Country Advice

Nepal – NPL38646 – Myagdi – Rashtriya Prajatantra Party – RPP – RPP-N – Maoists – YCL – State Protection – Relocation 9 May 2011

1. Please provide a map of Nepal showing Myagdi, Pokhara and .

Myagdi is a district in central Nepal, northwest of the city of Pokhara, (see Map 1). The district is extremely mountainous (see Map 2). Beni is the administrative centre of Myagdi. The 2001 Nepal Census reported Myagdi district had a population of 114,447, living in at least forty separate villages.1

Map 1: Myagdi, Nepal

1 Central Bureau of Statistics 2001, „Table 1: Number of households, Population in the households for Village Development Committee‟, in National Report , Kathmandu, p.43 http://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/National%20Report%202001/VDC.pdf – Accessed 8 September 2010 – Attachment 1

Page 1 of 13

Map 2: Myagdi topographical map2

2. Please provide current information about the RPP – its policies, platform, structures, activities, key figures – particularly in the area around Myagdi.

The Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), or National Democrat Party of Nepal, was formed in 1990. Its website claims that its three main ideological pillars are , and Liberalism, and that it is pro-free market.3 In Nepali politics it is deemed to be right-of- centre and pro-monarchy; however in 2010 sources indicated that the party adopted more centrist political stances on a number of issues.

2 „The & People‟ (undated), University of Wisconsin https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/noonan/www/Chantyal.html – Accessed 4 May 2011 – Attachment 2 3 „About RPP‟ (undated), Rashtriya Prajatantra Party website http://www.rppnepal.com/channels/aboutus.htm – Accessed 17 July 2007 – Attachment 3

Page 2 of 13 The RPP does not enjoy mass political support in Nepal; in the March 2008 parliamentary elections, the party won eight out of 335 seats in the national Constituent Assembly (CA), while the breakaway Rashtriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) gained four seats. In the same election, the – Maoist (CPN-M) gained 100 seats, the Nepali Congress (NC) won 73 seats, and the Communist Party of Nepal – United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) won 70 seats.4

Of the two RPP parties, the RPP-N appears to be the more devoted to the restoration of the monarchy. This may be due to the fact that under former King Gyanendra, the RPP-N enjoyed a level of power it no longer enjoys in the democratic republic; after Gyanendra deposed the democratic government in 2005, the RPP-N participated in the government appointed by the king. According to the Political Handbook of the World, in 2008 the RPP-N was the only parliamentary party that voted against the re- as a republic. Since 2008, the party has continually advocated a national referendum on the restoration of Nepal as a monarchy and Hindu state.5 While there appears to be little nostalgia for Gyanendra in Nepal, the International Crisis Group (ICG) believes that the RPP-N deliberately links the end of the monarchy with the end of Nepal as a Hindu state, an issue that does concern many in the Hindu majority country.6 The logic would appear to be that the RPP-N is attempting to broaden its appeal by capitalising on common religious anxieties.

Both the RPP and the RPP-N have absorbed smaller, pro-monarchy/Hindu parties in order to remain viable political organisations. In 2010, the RPP reunited with the Rashtriya Janashakti Party (RJP)7; the RJP having split from the RPP in 2004. In 2007 the RPP-N “absorbed” the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (Rastrabadi), also known as the RPP (Nationalist), and the Nepal Bidwat Parishad (NBP).8 There also appears to be some movement of officials between the two parties; in 2010, the chairman of the RPP, Shumshere J. B. Rana, was dismissed and has since become vice-chairman of the RPP-N.9

Both the RPP and the RJP advocate constitutional monarchy. However, the RJP does not publicly advocate the restoration of Nepal as a „Hindu‟ state; in 2010, prior to the merger with the RPP, the RJP Co-chairman Prakash Chandra Lohani stated that “Nepal is a multi-religion country and should be recognised as such.” The reunification of the RPP/RJP rebrands the RPP as more centrist. Reinforcing this repositioning, the RPP/RJP party is more supportive of the process to draft a permanent constitution for the new republic than the RPP-N. However, the RPP and RJP have jointly expressed frustration with the CPN-M, CPN-UML and NC as they slowly negotiate the constitution, delaying final closure of the drawn-out peace process that began following the overthrow of the monarchy. In 2010, the RPP/RJP threatened to quit

