Summary
Highlights
Family members visit detention centers and government authorities, but their loved ones' detention is denied, a condition defined as a disappearance. Hundreds of cases have been documented, but it's hard for uneducated villagers to challenge the state.
The level of fear among citizens and human rights activists is high. Post-February 1st, there is no rule of law or democratic space, making it impossible to speak about human rights.
Many villages are left with only women as male family members have been killed, arrested, or fled. Uneducated women risk their lives to seek justice, and human rights activists feel privileged to speak out, asserting that speaking for justice is not a crime.
The speaker, a woman from a conservative Brahmin family, experienced gender discrimination, which propelled her interest in justice. Her mother encouraged her to study law, emphasizing that knowledge of rights and laws prevents exploitation.
Civilians were targeted by Maoists for not supporting them, resulting in brutal killings and torture. The state also declared Maoists as terrorists, and people raising issues like caste-based discrimination, a root cause of conflict, were labeled as terrorists. Dalits, considered untouchable, face severe discrimination, denied basic human rights and entry into homes.
The speaker expresses a desire to inform countries providing military aid to the Nepali government that their support inadvertently fuels the conflict. It is stressed that killing people in the name of war is unacceptable.
A young girl named Devi shares her personal tragedy, holding a newspaper with her deceased brother's picture, taken by the government. She feels compelled to take on her brother's role due to his absence. A UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit highlights that despite the challenges, women like Devi and her grandmother, an illiterate Dalit, are speaking directly to powerful figures like the chief of army staff about their experiences and losses.
The UN High Commissioner notes an alarming increase in human rights abuses by state agents, with a prevailing climate of impunity eroding the rule of law. The case of Devi, a disappeared and murdered individual, remains unsolved, and the responsible parties are not held accountable, leading to dissatisfaction with judicial decisions.
The speaker concludes by illustrating the profound impact of disappearances on families, where loved ones never return. More than 800 people have disappeared, suspected to have been executed by security forces, yet no perpetrators have been brought to justice. The government claims that investigations would hinder the peace process, but true peace depends on the rule of law, justice, and accountability for past atrocities. The speaker vows to continue fighting until every family knows the fate of their loved ones and those responsible are prosecuted.