Keep the flame of truth burning

Editorial
Keep the flame of truth burning

FROM ISSUE #569 (02 SEPT 2011 - 08 SEPT 2011) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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ERIK B WILSON

Devisara Oli's husband, Suresh, was last seen in the district police office in Bardiya nine years ago after being taken in for questioning. Nearly a decade on, Devisara still keeps her husband's clothes in the hope that he may one day return, she hurriedly picks up the phone every time there is a call from an unknown number.

At about the same time, in a nearby village, Laxmi Khadka was home eating dinner with her husband, Dil Bahadur. Maoists came into the house and dragged Dil Bahadur away into the darkness outside. She never saw him again. Laxmi still runs out of the house when the dogs bark at night, thinking her husband has come back.

Dil Bahadur and Suresh are among at least 180 people listed as disappeared by both sides during the conflict in Bardiya alone, the district with the highest number of disappeareds. Nationwide, the number of reported forced disappearances is more than 1,350 but the actual total is probably closer to 2,000.

This week, families of over 40 of those missing in the war gathered in Kathmandu, and another 200 in Bardiya. They used the occasion of the International Day of the Disappeared on 30 August to draw the new coalition's attention to the inattention paid by successive governments to their plight since the war ended in 2006. Devisara (pictured) was among those who lit lamps of remembrance at Basantapur on Tuesday night.

Nepal's post-conflict scenario is unique because unlike most other wars, neither side lost and neither side won. Since most of the dead were non-combatants, though, the Nepali people lost. As far as the Maoist militia and state security forces are concerned, it's over. They want to sweep the past under the carpet and get on with sharing the spoils. On the question of atoning for wartime atrocities, leaders from both the Maoists and the other parties have an identical response: "Digging up the past now will endanger the peace process." In fact, the peace process is endangered precisely because there is no closure for the relatives of those who were summarily executed, or were disappeared during the war--even in cases when the perpetrators are known by name.

All the families of the disappeared are asking for is truth and justice: information on whether their loved ones are dead or alive, the circumstances of their deaths and for the guilty to answer for their crimes. The two former warring sides have stone-walled on information, there is a common conspiracy of silence about war crimes, and elected rulers have tried their best to water down the terms of reference for a future commission on disappearances.

To add insult to injury, the second clause in the four-point agreement between the Maoists and the Madhesi Alliance that propelled Baburam Bhattarai to prime ministerhood this week actually allows a general amnesty for wartime atrocities. The exact wording (our translation) reads: 'In government, we will immediately dissolve all court cases against Maoist leaders and cadre and declare a general amnesty in cases where the courts have passed sentences.'
In the general relief over the formation of a new government, and the euphoria over a prime minister who rides Mustangs, this and other conditions in the agreement have gone almost unnoticed by human rights activities, other political leaders and some Kathmandu-based members of the international community.

But for the relatives of the disappeared, this is a slap in the face. On Wednesday, Devisara Oli wept as she told us: "The killers of our husbands are walking freely and threatening to kill us if we raise this issue. It's not up to the government to pardon anyone. Only we the victims can pardon those who tore our hearts out."

To shame the government and to show what pardoning and healing really mean, Devisara, whose husband was disappeared by the police, and Laxmi, whose husband was disappeared by the Maoists, are working side-by-side for a victims support group in Bardiya called the Committee for Conflict Affected People.

Shame on a state that doesn't have the heart to follow the example set by Devisara and Laxmi.

Read also:
Make or break

Peace or ceasefire?, ANURAG ACHARYA
Time to move beyond symbolism to real progress on integration and rehabilitation of ex-guerrillas

From JNU to Kathmandu, JYOTI MALHOTRA
Baburam Bhattarai: "We were too ambitious �while India underestimated our strength."

Getting down to business, DEWAN RAI
Prime Minister Bhattarai may soon have a lot less to smile about

See also:
Same road, SRIJANA ACHARYA IN BARDIYA
Their husbands were taken away from them by opposing sides during the conflict, but they journey in pain together

1. jange
'In government, we will immediately dissolve all court cases against Maoist leaders and cadre and declare a general amnesty in cases where the courts have passed sentences.'

It is the prerogative of the government to pardon any criminal as it sees fit. This statement in the agreement should be seen as a positive step as this is the first instance where the Maoists have accepted that their actions were criminal.

Devisara Oli wept as she told us: "The killers of our husbands are walking freely and threatening to kill us if we raise this issue. It's not up to the government to pardon anyone. Only we the victims can pardon those who tore our hearts out."