4 „EC declares PR results; Maoists bag 100 seats, NC 73 and UML 70‟ 2008, Nepal News, 25 April http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/apr/apr25/news08.php – Accessed 15 November 2010 – Attachment 4 5 Banks, A. et al. 2010, „Nepal‟, Political Handbook of the World, CQ Press, Washington http://library.cqpress.com/phw/document.php?id=phw2010_Nepal&type=toc&num=5 – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 5 6 International Crisis Group 2011, Nepal: Identity Politics and Federalism, Crisis Group Asia Report N°199, 13 January, p.20 – Attachment 6 7 „RPP, RJP expand committee for unification‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 7 April http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullTodays.php?headline=RPP%2C+RJP+expand+committee+for+unification& NewsID=237685 – Accessed 14 April 2011 – Attachment 7 8 Banks, A. et al. 2010, „Nepal‟, Political Handbook of the World, CQ Press, Washington http://library.cqpress.com/phw/document.php?id=phw2010_Nepal&type=toc&num=5 – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 5 9 „RPP-sacked Rana nominated RPP-N vice chair‟ 2010, Kathmandu Post, 25 November http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/11/25/top-story/rpp-sacked-rana-nominated-rpp-n-vice-chair/325590/ – Accessed 4 May 2011 – Attachment 8

Page 3 of 13 parliament and stage demonstrations if the major parties continued to press for an extension in the life of the Constituent Assembly in order to continue with the constitutional negotiation/drafting process.10

Much of the delay associated with the drafting of a permanent constitution is to do with differences concerning the proposal to create a federal political system; providing districts dominated by particular ethnic groups a degree of autonomy as states within a federal Nepal. The RPP-N demands that a referendum be held on federalism.11 Other parties also have concerns with federalism, and see the creation of a number of semi-autonomous cantons or „states‟ as undermining national unity and a means by which the CPN-M hopes to buy support from potentially powerful ethnic groups such as the Madhesis from Nepal‟s (lowlands).12 13

Little information was located on the activities of either the RPP or the RPP-N in Myagdi district. In 2009, the Nepali government appointed a member of the RPP, Chakrapani Acharya, as the chief of the Myagdi District Development Committee.14 District Development Committees have many of the same functions as local governments and are charged with implementing projects that stimulate economic development in remote districts.

3. Would a member of the RPP have a RPP membership card or other documentation indicating her membership, or be able to obtain this?

No publicly available information was located on Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) membership details, including matters relating to the issuance of membership cards. The RPP website (http://rppnepal.org/) does not include such information. The head office of the RPP is located at Charumati, Chabahil, Kathmandu.

4. Is there any information that most of the people in Myagdi village are Maoist supporters, and the Maoists have influence in the remote area of Nepal around Myagdi?

No sources were located that describe the political affiliations of the people of Myagdi district as predominantly pro-Maoist. In the March 2008 elections, the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (CPN-M) emerged with the largest proportion of seats in the national Constituent Assembly (CA), including the seat centred on Myagdi. According to the Election Commission website, the CPN-M candidate, Govinda Paudel, won with a substantial proportion of the votes cast.15 The top three candidates in the 2008 CA election in Myagdi are tabulated in Table 1.

10 „„Royalist‟ parties warn against extension‟ 2010, Kathmandu Post, 16 April http://www.ekantipur.com/the- kathmandu-post/2010/04/16/Nation/Royalist-parties-warn-against-extension/207269/ – Accessed 14 April 2011 – Attachment 9 11 International Crisis Group 2010, Nepal’s Political Rites of Passage, Asia Report N°194, 29 September, p.29 – Attachment 10 12 „Maoists declare two more autonomous states in Nepal‟ 2009, BBC Monitoring Service, source: Nepalnews.com, 13 December – Attachment 11 13 „Dahal courts Madhesi leaders‟ 2010, Nepal News.com, 20 July http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news- archive/2-political/7724-dahal-courts-madhesi-leaders.html – Accessed 21 July 2010 – Attachment 12 14 „Govt nominates new DDC chiefs‟ 2009, The Kathmandu Post, 9 January http://www.ekantipur.com/the- kathmandu-post/2010/03/05/Features/A-heliocentric-point-of-view/5855/ – Accessed 4 May 2011 – Attachment 13 15 Election Commission (Nepal) 2008, „Constituent Assembly Election 2064 List of Winning Candidates‟, EC website http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php?selectedMenu=Winning%20Candidates(English)&ra nd=1304565738 – Accessed 5 May 2011 – Attachment 44

