The victims of last year's Madi incident have still not been compensated by the Maoists. They may have started their campaign to demand a federal republic from Madi, but the Maoists' big words and campaigns mean nothing to Bishnu Maya BK, one of the victims the attack. She has lost the little respect she had for the Maoists and is tired of being consoled by people. "They come, take our pictures, talk to us and then leave. What do I get from all that?" asks the still-grieving BK.

It has been a year since the Maoists blew up a bus at Bandarmude river, Madi, claiming the lives of 38 passengers and injuring many. BK, who comes from Ganeshkunja, was travelling with her one-year-old daughter. When the bus exploded, her left leg was injured, as was her daughter's. Both have difficulty walking. BK's husband is mentally ill, and her other children have been so traumatised by the incident that they are scared to go to school.

The Maoists came to her house last week to ask her to attend a public campaign function for a federal republic. She went, expecting the Maoists to offer her a public apology or compensation. They bandied her name about and garlanded each other, but BK was offered neither compensation nor an apology. Meanwhile, she is unable to work and can barely feed her family. Even going to the Maoist meeting cost her-since she couldn't work for that time, BK now has no money and no idea about how to feed her family this coming week.

Krishna Adhikari (above) was also handicapped for life in the Madi explosion. The drugs he now needs are so expensive, he has had to sell his land and house to finance his medication. He, too, attended the Maoist function and came away disappointed. "The Maoists blew the bus up to supposedly send a message to those in power in Kathmandu. Couldn't they compensate the innocent who suffered in the process?" Adhikari asked. Santa Bahadur Magar, husband of victim Durga Maya Magar is helpless, "I have no job, no house, and no money. How do I support my family?"

The Maoists have failed to address the nine-point demand prepared by victims of the Madi explosion. Many of the injured say that the Maoists did once promise to address their demands, but the only response to their questions from the Maoist leadership was a statement made by Debendra Paudel 'Sunil', who is in charge of Maoist southern bureau. "We are sad that so many people were killed in our fight against feudalism," he said.