CHITAWAN, March 12: Commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) interacted on Friday with the victims of the Maoist insurgency-era Badarmudhe attack.
Participants, however, expressed strong objection over the inclusion of Maoists in the interaction despite a previous understanding that only the victims would be sharing their views.
“You have included here even those who ambushed the bus. How can we share our views in such a situation?” said Purna Kala Adhikari of Debendrapur Madi, who was speaking on behalf of the injured in the attack and kin of those who were killed.
Thirty five members of the general public and three Nepal Army personnel were killed when the then underground Maoists ambushed a bus at Badarmudhe in Madi, Chitawan district on June 6, 2005.
Issuing a statement immediately after the attack, then CPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had said it was the greatest single mistake committed by the Maoists during the ‘People’s War’ and apologized for it.
Dahal also promised to visit Badarmudhe and apologize in person to the victims at some appropriate time. He, however, has so far not met the victims.
“Let’s not dispute over whether or not someone has come here because a responsible state body is now visiting this place to study the
matter. But this [body] has also failed to understand the gravity of the matter. They [commissioners] shouldn’t have sought our views in their [Maoists’] presence,” said Mukti Neupane, chairperson of the Committee of Victims of the Badarmudhe Attack. The officials of the commission were also taken by surprise when they found among the participants individuals other than the victims.
The Maoists claimed that they arrived at the interaction venue after hearing news about the program. “We didn’t plan to organize this interaction in the presence of the other side. So, those who aren’t victims of the Badarmudhe incident please leave,” TRC Commissioner Manchala Jha announced.
The Maoists then left and the victims started to express their views openly. Earlier, some central level Maoist members and local cadres were present there.
However, the victims complained that they are no more hopeful of getting justice even after this interation. The participants said that they have found no change in the situation even after explaining the ambush incident several times to the many who have visit the place to seek their views.
“The country was facing a huge conflict and we on behalf of the state are here to study its impact. There will be no other body bigger than this. We will find out the facts and recommend measures for justice,” Jha tried to explain to the locals at length. “Explain to us whatever the facts are so that we can identify the real victims and perpetrators.”
Jha also promised to protect the witnesses, safeguard their identity and take other measures for confidentiality.
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