Page 4 of 13 District Candidate Party Votes Result 1. Myagdi Govinda Paudel Communist Party of 23102 Elected Nepal (M) 2. Myagdi Nar Devi Pun Communist Party of 14453 Nepal (UML) 3. Myagdi Resham Bahadur Baniya Nepali Congress (NC) 7626 Table 1: Top 3 2008 Constituent Assembly election candidates, Myagdi District Nepal16

The integrity of the 2008 ballot, organised by Nepal‟s Electoral Commission (EC) was praised by a number of international government and non-government organisations. However, Freedom House states that intimidation of voters by the CPN-M‟s Young Communist League (YCL) was widespread; the EC and the police were forced to close 33 voting stations across Nepal due to violence and intimidation. Furthermore, three candidates were killed during campaigning. Freedom House argues that YCL cadres were responsible for “the bulk of the violence and intimidation”.17 Thus, intimidation of voters in Myagdi may have contributed to CPN-M success in the electorate and therefore provide a false impression of the level of support for the Maoists in the district.

While no sources were located that provide any information on YCL intimidation of voters in Myagdi, many sources were located that not only confirm a significant YCL presence in the district, but also indicates a record of YCL conflict with members of youth militias from the main rival parties. In February 2010, the District Administration Office in Myagdi imposed an indefinite curfew in the village of Arthunge to prevent clashes between the YCL and members of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML). Reports indicate that many of the inter-militia clashes were sparked by accusations of ongoing land seizures in Myagdi. During the civil war, Maoists seized large tracts of land; the slow return of which remains an ongoing source of tension in Nepal. In Myagdi, the NC and the CPN-UML have accused the YCL of continuing to seize land on behalf of the CPN-M.18 19 20 21

In addition to inter-militia clashes in Myagdi, YCL members continue to be implicated in other human rights abuses and illegal activities in the district. Incidents include:  In May 2010, a Myagdi man was reportedly abducted by YCL cadres.22

16 Election Commission (Nepal) 2008, „Constituent Assembly Election 2064 Constituency Wise Top Three Leading Candidates‟, EC website http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php?selectedMenu=Constituency%20Wise%20Top%203 %20Candidate(English)&rand=1304568299 – Accessed 5 May 2011 – Attachment 45 17 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010 – Attachment 15 18 Paudel, D. 2010, „Local Administration impose curfew in Myagdi‟, MyRepublica.com, 13 February, http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=15094# – Accessed 6 September 2010 – Attachment 16 19 „Young Communist League‟ 2010, South Asia Terror Portal http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=activity_detail&aid=22 – Accessed 6 September 2010 – Attachment 17 20 „YC pledges to implement pact‟ 2009, eKantipur, 3 January, http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=173439 – Accessed 8 January 2009 – Attachment 18 21 The Carter Center 2011, „Clashes Between Political Party Youth Wings Have Decreased But YCL And UML Youth Force Continue To Seek Financial Gain‟, 28 February, Footnote 43, p.19 – Attachment 19 22 „Abduction charge on YCL men‟ 2010, eKantipur, 10 May, http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/05/10/capital/abduction-charge-on-ycl-men/314039/# – Accessed 8 September 2010 – Attachment 20

Page 5 of 13  In January 2010, the International Displacement Monitoring Centre reported that YCL cadres frequently clashed with CPN-UML Youth Force (YF) cadres in several districts, including Myagdi.23  In March 2009, ABC journalist Amrit Baskune was “thrashed” by a group led by the YCL district leader, Lalu Kisan. A second journalist investigating the incident was also reportedly beaten by YCL cadres.24  In 2007, Maoists were reportedly collecting tolls from foreigner tourists trekking the Annapurna Circuit, which passes through Myagdi.25

In the past, reports indicated that not everyone in Myagdi was pro-Maoist. In September 2007, it was reported that villagers in Myagdi attacked and injured 10 Maoist cadres in retaliation for a Maoist abduction of a local.26 In March 2004, during the civil war, the district capital was the scene of what BBC News described as “the scene of the biggest battle” of Nepal‟s civil war. According to BBC News, 5,000 Maoists entered Beni and attacked strategic buildings including the police post, killing at least 20 police and taking 34 captive.27

