New Kamaiya movement: Time to solve land problem

While Yagya Raj Chaudhary together with a group of former Kamaiyas is currently launching delegation campaign in Kathmandu to put pressure on the government to provide land to ex-Kamaiyas, thousands of ex-Kamaiyas at the same time have occupied land in Kailali and Bardiya districts.

By Lene Broksoe

11. January 2006

Four years ago the Nepalese government freed Kamaiyas from their dept bondage. But even four years after this historical event, the problem of rehabilitation and distribution of land has not yet been solved. Frustration and bitterness among the ex- Kamaiyas has given rise to a new campaign, which will pressure the government and force it to live up to its own promises. Yagya Raj Chaudhary, who played a key role in the Kamaiya movement, says: "This time we are serious and will fight until every single ex-Kamaiya gets a plot of land to live”.

Yagya Raj sees a significant change among the ex-Kamaiyas. "During the first Kamaiya movement it was the NGOs who took the initiatives and mobilized the Kamaiyas for the movement. But this time the ex-Kamaiyas have involved themselves. Now they have become empowered and know that they can fight for their right."

The government ought to solve the Kamaiya rehabilitation problem also to avoid that they only in frustration chooses side in the conflict and join the Maoists. Most of the former Kamaiyas feel that they have nothing to lose, and they are well aware of their rights not fulfilled, so that might very well be a reaction. The government has to understand this aspect,” he argues.

Yagya Raj is currently in Kathmandu for discussing the issue with different line ministries on behalf of the ex-Kamaiyas. When asked what hope they have with the government listening to them, he says: "It's difficult to put trust on what government ministers say. We have heard their promises for years, but they have not come true. It is easy for the politicians to talk, but they are not ready to carry out their promises.”

Yagya Raj is soon meeting the Prime Minister Deuba for further discussion. "It is my intention to make him clear that we will not accept yet another round of big talks. We will demand to see a plan of action of how government will deal with the rehabilitation problem.”

To put action behind the attempts to discuss the land issue with the government, the Kamaiyas have started occupying land in Kailali and Bardiya districts. "This is to show that we are serious enough,” Yagya states.

The land occupation by ex-Kamaiyas has neither been disturbed by the government nor by the Maoists. It may reflect that the government does not know how to tackle the situation, but also that the Maoists support and protect the ex-Kamaiyas.

In Bardiya district alone 600 families have occupied an infertile land owned by a cotton factory. In Kailali district it is the land of Tikkapur and Dhangadhi airport that has been captured. The Kamaiyas are not certain they can occupy the land for ever, but Yagya Raj thinks that capturing land has helped them to arrest attention of the concerned authorities to the land issue of the Kamaiyas.