and plumbing skills from Rapti Technical School. "We have only had male students so far, but only a few are interested," says Gopal Acharya, chief at the school. "It takes time to improve their attitude, but things are changing slowly."

1. jange
Rehabilitation will not be easy. They know they have done wrong to indulge in violence but there is no way to atone for their actions.

For a time the Maoists were allowed to pretend that their violence was somehow justified and legitimate. With each passing day this pretext gets thinner and rehabilitating these people will get more difficult.

It is noteworthy that the Maoist leadership has been entirely relieved of any responsibility regarding rehabilitation. The NT talks a lot about accountability but it remains silent on this issue.

Acceptance by the Maoist leadership that they were wrong to indulge in violence to gain political power will go a long way towards rehabilitating these people.

Posted on: 25 DEC 2010 | 4:32 PM NST

2. Arthur
jange #1 still pretends that the semi-feudal and state violence was somehow justified and legitimate.

Nobody has taken responsibility for rehabilitating people like jange. What is to become of them when they are no longer able to just keep on looting?

Could they be retrained in veterinary, electrical or plumbing skills?

Posted on: 25 DEC 2010 | 4:41 AM NST

3. who cares
just because some opportunist bahuns told them to kill, terrorize people for people and they did it awfully does not mean they were involved in terror to bring better change for the people.

its not a job of govt. to take care of those who killed 16k to make some bahun king, to make a few thousand rich.

just tell those evils that they are just evils and better redeem themselves.

in columbia, mexico there are/were around double killed in drugs related revolution, those killed, those involved in drugs trafficking are all from poorest of the poors, so should the govt. tag them martyr.

in columbia, mexico, those bosses pay people, in nepal maosit loot from people. so since in those countries, those who pay could not win than do they think it is possible for maosit to capture nepal.

NO JOKE PLEASE.

Posted on: 26 DEC 2010 | 3:43 PM NST

4. jange
Kamred Arthur- Maybe I already have those skills and don't need to be trained in them!!

It would be worthwhile for you to examine in some depth some of the statements made:

"Society still perceives us negatively as combatants," says 20-year-old Tufan Singh Kathayat of Kohalpur.

Why should society regard them negatively if they had indeed fought for the benefit and well being of Nepal and Nepalis?

Why do these people feel that it was the Maoists that destroyed their lives? Why do they think that it was not right?

And don't forget Kamred Arthur, most of these people were taken by the Maoists when they were children.

Posted on: 28 DEC 2010 | 9:06 AM NST

5. Arthur
jange #4, naturally those who are quoted here are saying something negative about Maoists. Otherwise they would not be quoted here.

My understanding is that quite a large proportion do feel "betrayed" - ie they wanted to remain in PLA and resent being forced to leave in compliance with terms of the peace agreement. Others of course have simply transferred to local party and YCL organizations and helped spread their training.

I don't think you can take much comfort from that. Like those who were allowed to remain both those who felt betrayed and those who understood the necessities of the peace agreement will all fight you again if necessary.

As for what "society" thinks of the PLA, it depends who one means by "society" (and in what part of Nepal).

Those who think they are heroes were generally considered less powerful and socially important than those who think they are criminals. So in that sense one can truthfully say that "society" perceived them negatively. That will continue to change.

There is far more unanimity about the Nepal Army. Even those who rely on them as their only hope of retaining their privileges also fear and despise them.

Posted on: 29 DEC 2010 | 4:15 PM NST

6. SS

naturally those who are quoted here are saying something negative about Maoists. Otherwise they would not be quoted here.

well, there's no positive side of the maoist terrorist so it's only natural that what is is quoted.

My understanding is that quite a large proportion do feel "betrayed" - ie they wanted to remain in PLA and resent being forced to leave in compliance with terms of the peace agreement. Others of course have simply transferred to local party and YCL organizations and helped spread their training.

maosist terrorists were part of the agreement. so why resent it now. they had the power in their hands but couldn't digest it, and so they resigned. and ycl thugs are spreading intimidation, terror, and loot. there can be no second opinion to it.

I don't think you can take much comfort from that. Like those who were allowed to remain both those who felt betrayed and those who understood the necessities of the peace agreement will all fight you again if necessary.

what crap is this?

As for what "society" thinks of the PLA, it depends who one means by "society" (and in what part of Nepal).

everybody thinks.. no, wait, everybody knows that they are terrorists.

Those who think they are heroes were generally considered less powerful and socially important than those who think they are criminals. So in that sense one can truthfully say that "society" perceived them negatively.

what's wrong in thinking right?

That will continue to change.

crap.

There is far more unanimity about the Nepal Army. Even those who rely on them as their only hope of retaining their privileges also fear and despise them.

naturally. nepal army is despised because their actions were weak and could not contain maoist terrorism. they failed to retain anybody's privilege.

Posted on: 29 DEC 2010 | 7:29 PM NST

7. Arthur
SS #6, all you have said is that everybody agrees with you to hate Maoists. This means you have never actually treated any person who supports Maoists as another person whose views you could listen to as well as disagreeing.

Naturally you need a strong army to preserve your privileges. This is because there are rather a lot of people who do not hate Maoists and who do hate the old Nepal with privileges for people like you.

It is good that you understand your army is weak and cannot "contain" the Maoists. Many of the people who talk like you do seem to forget that their side has grown weaker and the Maoists have grown stronger. They shout as though they are ready to go back to war, forgetting that they have already tried that and it did not work.

Posted on: 30 DEC 2010 | 6:20 AM NST