Maoist organisations that are not affiliated with the CPN-M are also reportedly active in Myagdi. In 2010, the OCHA reported that a Village Development Committee (VDC) secretary in Myagdi resigned after being threatened by the Samyukta Jatiya Mukti Morcha (SJMM), the Unified Ethnic Liberation Front.28 The SJMM is reportedly a Maoist militia once associated with the Communist Party of - Marxist Leninist (CPI-ML).29 In August 2010, the UN expressed concern at the “mounting threats” on VDC secretaries from SJMM.30 The Himalayan Times reported in late July 2010 that VDC secretaries in Myagdi district were returning to work after receiving assurances of their safety and protection. Security, reports the Himalayan Times, would in fact be provided by political party cadres, as well as police.31

23Refugee Documentation Centre (Ireland) 2010, „Information on the Youth Communist League (YCL)‟, 5 February http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4b8fcb1e1c.pdf – Accessed 3 September 2010 – Attachment 21 24 Untitled, South Asia Media Net, 2009, reprinted from Himalaya Times, 24 March http://www.southasianmedia.net/Archive_full.cfm?nid=567246 – Accessed 7 September 2010 – Attachment 22 25 „Young Communist League‟ 2010, South Asia Terror Portal, http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=activity_detail&aid=22 – Accessed 6 September 2010 – Attachment 17 26 „Villagers beat up Maoists‟ 2007, Kantipur online, 3 September http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=121311 – Accessed 11 September 2007 – Attachment 23 27 Haviland, C. 2004, „Police bear brunt in Nepal‟s war‟, BBC News, 13 September http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3645754.stm – Accessed 11 September 2007 – Attachment 24 28 „Nepal – Reported Security Incidents Involving VDC and DDC Staff, Period covered 1 January – 31 July 2010‟ 2010, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, http://www.un.org.np/reports/maps/OCHA/2010/2010-08-05-VDC_Secretary_Jan-July_A4_11082010_v02.pdf – Accessed 8 September 2010 – Attachment 25 29 Prasad, M. 2010, „Maoist mine blast kills 5 cops‟, Indian Express.com, 17 July http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoist-mine-blast-kills-5-cops/647832/ – Accessed 8 September 2010 – Attachment 26 30 „UN concerned about threats to VDC secys‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 7 August, http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=UN+concerned+about+threats+to+VDC+secys+&News ID=249180# – Accessed 7 September 2010 – Attachment 27 31 „Myagdi VDC secys back to business‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 29 July http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/rssReference.php?headline=Myagdi+VDC+secys+back+to+business&NewsID= 248178 – Accessed 7 September 2010 – Attachment 28

Page 6 of 13 5. Would a young woman from a Myagdi village, who is a member of the RPP, assisted them in an election campaign, and refused to join the Maoists, be at risk of kidnap or other serious harm from the Maoists in the Myagdi area, and in Nepal generally?

No sources were located that state that a young woman from Myagdi who is a member of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), who assisted them in an election campaign for the RPP, and has refused to join Maoist parties or militias, is at risk of being kidnapped or other forms of serious harm by Maoists. No reports were located that indicate that RPP electoral workers have been harmed by CPN-M, YCL or SJMM cadres in Myagdi. No reports were located that indicate that RPP volunteers have been harmed by Maoists after they have relocated from remote districts.

While no reports were located that state that Maoist cadres/guerrillas currently kidnap people who refuse to join their parties/militias, kidnapping was a common practice during the Maoist insurgency. The common victims of kidnapping for use in the war were children. According to a 2007 Human Rights Watch (HRW) report, Maoists forcibly recruited large numbers of children across Nepal, primarily by abducting them from schools. The report also states that the Maoists had a “one family, one child” policy in areas under their control, forcing every family to provide a recruit or face severe consequences.32 Sources indicate that abduction of students (and often their teachers) was common in Myagdi.33 34 35

Information provided in the response to question 4 indicates that during the 2008 election campaign, Maoist Young Communist League (YCL) cadres were responsible for a large proportion of incidents of violence and intimidation of both voters and non-Maoist election candidates throughout Nepal.36 More recently, YCL cadres are major suspects in the July 2010 murder of Chhabi Lal Karki, a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML).37

