State of emergency and the vulnerability of ex-Kamaiyas

With the declaration of emergency and subsequent mobilization of the army last November, no sector or individual has remained unaffected--be it in the cities or in the villages. If for many in big cities like Kathmandu it means an end to their nightlife, it has denied the poor villagers their eve-gatherings that offered a few hours of solace after a hectic-day’s work. People avoid travelling at night, and do not find long travels encouraging due to security reasons. The 'men in green' ask innumerable questions with suspicion. While answering them the people realise the situation of unrest prevailing in the country. Very obviously, the state of emergency has not spared ex-Kamaiyas, who have built themselves sheds—they call home—in different legal and illegal camps in Bardiya.

In most of the places in Bardiya curfew is imposed after eight o’ clock at night till the next morning. People are supposed to return home before eight. Very often security officials come for search operation to ensure security in the district. They repeatedly ask questions that don’t always have easy answers, which sometimes trouble the poor ex-Kamaiyas. Consider this: "Actually, there was a person having the same name as mine at Dhangpur. Recently, army officials came looking for him, and arrested me thinking I was their man. At around four in the morning they took me and released me the next afternoon. They did not torture me, but I was fearful they could turn violent," said Lautan Tharu.

Lautan lives with his wife, two daughters and one son. "In the custody I missed my wife and children a lot. I was uncertain about my life. It was a scary ordeal, but as I was innocent, I was released. Thanks to the sirs (army officials), who later on realised my innocence," Lautan added, "We are poor people, just freed some two years back. We came here from Rajapur recently because the government gave us land very late. I have heard of mama (Maoists’ insurgency) and people joining them but have not seen those who have joined them. Look, we have not even settled properly. The forest office did not provide us necessary timbers and we are living under tin-roof."

As has been said, extreme frustration, dissatisfaction and deprivation breed rebellious nature in people. While visiting several ex-Kamaiyas' camps, it was seen that even ex-Kamaiya youths have joined the six-year-old insurgency, but none could reveal either the identity of the Kamaiyas-turned-rebellions or the Maoist affected areas.

But, the District Development Committee reports that Rajapur was the most vulnerable place for Maoist activities. The Area Police Station and the Area Administration Office from Rajapur both have been shifted to Gularia since the past few months. "We have been distributing citizenship certificates and doing all related works from here, the District Development Committee," said Dharma Raj Dhungana, Chief District Officer and then added, "Soon we will be sending security forces to Rajapur area."

Rajapur is a small island in the middle of the mighty Karnali river. It has eleven VDCs and it has been reported that landlords here had exploited Kamaiyas to the extremes. Ex-Kamaiyas report that their daughters, even wives, were very vulnerable to rape by landlords when they lived in Rajapur earlier. Probably ex-Kamaiyas here might have turned rebellions to take revenge against their despotic landlords.

People have a feeling of insecurity in the district. "We are vulnerable from both sides--army and the Maoist terrorists. However, Maoists now do not reveal their identity as they did earlier. We have not seen any Maosits these days. Army officials come for search operation very frequently," says a hotel owner at Gularia.

Puna Ram Tharu says, "Sometimes they (army officials) ridiculously repeat the same embarrassing questions like--What is your name? How can two people have the same name? Is Puran a kind of name?" Ex-Kamaiyas, including the villagers, feel harassed to answer such questions.

Puna, a 50-year-old man at Machhaghar camp was beaten up because his name was the same as that of a rebel from a nearby village. "Look at my wound, he (army official) had beaten me here with his boot," Puna Ram showed a scar on his leg to this reporter.

Unfortunately, Dilly Chaudhari, Chairman of Backward Society Education (BASE), admits that after the imposition of emergency, like many others, ex-Kamaiyas are also stripped of their rights. "Earlier they could stage peaceful demonstrations and chant slogans in public places to pressurise the government for their rehabilitation. Now everything has been limited to delegations," said he.

Yagya Raj Chaudhari, who initiated the Kamaiya freedom movement, says the problems of ex-Kamaiyas have become more complicated than in the past. Recalling the days in the past, most of the ex-Kamaiyas scattered in several camps reveal that landlords took all the responsibility of looking after their Kamaiyas.

If one fell sick, the landlords used to bear the cost for medicine and treatment. But at present it has become difficult for ex-Kamaiyas, as they have become jobless. "This may turn them into rebels," said Chaudhari. However, Former VDC (Dhadhwar) Chairman Daya Ram Khadka does not believe it. "Of course the frustrated ex-Kamaiya youth may be attracted towards carrying guns out of dissatisfaction. But they will not do that because they have known the reality. Working as a labourer is far better than carrying guns," said he.

According to him, the way ex-Kamaiyas were liberated has not been good. The issue was politicised and they were declared free but no one ever thought of the complications that could arise after the freedom.

The Kamaiyas had to be freed on the basis of a well thought out policy. Now the landlords feel insecure to invest. Instead of hiring Kamaiyas, they call labourers from neighbouring India.

Intellectuals here believe that unless the government brings a rapid scheme for rehabilitating ex-Kamaiyas, the problem will remain. "Whichever the government, it should try to end social discriminations that ex-Kamaiyas are facing, and bring immediate and effective schemes to prevent these freed bonded labourers from taking the wrong path," said Krishna Sigdel an NC member in Bardiya.