KATHMANDU, March 29: Former Maoist child soldier Lenin Bista, whom the government had earlier barred from attending a workshop in Bangkok, has now reached The Netherlands to internationalize the issues of former child soldiers. Children used by the Maoists during their decade-long insurgency have been complaining that they were ignored by the Maoists and were deprived of reparations after the Maoist party joined mainstream politics following the signing of a peace accord in 2007.

After landing in The Netherlands Bista informed that he was scheduled to brief officials of the International Criminal Court on the hardships that he and other child soldiers recruited by the Maoists went through during the Maoist insurgency.

“I will hold discussions with senior officials of International Court from April 8 to 11,” Bista said on the phone, adding, “Before this I will be meeting officials from various European countries.”

The former child soldier is scheduled to attend interactions in several European countries including Germany, France, Belgium and Portugal. The interactions to be held in various universities will be focused on Nepal's armed conflict and the peace process. “I will share my experience as a child soldier and its impact in our lives,” said Bista.

In August 2018, immigration officials at the Tribhuvan International Airport had barred him from flying to Thailand, where he was to attend a five-day event titled “Youth in Conflict Areas: Healing and Peace Building through Social Engagement”.

Even if Bista files complaint at the International Criminal Court against the Maoist leaders, the court cannot take action because Nepal has not ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court so far.

 
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