No sources were located that specifically provide information on the treatment of RPP members, candidates and their assistants in Myagdi during the 2008 campaign. However, information provided in the response to question 4 indicates that conflict between YCL cadres and members of other political parties in Myagdi remains common.38 39 40 41 In at least one case, in May 2010, a Myagdi male was reportedly abducted by YCL cadres.42

32 Human Rights Watch 2007, Children in the Ranks: The Maoists’ use of Child Soldiers in Nepal, February, vol.19, no.2, pp.5 & 18 http://hrw.org/reports/2007/nepal0207/ – Accessed 13 September 2007 – Attachment 29 33 „Maoists abduct students, teachers in western Nepal district‟ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Rajdhani, 19 November – Attachment 30 34 Levett, C. 2005 „Treading carefully‟, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/treading-carefully/2005/01/07/1104832305686.html# – Accessed 13 September 2007 – Attachment 31 35 Rajamohan, P.G. 2004, „Arming the Children‟ cited in „Weekly Assessments & Briefings‟ South Asia Intelligence Review, vol.2, no.35, 15 March http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/2_35.htm – Accessed 13 September 2007 – Attachment 32 36 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010 – Attachment 15 37 „PM vows action against killers‟ 2010, Himalayan News Service, 10 July http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/rssReference.php?headline=PM+vows+action+against+killers&NewsID=24934 0 – Accessed 12 July 2010 – Attachment 33 38 Paudel, D. 2010, „Local Administration impose curfew in Myagdi‟, MyRepublica.com, 13 February, http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=15094# – Accessed 6 September 2010 – Attachment 16 39 „Young Communist League‟ 2010, South Asia Terror Portal http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=activity_detail&aid=22 – Accessed 6 September 2010 – Attachment 17

Page 7 of 13 In 2010 there were at least 50,000 active cadres within the YCL. Together, with the so-called Youth Force of the CPN-UML and the „Tarun Dal‟ of the Nepali Congress, these militia members perpetrate violence against political opponents and, in some cases, members of the police force. Despite this, Freedom House states “authorities have made little effort to rein in or punish such violence”.43 This is perhaps due to a perception that they are all being protected by their political masters in Kathmandu.

Nevertheless, although still high by international standards, politically-motivated violence in Nepal has declined significantly since 2006.44

6. Would the police be willing or able to provide protection to a person with such a profile by investigating, apprehending and prosecuting Maoists?

As stated in the response to question 5, Freedom House is of the opinion that authorities are reluctant to punish militia members for politically-motivated violence.45 The US Department of State reports that this is particularly the case in the Terai. In cases where party cadres were detained, their political leaders often successfully pressured police to release them.46

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also expressed concern at Nepali authorities‟ failure to pursue investigations and prosecutions of senior Maoists accused of committing serious crimes during the civil war. In 2010, HRW reported that Agni Sapkota, a senior member of the CPN-M‟s Central Committee, has not been arrested for his part in the 2005 murder of Arjun Lama.47 The US Department of State reports that, as of the end of 2010, no government officials or Maoists have been prosecuted for disappearances during the civil war. The Department also reports that none of the approximately dozen members of the YCL who are believed to have been involved in the killing of Youth Force member Anuj Thapa Magar in have been arrested.48

Despite the concerns of Freedom House, HRW and the US Department of State, Nepali police have arrested at least some Maoists for violence and intimidation. In August 2010, police arrested Sujit BK, a former district leader in the YCL, for the March 2009 killing of a CPN- UML Youth Force leader, Prachanda Man Thaiba. Five members of the United Communist Party of Nepal–Maoist (UCPN-M) were charged with the 2008 killing of Ram Hari Shrestha

40 „YC pledges to implement pact‟ 2009, eKantipur, 3 January, http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=173439 – Accessed 8 January 2009 – Attachment 18 41 Refugee Documentation Centre (Ireland) 2010, „Information on the Youth Communist League (YCL)‟, 5 February http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4b8fcb1e1c.pdf – Accessed 3 September 2010 – Attachment 21 42 „Abduction charge on YCL men‟ 2010, eKantipur, 10 May, http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/05/10/capital/abduction-charge-on-ycl-men/314039/# – Accessed 8 September 2010 – Attachment 20 43 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April, pp.13-14 http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010 – Attachment 15 44 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010 – Attachment 15 45 Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April, pp.13-14 http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010 – Attachment 15 46 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Nepal, 8 April, Section 1.d – Attachment 34 47 Human Rights Watch 2010, „Nepal: Investigate Maoists‟ Role in Killing US Denied Visa for Senior Maoist Politician‟, HRW website, 1 July http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/01/nepal-investigate-maoists-role-killing – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 35 48 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Nepal, 8 April, Section 1.a, 1.b – Attachment 34