Wrong. It is the government that decides whether to take up a criminal case, whether to prosecute and whether to punish. Whether anyone else forgives or not or whatever they think of it is irrelevant.

Posted on: 02 SEPT 2011 | 12:26 PM NST

2. Keynesianist
Badly tuned but perfectly times, quite in an irresponsible way. Besides, a mask is worn shading hideous face, because sympathies and peace are two catchphrases of propagandists everywhere.

I am also a pacifist -- but of different notions.

**The war crimes are actually unpardonable, and circumstances have made them a sad reality.

We Nepalis are sympathetic to such families who have missed their loved and cared ones. Myself belonging a Maoist victim family calls on me simulacrum of nightmares what it means to get displaced from a hilly region to the plain lands. A metamorphosis itself. I mayn't know what heart-rending pain it is.

.............

But the idea to punish the guilty is based on the idea of vengeance, not that such events would stanch the evil suffused out of such sore wounds. And this is also a challenge to the victim families: How much should we count on past events to retribute in/to the present and its characters? Do we want to kill a man who killed ours? The people's war in itself is so complex that there was not a single man or group desiring to punish another, singularly. Its blunders and achievements can't be isolated to single case events and punishments. So we all are blameworthy. I'm blameworthy for being a Kangresis' son. My father being Kangrasi because his party ordered troops to tackle rebels. Rebels themselves. Nepali Times that though rebels be annihilated. King himself, the biggest.....ever. All of us.

Instead, this is a series of seemings laid with hopes and motivations of many, mingled and practically unidentifiable.

I'm clearly not a Gandhi's big fan nor Jesus's.

But if we punish every one guilty of crimes, how can we be so sure of victims killed and raped and mutilated by the Nepal Army go punished in turn? Yes, I'm totally sympathetic to Maoists because what the propaganda called Nepali Times and Himal and others believe in is that only Maoists leaders be only warring factions, fighting against themselves. Any Prime Minister, Home Minister, Security officials who dispatched the NA and in turn, killed innocents can't be hanged in similar vein that Maoists who did the same cannot be. Girija is dead already. Ram Chandra and Sushil can't be hanged. Prachanda can't be electrocuted. Jhala Nath can't be shot. These all people are involved in dispatching, ordering or commanding in one ways or another.

So what is Nepali Times trying to make happen?

I'm guilty of writing this..I know. But guilty as I always am, the timing and coincidence of this writing is terrible.

Why?

Came a new nice prime minister, who has sacrificed so much.

He dreams of new ways..and this Himal Media subconsciously disdains him.

Posted on: 02 SEPT 2011 | 4:52 PM NST

3. Soni
Keep the flame of which truth burning, the real or the make believe?

Posted on: 03 SEPT 2011 | 11:03 AM NST

4. Carlos
The issues of criminality have been over-highlighted especially by the section of Nepali times and Himal media.. Their might or might not be some vested interests for writing inflammatory things like this.. If u are going to punish cirminals we have to start from sushil koirala madhav nepal and kp olis... They were the ones involved in extortions killing and they also made up their own army to fight against panchayat ..So what's wrong with the maoists who introduced a genuine revolution, made them a success, and it has got people like baburam and prachanda who are the only hope for Nepalese people... Remember i participated in janaandolan not because i thought girija would be pm or uml would go to goverment but because that was the right chance to give a people like baburam and prachanda to come to the surface and face people. Everybody wanted their revolution to end in a dignified note and that was the sole spirit that made jana andolan success...Now we are on process of ending peace process on dignified note so what's the problem.. Why are you picking up few people and started wrting against them.. Do you have political ambitions.? Once the constitution is made we all want rule of law ..But creating disturbances creating this irrelevant notes would not serve anyone.. One should never doubt maoists abilities and they are going to stay here for anoter 5 10 years ... Than we will talk about Gagan Thapa...

Posted on: 03 SEPT 2011 | 2:45 AM NST

5. Nirmal

SINECURE

I'm not pretending to be very attentive to the following detail: "How many primeministers did we have right after 2006?". Let's count: GPK, Prachanda, Madhav Nepal, Jhalnath Khanal, and now Baburam Bhattarai, 5 in total. And all of them for a single transitional phase... glops! Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen you may say that this is politics and above all a nepali one, so have patience. But one thing is clear that these men have enjoyed(and hopelessly Baburam will not be an exception)this pervasive sinecure thanks to their "technical advises".

Why do I claim so?

In order to enjoy a happy end to the transitional phase of any country -no matter how complex her social fabric is- certain parameters of politics need to be fixed meticulously by those who are in politics and by those who are not involved in politics directly, for example sectors of civil society, bureaucrates, the media etc.

