| Executive
Summary:
The people who were
victimised by landmines and explosives in the course of nearly an 11-year-old
armed conflict between the government and the Communist Party of Nepal
(CPN) Maoist gathered in Kathmandu and raised their voices for their
rights. The victims expressed their pain, suffering, and problems and
put forward their demands during various programmes organized by Nepal
Campaign to Ban Landmines (NCBL) in the capital.
The victims representing
14 districts met with Mr Subash Chandra Nemwang,Speaker of the Legislative
Parliament; Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of the Communist
Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML); Ms Sahana Pradhan,
Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr Prabhakar (Janardan Sharma), Whip and
Deputy Commander,CPN Maoist; Mr Gopal Man Shrestha, Vice President,
Nepali Congress Democratic; and Dr Bachhu KC of the Nepal Army and apprised
them of their problems and put forward their demands.
They demanded that the government guarantee relief to the victims of
explosives and mines,and to provide them employment, education and basic
health services. They also asked the government to immediately ratify
the Ottawa Convention or the Mine Ban Treaty and to declare Nepal a
mine-free country and they asked Nepal Army to immediately remove mines
and explosives used by the army after visiting the rehabilitation centre
of the army.
The victims have formed a national network of mine victims with a view
to protecting others from being victims of mines and explosives in the
future. They have made commitments to advocate against the use of mines
and explosives and to making the general public aware of the consequences
of these lethal weapons.
Twenty-five victims from 14 districts participated in various programmes
organized in the capital from 18 August. A capacity building programme
entitled "Victims' Voice Against the Use of Landmines and Explosives"
was organized from 18 to 25 August. On the first day, the participants
were introduced to each other and the NCBL presented the schedule of
the training.
A national seminar on "Victims' Voice Against the Use of Landmines
and Explosives" was organized on the fifth day. Inaugurated by
Honourable Mr Ram Chandra Paudel, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction,
the programme was attended by representatives from the United Nations
Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), UN, UNICEF and other representatives from
foreign diplomatic missions in Nepal.
On the sixth day the victims met with high-ranking officials of the
Nepal Army and senior leaders of the CPN Maoist and handed over a letter
of memorandum. On the seventh day, the victims handed over a letter
of memorandum to the Speaker of the Legislative Parliament, the CPN-UML,
and Nepali Congress (Democratic) and on the eighth day they organized
a press meet and amplified their voices.
The main slogan of the programme was “Let’s Free Nepal from
Landmines and Explosives” and “Let’s Stop People from
Being Victimized”.
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