Page 8 of 13 in Chitwan. The police have also issued an arrest warrant for senior Maoist leader Kali Bahadur Kham, for his role in the robbery of three Chinese businessmen in Kathmandu.49

According to AFP, police have far greater success solving abductions in Kathmandu.50 Police are claiming that they are making inroads into reducing the numbers of kidnappings and arresting members of gangs associated with abductions in the Terai. In July 2010, police claimed to have shot dead three kidnappers from the Nepal Ganatantrik Yuwa Tiger‟s Group – Marxist in Fattepur in .51

Another problem regarding police protection is common fear of harm if families or individuals pursed police investigations into crimes perpetrated by Maoists and others, particularly crimes committed during the Maoist insurgency. In January 2010, the International Crisis Group reported that people who have campaigned for the authorities to investigate crimes committed by both the Maoists and the security forces have “faced serious harassment and threats of retaliation.”52

A final issue regarding police protection or investigations is the fact that many regions of Nepal have little or no police presence. In a 2009 survey it was found that only 54 percent of Nepalis had a police post in their locality. In some regions, such as the mid-western and far western regions of Nepal, 58 percent and 83 percent of survey respondents reported that they had no police post in their communities. Most respondents without a police presence in their communities stated that they rely on posts in neighbouring villages for security, seek help from village security committees, or have no security arrangements at all.53

7. Would a person with this profile be able to escape harm by relocating to another part of Nepal? Would she be able to survive financially in another area without family support?

No sources were located that provide information on the feasibility of relocation of young woman from Myagdi who is a member of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), who assisted them in his election campaign for the RPP, and has refused to join Maoist parties or militias. More generally, relocation from remote regions to other parts of Nepal, particularly to the Kathmandu valley, is both feasible and common. According to the Association UK website, most members of the Chhantyal community of Myagdi have migrated to Kathmandu Valley.54

The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) reported that in 2010 up to 50,000 people remain in the Kathmandu Valley, having been displaced by conflict. The IDMC states that “[s]ome people who had fled the conflict had managed to integrate and find jobs, but others, including in particular internally displaced children and women, were struggling to

49 US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Nepal, 8 April, Section 1.a – Attachment 34 50 „Spate of kidnappings shocks Nepal‟ 2009, The Daily Star, source: AFP, 26 June http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=94198 – Accessed 20 July 2010 – Attachment 36 51 „Three alleged kidnappers shot dead in Banke‟ 2010, Nepal News.com, 6 July http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/7359-three-alleged-kidnappers-shot-dead-in- banke.html – Accessed 20 July 2010 – Attachment 37 52 International Crisis Group 2010, Nepal: Peace and Justice, Asia Report N°184, 14 January, p.17 – Attachment 38 53 Interdisciplinary Analysts and Saferworld 2009, On track for improved security? A survey tracking changing perceptions of public safety, security and justice provision in Nepal, April, p.iii-iv – Attachment 39 54 „Home‟ 2009, Chhantyal Association UK http://www.chhantyalassociation.co.uk/ – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 40

Page 9 of 13 find proper accommodation or access basic services. They were also exposed to trafficking, sexual exploitation, discrimination and child labour.”55

In a separate report, the IDMC states that displaced persons from rural Nepal who flee to cities and towns usually leave their only assets, such as a home and land, and therefore have few means by which to pay for accommodation and food. Furthermore, as farmers, they “often lack skills required by urban employers and are forced to do menial low-paid and labour-intensive jobs.”56

Attachments

1. Central Bureau of Statistics 2001, „Table 1: Number of households, Population in the households for Village Development Committee‟, in National Report , Kathmandu http://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/National%20Report%202001/VDC.pdf – Accessed 8 September 2010.

2. „The Chantyal Language & People‟ (undated), University of Wisconsin https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/noonan/www/Chantyal.html – Accessed 4 May 2011.

3. „About RPP‟ (undated), Rashtriya Prajatantra Party website http://www.rppnepal.com/channels/aboutus.htm – Accessed 17 July 2007.

4. „EC declares PR results; Maoists bag 100 seats, NC 73 and UML 70‟ 2008, Nepal News, 25 April http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/apr/apr25/news08.php – Accessed 15 November 2010. (CISNET Nepal CX253386)

5. Banks, A. et al. 2010, „Nepal‟, Political Handbook of the World, CQ Press, Washington http://library.cqpress.com/phw/document.php?id=phw2010_Nepal&type=toc&num=5 – Accessed 3 May 2011.

6. International Crisis Group 2011, Nepal: Identity Politics and Federalism, Crisis Group Asia Report N°199, 13 January.

7. „RPP, RJP expand committee for unification‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 7 April http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullTodays.php?headline=RPP%2C+RJP+expand+com mittee+for+unification&NewsID=237685 – Accessed 14 April 2011. (CISNET Nepal CX262755)

8. „RPP-sacked Rana nominated RPP-N vice chair‟ 2010, Kathmandu Post, 25 November http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/11/25/top-story/rpp-sacked-rana-nominated-rpp-n-vice- chair/325590/ – Accessed 4 May 2011,

9. „„Royalist‟ parties warn against extension‟ 2010, Kathmandu Post, 16 April http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/04/16/Nation/Royalist-parties-warn- against-extension/207269/ – Accessed 14 April 2011. (CISNET Nepal CX262750)

55 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 2011, „Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2010 – Nepal‟ , UNHCR Refworld, 23 March http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4d932e1ac.html – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 41 56 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 2010, Nepal: Failed implementation of IDP Policy leaves many unassisted, UNHCR Refworld, 28 January, p.14 http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4b61a32f2.html – Accessed 3 May 2011 – Attachment 42

Page 10 of 13 10. International Crisis Group 2010, Nepal’s Political Rites of Passage, Asia Report N°194, 29 September.

11. „Maoists declare two more autonomous states in Nepal‟ 2009, BBC Monitoring Service, source: Nepalnews.com, 13 December. (CISNET Nepal CX237810)

12. „Dahal courts Madhesi leaders‟ 2010, Nepal News.com, 20 July http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/7724-dahal-courts- madhesi-leaders.html – Accessed 21 July 2010.

13. „Govt nominates new DDC chiefs‟ 2009, The Kathmandu Post, 9 January http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/03/05/Features/A-heliocentric-point- of-view/5855/ – Accessed 4 May 2011.

14. OCHA Nepal 2008, „NEPAL: CA Election 2008 under FPTP – Elected Candidate by Political Party‟, 22 April.

15. Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010.

16. Paudel, D. 2010, „Local Administration impose curfew in Myagdi‟, MyRepublica.com, 13 February, http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=15094# – Accessed 6 September 2010.

17. „Young Communist League‟ 2010, South Asia Terror Portal http://www.unmin.org.np/?d=activities&p=activity_detail&aid=22 – Accessed 6 September 2010.

18. „YC pledges to implement pact‟ 2009, eKantipur, 3 January, http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=173439 – Accessed 8 January 2009.

19. The Carter Center 2011, „Clashes Between Political Party Youth Wings Have Decreased But YCL And UML Youth Force Continue To Seek Financial Gain‟, 28 February.

20. „Abduction charge on YCL men‟ 2010, eKantipur, 10 May, http://www.ekantipur.com/2010/05/10/capital/abduction-charge-on-ycl-men/314039/# – Accessed 8 September 2010.

21. Refugee Documentation Centre (Ireland) 2010, „Information on the Youth Communist League (YCL)‟, 5 February http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/4b8fcb1e1c.pdf – Accessed 3 September 2010.

22. Untitled, South Asia Media Net, 2009, reprinted from Himalaya Times, 24 March http://www.southasianmedia.net/Archive_full.cfm?nid=567246 – Accessed 7 September 2010.

23. „Villagers beat up Maoists‟ 2007, Kantipur online, 3 September http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?nid=121311 – Accessed 11 September 2007.

24. Haviland, C. 2004, „Police bear brunt in Nepal‟s war‟, BBC News, 13 September http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3645754.stm – Accessed 11 September 2007.

