Purna has gone from pillar to post seeking the whereabouts of her only child, who was working as a radio and TV mechanic in Kohalpur when he was disappeared. She has already knocked on the doors of the courts.[break]
And she could not help weeping in public after reading a draft of the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission ordinance on Sunday.
Like Purna, over a dozen conflict-victim women shed tears at a program organized to raise concerns over the content of the proposed ordinance.“He was our only child. Was he killed?” asked Purna sobbing. “Sometimes, I feel he is still alive.”
Her 25-year-old son was disappeared by the security forces on December 24, 2001.
The participants in the program accused the government of rubbing salt in the wounds for families that lost near and dear ones in the decade-long conflict. They were of the opinion that in the name of peace and reconciliation the proposed ordinance adds insult to injury instead of providing justice. They also requested President Ram Baran Yadav not to approve the proposed ordinance as it aims to exonerate those guilty of crimes against humanity committed during the time of conflict.
In the decade of Maoist insurgency, around 500 people were disappeared from the rebel and government sides for being ´terrorists´ and ´spies´, and hundreds underwent severe mental and physical torment.
The victims´ families protested the proposed ordinance, saying it undermines the right to justice for victims and was prepared without any consultation with those families.
“Tears come to the eyes before the mouth utters any word,” said Devisara BK from Kohalpur, whose husband Dhan Bahadur was arrested and disappeared by police a decade ago. “They took him away after waking him up from bed. I have not talked about it with my children, fearing it will cause them psychological stress,” she added.
Ram Gopal Tameli, a victim at the hands of the Maoists during the conflict, said the proposed ordinance has not been brought in good faith. “The commission to be formed through the ordinance with provisions for clemency cannot provide justice to the victims. Rather, it will be a further slap in the face,” Tameli said.
The preamble of the ordinance states that there will be a provision on amnesty for the guilty, providing due compensation to victims and their families.
“Perpetrators should be brought to book. They should not be forgiven under any pretext,” Yubaraj Giri, another conflict era victim, said.
Chandra Kala Upreti, chairperson of the Conflict Victims´ Society for Justice, also protested the proposed ordinance. “We need not compensation but justice,” she said.
The members of the victims´ families further demanded that the whereabouts of the disappeared be made known immediately and medical treatment and due compensation provided to injured conflict victims.
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