Short Introduction to the Program:
A district level interactive
seminar on MRE was organised at the headquarters of the district on
7 Bhadra 2062. The participants were teachers, representatives from
non-government organisations, journalists, student leaders including
Bishwambhar Lamichhane, Sindhuli District President of Red Cross Society,
as chief guest and ….Arjun Shrestha, chief of Pashupati Battalion,
as special guest.
The speakers of the program included
Shankar Nath Sharma, CPN-UML Zonal secretary; Deputy Superintendent
of Police Sanubabu Thapaliya; Khadga Khatri, CPN-UML representative;
Manik Dhakal of Nepali Congress (Democratic); Dinesh Adhikari, secretary
of Nepali Congress; Chet Prasad Paudyal, NGO Federation district secretary;
Raj Kumar Karki, president of Federation of Nepalese Journalists;
and Pravin Hayu of Nepal Bar Association. Krishna Hari Ghimire, a
human rights activist, emceed the program chaired by Narayan Baral,
NCBL Sindhuli district facilitator, who also delivered a welcome speech.
Mine Problem in the District:
Forget about the common
people, even we were unaware of the risks of landmines earlier. Many
children have died while playing with bombs and many are living a
disabled life. All these have happened due to lack of awareness and
negligence. As the rebels ambush public means of transport without
knowing whom it actually victimises, it is hard to predict how the
present conflict would be resolved. The conflict began almost a decade
earlier. Both security personnel and the common people have fallen
victim to landmines during this period.
Only the Maoists have laid mines.
The security forces do not lay mines randomly and do not leave them
behind. I can claim this being a government (police) officer. But
the rebels have been planting mines everyday which has victimised
the common people most. As we use explosives in certain areas, they
victimise the enemies not common people. The explosives used by the
Maoists are home made with locally available materials. Whatever materials
are used, they are known by their names. The rebels leave behind various
materials calling them as explosives.
The Maoists use common children
and common people for laying mines. So often the people die on the
spot while planting mines. They lay mines in wring places which have
victimised many common people. Most of the incidents occur at public
means of transport, explosives hurled targeting the security personnel
and grenades thrown anywhere else.
Response to MRE:
The program is timely
and contextual. It should be launched in the villages. We are ready
to extend support as expected by NCBL. Specially, it should reach
the remote villages. It can reduce loss to lives if we can educate
the common people and small children. Appreciation will be inadequate
as NCBL being an NGO has done such a commendable job for the safety
of the common people. There have many cases of ambush and explosives
which have injured, maimed and killed people in our district. So it
should be launched in the villages and coordination should be established
among other organisations for this purpose.
Our party is ready to extend
every possible support for such a coordinated effort. We would like
to thank NCBL for selecting our district among the 25 districts for
this program. This is an excellent program to protect lives and property
from mines, ambush and bombs. It would be very effective if all the
schools in the district could have been covered by the program. It
is appreciable that NCBL has done the job of the government. Awareness
raising is enough now. All the 75 districts are affected by explosives
now. So it needs to be introduced to rest 50 districts.
Conflict is ongoing in the country.
Various types of weapons are used during war. But ambush and landmine
are such indiscriminate weapons that they can also injure, maim and
kill the targeted groups, common people and sometimes even those involved
in laying those weapons. These weapons are activated on possible fighting
and upon receiving threats. Only some other weapons remain active
other times. The mines we planted have sometimes killed animals, but
no human casualty has been reported yet.
But the rebels always lay mines
in narrow roads, sharp bends, and the path taken by the security forces
for fetching water and other necessary commodities. The army avoid
such ways and the common people fall victim to such mines. Often bombs
are left behind by the rebels. The rebels often store such objects
at the houses of the villagers and the innocent villagers upon arrival
of security forces want to remove such things and fall victim to them.
The rebels often make mines themselves. Such mines are cheaper but
cause greater damage. They are known as pressure cooker bomb, bucket
bomb, socket bomb, water pot bomb, letter bomb etc.
But in the cities and towns they
are using mobile, pager, socket and camera bombs. They are found in
different types and sizes. They use whatever materials available and
appropriate for making explosives. However, the security forces use
grenade to disperse the enemies. It does not kill, but injures. Causing
injuries more damaging to any party to the conflict during wars as
it becomes very difficult to treat the injured and to take them to
safer places. So the warring parties always try their best to injure
their enemies.
There are other types of mines
as well. Some are targeted at human beings and other at vehicles known
as anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. They are used as required.
“This program organised to raise awareness among the common
people to avoid risks which emanates from moving, treading upon, or
playing with and to be launched in the schools later is very useful.
If this program can be launched effectively, it will raise awareness
among a large number of people which in turn will help minimise the
risks associated with mines and explosives. District Red Cross is
ever ready to make this program a success. Red Cross is always active
for protecting human beings and maintaining peace and will remain
in the future too.”
Suggestions on Future Programs:
All non-government organisations
should work for launching this program in the villages. Complete ban
on landmines is necessary. Voices should be raised for this. People’s
opinion should be built and pressure should be exerted. If the government
chooses to be involved in conflict and not establishing peace, the
government should launch such program in order to protect the common
people from the menace of mines and explosives.
The political parties that abide
by the present constitution must initiate talks with the Maoists only
then the use of mines will slow down. Massive awareness raising could
minimise the risks of mines and this program needs to be launched
throughout the district. All political parties should be united against
the use of landmines as they have become against the present government.
This can end the war soon. All human rights activists and political
forces should focus on creating an environment in which the use of
mines is not required rather than emphasising on preventive measures.
Suggestions on School Program:
