KATHMANDU, JULY 14

More than 100 families' constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights have been violated as a result of the Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City's forced eviction, leaving them homeless and insecure with regard to food and basic health services.

'I went to school early that day and returned, but I could not find my home because it had been demolished,' said a child victim. 'The books, copies, and dresses were all soiled and buried. After that, I have not been able to study or complete my assignments.'

The child then asked, 'Where should I go? What should I do? How will I study? Are we not citizens? Is this not our country?'

Many of those affected by forced evictions are indigenous, Dalit and Tharu. On top of that, they are women, schoolchildren, senior citizens, and disabled people.

The individuals involved were forced to endure great human suffering. Furthermore, monsoon rain is devastating their food, clothing, school children's books, bags, medical supplies, etc.

'Patients' medicines, legal documents, and other important documents appear to be destroyed strategically,' said people inspecting the situation.

A group of Civil Society Organization leaders and an independent observer had travelled to Dhangadhi to investigate the situation and prepare a report.

From July 12-14, a delegation consisting of Amnesty International Nepal director Nirajan Thapaliya, Krishna Bahadur Bishwakarma from Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC), Bishnu Prasad Pokhrel of JuRi Nepal, Sushma Neupane from Community Self-Reliance Service Center (CSRC), and Basanti Sunar from Nepal, Mahila Ekta Samaj, visited Dhangadhi sub-metropolis, Bhajani municipality, Godavari municipality of Kailali, and Kanchanpur districts, as incidents of forced evictions of landless people were reported. Eviction took place Old Airport area in Dhangadhi sub-metropolis on June 23 and in Bhajani municipality on June 24.

According to them, the majority of the working men and women had gone for daily wages when they arrived, and only children, the elderly, and people with disabilities were present. 'There were extremely painful circumstances,' they said. 'And the people in desperate need of help.'

They went on to explain that the victims were living in tents because they had no other options for shelter. 'Moreover, city police have repeatedly threatened them, putting them in a state of fear and their lives in grave danger,' they stated.

The victims have been residing there since 2002. The local government had also provided them with legal documents such as slum identity, electricity bill, and water bill, according to the delegation.

The delegation has recommended that the issue be resolved and addressed legally because it appears to violate various fundamental and legal rights, including articles 16 (Right to Live with Dignity), 18 (Right to Equality), 25 (Right relating to Property), 36 (Right relating to Food), 37 (Right to Housing), 40 (Right of Dalit), 42 (Right to Social Justice), and 43 (Right to Social Security).

Furthermore, the action attracts criminal charges with serious legal consequences ranging from five years in prison to not exceeding five hundred thousand rupees (Rs 500000) in compensation (as stipulated in Section 42 of the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty Act, 2018). 'As a result, it appears imperative to address the issue because it violates several fundamental and human rights,' they said.