KATHMANDU, May 3 - Their hearts filled with frustration and anguish, Maoists victims have gone from pillar to post in search of justice. But in vain.
Last Wednesday they gathered in front of the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry but failed to secure an appointment with the minister, Ram Chandra Poudel.
Most of them have just returned from their districts with memories of fresh humiliation at the hands of Maoist cadres. Far from healing their wounds, the Constituent Assembly (CA) election has only added insult to injury.
"When I reached my village on April 7 to cast my vote, some 10 YCL cadres approached me and asked me not to take part in poll campaigning," said UML cadre Ramesh Wagle of Durga VDC-7 in Ramechhap
district.
Wagle, who was displaced to Kathmandu along with his family of five in 2001 due to Maoist threats, stayed at his home under YCL surveillance.
"A group of YCL cadres stayed put outside my home day and night. When I confronted them, they said it was for my own security."
Although the Maoists gave him back his land and house, Wagle says he can't return to his village anymore. "The YCL has continued its terror. There is no security. They may kill me any time," he said.
Kapil Karki of Chanaku VDC-4 in the same district, who has been living in Kathmandu since the displacement of his family in 2001, has an even more appalling story to tell. No sooner had he reached
the village to cast his vote than he received a warning from local Maoists against getting involved in election activity.
Karki, an NC cadre, defied the warning and took part in door-to-door campaigning by the party only to find his house destroyed in the evening. "Not only this, they took me to their office, tied my hands to a pole and forced me to sign a paper containing false charges," he said. He returned to Kathmandu immediately after casting his vote, to avoid further risk to his life.
But the Maoists beat up his family, including his disable father, on the charge of his participation in the election campaign.
"Although we had hoped that we would be able to return to our village after the elections, my hope is now completely shattered," said Karki, adding, "The intimidation has continued."
Another displaced person, Shyam Kumar Chaudhari, 67, of Sardanagar VDC-3 in Chitwan constituency-4 had to return to Kathmandu without even casting his vote as local Maoists threatened to take his life.
Chaudhari had left the district in 2001 after the Maoists captured his seven bigha of land and house. "When I returned home for the CA election, local Maoists entered my house without permission, spread animal faeces in the rooms and threatened to take my life."
He returned to Kathamndu even without casting his vote.
Chaudhari's hope has further waned after the Maoists became the largest political party following the CA polls.
Parbati Karki, 30, of Badase VDC-7 in Sindhupalchowk district, is shocked that the Maoists received so many votes across the country. Her hope for justice has nosedived following the Maoist victory.
"Can they return my husband," said Karki, whose husband was killed by the Maoists in 2003.
Although the government provided her with Rs 150,000 as compensation, she says she can't manage her three-member family in Kathmandu any longer. But she can't return to her village either.
Purnimaya Lama of Chhatrebas VDC-5, Kavre shares Karki's agony. Lama has been struggling to find out the status of her husband, Arjun Lama, who was abducted by the Maoists on 3 June 2005.
The Supreme Court one month ago ordered action taken against Agni Sapkota, Norbu Moktan, Suryaman Dhong, Shyam Gautam, Bhola Aryal and Yadav Poudel on the charge of their involvement in Lama's abduction.
"But the police didn't take any action," Purnimaya said, adding, "I don't think the Maoists will be interested in finding the whereabouts of my husband when they come to power."
Purnimaya has been living in Kathmandu with her six children ever since her husband was abducted. "Although the Maoists returned my house and land, I can't stay in the village because of regular intimidation by them," Purnimaya visited her village last year but decided to leave, thanks to Maoist intimidation.