Any transition begins from a concrete historical situation and heritage, that is to respond to and overcome problems and vices specific of the system which have been the main causes to start the transition. This marks the open process of Democracy. So, it can not be considered that a successful election in terms of social acceptance , is an end itself of the transition.

Democratic transition is a process of reshaping institutions in both sense material, as well as cultural and customs of those who rule and those who are ruled. And the maoists have done nothing than trying to put their men on NA's rank and file till the date. This can be, in no way, called progressist politics. And those who wish such a scenario would face nothing more than fraustrations. Well, let's say this kind of style to do politics does not coincide with the sweeping reform that the write-ups and political propagandas dedicated to Baburam Bhattarai promise us all over.

The going-on transition has become the exact of various demands made by different players; national and international for their vested interests and in many cases those demands were not even matched with popular aspirations. They have been exclusively partisan affairs.

There has not been a single foundational pact or the other kind aimed at strengthening democratic governance to ensure the rule of law, nor anyone has addressed the reform of political institutions to make visible new signs of the plurality. It is therefore a transition to strengthen partisan and/or personal interests. From the beginning, the political agreements reached were served to share the power and as the authentic bargaining chip of political parties, because as it is well known and seen that none political actor has proposed a major transformation of the institutional framework till today. The truth is that the successful voting transcended from CA elections has not been able to strengthen even its electoral origin: social justice, human rights commitment and republican order.

I'm sure that Bhattarai or Prachanda still desire to be those figures who culminate in the transitional phase sucessfully and want their names in the history books(all communists want so!) and secure their future in Nepal's political map but all indicates that what they desire is just the opposite of what they are doing in reality. At least, we are pretty sure of what Baidhya and company want but can we say the same about Prachanda/Bhattarai faction?

And one last thing dear editor, it seems that the tears of Laxmi, Devisara could arouse sympathy(mere sympathy perhaps?) between Kuire dai and didis but our own people(I mean those who can provide justice) is giving a damn to these cases of brutalilty, forget those maobadis who want amnesty including for all the war criminals who belong to their party.

Posted on: 05 SEPT 2011 | 1:25 AM NST

6. Tashi lama
Hey Carlos! use your common sense and then sense of humanity!
You would suffer the same consequences as with these widows and orphans who had lost their dear ones, if any of your dear and loving ones gets kidnapped, tortured and then disappeared, then you would not differentiate who the criminals are, either Panchyati, Congressi or Maoist, it is because pain of suffering is same for all, it doesn't bear any name and color. By using your common sense, look at yourself, how you long for happiness and not wanting suffering, it is same with all human beings, even with the animals and other living beings.

Acts of kidnapping, torturing and killing are all acts of criminal, it should be highlighted by all the media sections, and the culprits should be brought to justice! At present the culprits are free and running with their heads high with high post in the governance, which are all due to the ignorant supporter like yourself for these criminals in Nepali politics!

Crime is crime and it should be justified by lawful means! Not by the sense of support for ones own party! Please use your common sense, and look into the bigger picture of today's reality!

Maoist either stay for decades or for centuries in Nepali, they don't have any single ability to change Nepal. Just for a simple example, if you could not understand your ignorance and change yourself, how could you change your family? similarly it is foolish to dream for a big change in Nepal from the leaders who are ignorant with their corrupted behavior and character! and who are just good at playing politics of hypocrites! how you expect a change from these idiots? You need to judge, analyze and look deeper into the true realities of present Nepal! It is pitiable to see a people like you just with a only sense of taking side for the party!

Posted on: 05 SEPT 2011 | 1:52 AM NST

7. Soni
I just finished looking through the wikileaks papers, I found the reports filed by the ambassador, the reporting by the media, the conclusion that some are arriving at given the selection of cables particularly interesting. Actually, very interesting.

I wonder which and whose truth we would be dealing with now, would it have a political interpretation first?

Posted on: 06 SEPT 2011 | 11:05 PM NST

8. Tashi lama
It would be our foolishness wondering about the truth to prevail and think of any political interpretation on these crimes on humanity. Crimes of killing, torture and kidnapping innocents are carried out from both sides during the insurgency. The truth here is that, both sides committed the same crime, causing all these sufferings. Now regardless of any vested political interpretation on the crime, proper investigation is needed to bring all the culprits into the court of justice. The voices of bereaved families and keen of those dead and kidnapped should be heard by the government of Nepal, truthful justification and compensation to all should be given, other then that what to expect any truth from two criminals and any political interpretations from these dirty politicians, who only knows to play blame games!

Posted on: 08 SEPT 2011 | 9:19 AM NST