Kamaiya Situation After Emergency

With the government of Nepal declaring a state of emergency in response to the breakdown of peace talks with the maoists people have faced suspension of almost all their democratic rights, in effect putting an end to the ex-Kamaiyas' agitation,for the time being at least. This has been the most opportune time for the local authorities to force through kamaiya relocation away from their settlements. The government now has military force backing them. The kamaiyas are afraid of being branded as maoists and arrested or killed if they resist.

Months after the government freed kamaiyas from debt bondage, these kamaiyas continue to plough their landlord's fields in Bardiya.

With this situation as the backdrop local staff at BASE, Dhangadhi (Kailali) has come up with a latest update on the situation of the ex-Kamaiyas.

There are 29 kamaiya camps with 1999 ex-kamaiya families in small wooden and bush built huts in Kailali district. It is winter season. Ex-kamaiya do not have enough clothes and necessary facilities for basic needs. The children are getting sick due to the cold and suffering from several diseases. Financial constraints are quite acute.

After the emergency decreed by the government, most of the ex-kamaiyas are facing a lot of problems. The District Government made a decision that they should settle on land registered in their names by the government. Otherwise government will use force to make them settle there. Most of the land which is allocated and registered in the names of the ex-Kamaiyas is situated by river sides or occupied by the other people or other fellow ex-kamaiyas.

But now after the decisions, the government has been using force and destroying kamaiyas huts since 6 Dec. 2001. This situation has led to the following difficulties:

• 17 huts in Manehara Pool Geta VDC have been destroyed. They are now living under the trees with their families including small kids.
• In Manehara Camp (Dhangadhi Municipality), the land which was occupied by 35 Kamaiya families was registered in the names of other Kamaiya families (they were brought by the government from other villages). Due to this they are fighting among themselves.
• In Sukhad (Darakh VDC), the land that was occupied by general people and high school was registered in the names of ex-Kamaiyas. The Kamaiya families are not able to settle on this land.
• In Dhanchauri Camp (Beladevipur VDC), the land that was given to the Kamaiyas is situated by the side of the rivers and is very sandy. ex-Kamaiyas who had settled here tried to plant maize and potatoes. Before harvesting, it had dried.
• The Kamaiya families with no "Identification Card" in Laikpur, Balchaur, Attariya and Narayanpur are shifting towards the landlords to work. The government is not allowing them to stay in the camps they are staying.

Given the limitations placed on freedom of expression and assembly here, it is felt that the ex-kamaiyas need international support and attention now more than ever.