Page 11 of 13 25. „Nepal – Reported Security Incidents Involving VDC and DDC Staff, Period covered 1 January – 31 July 2010‟ 2010, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, http://www.un.org.np/reports/maps/OCHA/2010/2010-08-05- VDC_Secretary_Jan-July_A4_11082010_v02.pdf – Accessed 8 September 2010.

26. Prasad, M. 2010, „Maoist mine blast kills 5 cops‟, Indian Express.com, 17 July http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoist-mine-blast-kills-5-cops/647832/ – Accessed 8 September 2010.

27. „UN concerned about threats to VDC secys‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 7 August, http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=UN+concerned+about+threats +to+VDC+secys+&NewsID=249180# – Accessed 7 September 2010.

28. „Myagdi VDC secys back to business‟ 2010, The Himalayan Times, 29 July http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/rssReference.php?headline=Myagdi+VDC+secys+bac k+to+business&NewsID=248178 – Accessed 7 September 2010.

29. Human Rights Watch 2007, Children in the Ranks: The Maoists’ use of Child Soldiers in Nepal, February, vol.19, no.2 http://hrw.org/reports/2007/nepal0207/ – Accessed 13 September 2007.

30. „Maoists abduct students, teachers in western Nepal district‟ 2005, BBC Monitoring South Asia, source: Rajdhani, 19 November. (FACTIVA)

31. Levett, C. 2005 „Treading carefully‟, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/treading-carefully/2005/01/07/1104832305686.html# – Accessed 13 September 2007.

32. Rajamohan, P.G. 2004, „Arming the Children‟ cited in „Weekly Assessments & Briefings‟ South Asia Intelligence Review, vol.2, no.35, 15 March http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/sair/Archives/2_35.htm – Accessed 13 September 2007.

33. Freedom House 2010, Countries at the Crossroads 2010 – Nepal, UNHCR REFWORLD, 7 April http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4be3c8ce0.html – Accessed 19 July 2010.

34. „PM vows action against killers‟ 2010, Himalayan News Service, 10 July http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/rssReference.php?headline=PM+vows+action+against +killers&NewsID=249340 – Accessed 12 July 2010. (CISNET Nepal CX246060)

35. US Department of State 2011, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2010 – Nepal, 8 April.

36. Human Rights Watch 2010, „Nepal: Investigate Maoists‟ Role in Killing US Denied Visa for Senior Maoist Politician‟, HRW website, 1 July http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/01/nepal-investigate-maoists-role-killing – Accessed 3 May 2011.

37. „Spate of kidnappings shocks Nepal‟ 2009, The Daily Star, source: AFP, 26 June http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=94198 – Accessed 20 July 2010.

38. „Three alleged kidnappers shot dead in Banke‟ 2010, Nepal News.com, 6 July http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/7359-three-alleged- kidnappers-shot-dead-in-banke.html – Accessed 20 July 2010.

Page 12 of 13 39. International Crisis Group 2010, Nepal: Peace and Justice, Asia Report N°184, 14 January.

40. Interdisciplinary Analysts and Saferworld 2009, On track for improved security? A survey tracking changing perceptions of public safety, security and justice provision in Nepal, April.

41. „Home‟ 2009, Chhantyal Association UK http://www.chhantyalassociation.co.uk/ – Accessed 3 May 2011.

42. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 2011, „Internal Displacement: Global Overview of Trends and Developments in 2010 – Nepal‟ , UNHCR Refworld, 23 March http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4d932e1ac.html – Accessed 3 May 2011.

43. Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre 2010, Nepal: Failed implementation of IDP Policy leaves many unassisted, UNHCR Refworld, 28 January http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4b61a32f2.html – Accessed 3 May 2011.

44. Election Commission (Nepal) 2008, „Constituent Assembly Election 2064 List of Winning Candidates‟, EC website http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php?selectedMenu=Winning%2 0Candidates(English)&rand=1304565738 – Accessed 5 May 2011.

45. Election Commission (Nepal) 2008, „Constituent Assembly Election 2064 Constituency Wise Top Three Leading Candidates‟, EC website http://www.election.gov.np/reports/CAResults/reportBody.php?selectedMenu=Constituenc y%20Wise%20Top%203%20Candidate(English)&rand=1304568299 – Accessed 5 May 2011.

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