Pictures: (l) from BBC News (r) from The Age Newspaper
"...Nepal has not normally loomed large in the consciousness of the average educated person in the English-speaking world." (John Whelpton, "A History of Nepal")
When we decided to spend a month in Nepal, it occurred to the both of us, that as well-read and traveled as we thought we might have been, we really didn't know much about Nepal, its history or even its current political situation, however, it is this political situation that Papa's House is so needed by the children and our support and understanding integral to its survival.
Most of the children at the Papa's House have been displaced due to Maoist rebels and I thought I would do some research and condense my reading into one blog entry for you.
Most of the reliable information I have been able to get my hands on have been written by John Whelpton. John's major work is "A History of Nepal" and he is currently an English teacher in Hong Kong. John has been wonderful in responding to my emails and answering my questions. However, this summary (based largely on web readings) and all its mistakes are mine alone.
The very basic of summaries is that since 1996, the Maoist rebels have waged a decade-long campaign against the constitutional monarchy. So far, the rebellion has left more than 12,000 people dead. The UN claims over 100,000 people have been displaced. Its envoy says the use of torture by government forces and rebels is routine. When King Gyanendra's direct rule ended in April 2006, the rebels entered talks on how to end the civil war. A landmark peace deal was agreed to in November and in early 2007 the Maoists joined an interim government
"Those who have money have to give them cash, those who have food have to give them rice, those who have clothes have to give them clothes, and those who have nothing have to give them one member of the family." (Ogura cited in John Whelpton, "Thoughts on the Maoist Problem").
While some members of the Maoist rebels have to chosen to join as their career path, many are "conscripted" to fight. Their ranks are made up of girls, boys, men and women of all ages. It is rumoured that the illustrious Gurkhas have provided their training, thus making them more formidable than the official Nepalese army.
This then brings us to Papa's House. The young Maoists cadres (Young Communist League) are proving to be particularly disruptive to everyday life; they are the ones travelling the country "converting" villages and villagers by persuation or brute force. It is assumed that many of the missing have been conscripted to fight or sold into prostitution in South and South East Asia. This is how many of the children at Papa's House have lost a parent or both. The young Maoists have come to their homes, taken all the food and money available, set fire to their humble homes and took away or killed their parent(s). The ones that make it to Papa's House are the most fortunate ones. They will forever bear the scars of witnessing their parents killed or kidnapped but for now, they have a safe home.
"Most ordinary citizens of Nepal are trying to survive by following the orders of whoever appears more powerful at a particular time and place." (John Whelpton, "Thoughts on the Maoist Problem).
The power of the Maoists grows through fear and intimidation. Last week we received an email from Michael saying that the previous night, the young Maoists marched through Dhapasi in the dead of night in formation and chanting. While Michael's school was being built, 100 YCL members moved in and then invited an extra 150 of their comrades to join them. There was nothing to do but wait until they got bored and moved along. Violence by the YCL has been legendary and although even former President Jimmy Carter has joined the call for the Maoists to rein in the YCL, there is little anyone can do but to sit out these school yard bullies.
I am a total outsider who hasn't quite faced the real reality of what is happening on a daily basis. I find myself asking "why are they letting the Maoists trample all over their lives?" but deep down, I also know why. Daily survival for food and shelter wears on you very quickly. How can you even think about standing up to people with guns when you can't even feed yourself and your family? Is it so bad for the poorest amongst them to give the Maoists a child to fight, knowing that the child may die anyway because they cannot feed them?
Democratic elections are scheduled for the 22nd of November 2007 with the Maoist Party registering itself this July to contest the elections. There is great hope for Nepal to finally find its feet but the reality is that the Maoists are already planning the next "People's Movement" despite participating in the democratic process.
Naturally, the Maoist situation and the general Nepalese political stage is many times more complicated than I have laid out, but I do hope it gives you an quick idea of what is going on and how these children have come to need the sanctuary of Papa's House & Papa's Trinity Academy and why they need our support.
Fiona
