Displaced People Still in Dire Straits
Karnali Messenger-Karnali Forum for Sustainable development
Damodar Bhandari
Banke, May 9
URL:
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=6a5Va3ua.9amal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20060509
Members of 132 households, who were displaced from hilly districts of
Bheri and Karnali zones and have been living in Kohalpur, Banke, said
they would not return home unless their houses were reconstructed, food
provided to them, and compensation paid for goods and livestock seized
by the Maoists.
These people, the natives of Mugu, Kalikot, Bajura, Achham, Salyan,
Dailekh, Surkhet, Jajarkot and Jumla districts, have been living in
Kohalpur, Banke, since November 8, 2004 after the Maoists reportedly
forced them to flee. They accused the seven parties and the Maoists of
not making efforts to create a conducive environment for their return.
The displaced people have constructed temporary shelters.
Vice-president of the Bheri-Karnali Coordination Committee of the
displaced, Deep Bahadur Shahi, said their problems were not over even
after the ceasefire announcements.
Shahi, who was displaced from Simikot, the headquarters of Humla, said
there was no use returning home as the Maoists had seized their
properties.
Calling on the government to rehabilitate all the displaced people,
provide them compensation or rehabilitate them in Kohalpur, Shahi said
they would start an agitation if their demands were not met.
Chandu Budha, who was displaced from Mugu, demanded that the plight of
the displaced be brought to the attention of the parliament.
The displaced people said they had been facing food shortage and living
without proper medical care. They said the Maoists had warned them to
return home by April 6.