In what could be considered an act of desperation, the Association of Sufferers of Maoists Atrocities in Nepal (ASMAN) organised a sit-in demonstration in front of the United Nations office in Kathmandu the other day to draw the attention of the UN towards the plight of the people displaced by the continuing insurgency. The ASMAN officials claim that they were left with no choice but to turn to the UN since the successive government(s) have turned a deaf ear to their grievances and rapidly deteriorating living conditions. Given the rampant rights abuse in the villages, tens of thousands of internally displaced people are now subsisting in the Valley with meagre resources. Many of them work either as daily labourers or are employed in the unorganised sector. Though it is also the humanitarian responsibility of the UN as an international body to at least try to facilitate and help expedite the rehabilitation process, it is unfortunate that these victims have been “refused” reasonable support by the state in the past and even now.

The government cannot shy away from its duty towards this distressed lot. The initiative has to come from the government first and then the required assistance can be sought from supproting bodies like the UN. The concerned authorities must also seriously consider the ASMAN’s demand of recognising the victims as “internal refugees.” New policies to accelerate the rehabilitation programmes should be designed and implemented immediately. It would help immensely if the government together with the private sector and the civil society joined hands to help the victims. And given the past experience, this is certainly not an impossible proposition. The successful countrywide donation drive conducted last year to raise fund for the tsunami-affected should serve as an example in itself for the people to come together and help their own countrymen. The political parties, often busy fighting for their own rights, too have to play a meaningful role in this process. They should see to it that the victims’ fundamental rights are well protected and that they receive their due from the State. There is no reason why a coordinated approach with the support of the UN and other agencies will not materialise in bringing forth the much-needed relief to the Maoist victims of Nepal.