Kathmandu, December 10

The Asian Human Rights Commission has portrayed 2015 as a bad year for Nepal, saying it did not start off well for the Nepali people.

“On April 25, a devastating earthquake hit the nation killing more than 9000 people, injuring thousands and destroying property worth millions of dollars. People in the villages, however, were left to fend for themselves.

The lack of coordination between the government and the international community that flooded into Nepal to help was visible,” read a press statement issued by AHRC on the occasion of the Human Rights Day today.

“At the onset of this devastation, Nepalese resilience was again proved. Neighbours helped neighbours, villages helped villages. However, something big was missing the government. The government of Nepal was clearly unprepared for a disaster of this scale. It knew it was coming, but negligence led to being unprepared,” it added.

According to the statement, with the winter fast approaching, victims of this natural disaster were on their own. With only a tent and dry food distributed by donors, they waited for government assistance.The government was busy,however, planning what to do.

Nothing ever reached the people other than glib words and fake promises.

Those who had links and networking with the government received help and compensation. The real victims, who did not enjoy such links, still await the government to fulfil its promises.

“In the political realm, the government used this opportunity to complete the task of constitution writing. They did not realise the populace would hit the streets for their say in the new constitution. In spite of the ongoing protests all over the country, the major parties promulgated the constitution on September 20,” read the statement, “They neglected killings. Protesters were shot on sight.

Although it is the duty of the state to protect government offices, the level of force used to protect property such as police posts is disproportionate.”

According to the AHRC, protests and desire for revenge spiralled into Nepal’s southern plains. Killings and revenge became the norm. All over Madhes, there were demands for amending the constitution, and starting the process of demarcation and delineation.

To make the situation worse, the protest in the southern plains stopped essential supplies, including petrol, gas bullets, medicines and other necessary supplies from reaching Nepal via India. The ‘blockade’ affected the people of Nepal whether they were from Kathmandu or Madhes.

Madhesis faced the brunt of the blockade and protests, with schools, offices, and markets completely shut down.