Impartiality
INSEC
started producing Nepal Human Rights year Book (HRYB) in 1992 and other related
documentation based on primary source of information gathered by its own
district representatives. The subsidiaries of yearly documentation of human
rights violations were Situation Report (Quarterly), web portal INSEConline,
updated database on human rights related cases and Human Rights Education Radio
Program, a weekly program which has nationwide coverage through local media and
state-run national broadcasting (Radio Nepal).
Expertise
on dealing
Local,
Regional and National recognition of our impartiality was the only asset which
helped us to intervene and to get engaged in saving precious lives of the
people during high voltage conflict of 1996 till 2005. Due to our local level
physical presence, impartial documentation and dissemination of cases including
lively contacts and dialogue with the people during the process of preparing
our documentation as Intervention Tool, we earned practice-based knowledge on
how to deal with different situation and actors.
Cooperation
and coordination with others
Our
documentation is widely used by local media, human rights advocates, national
and international formal and informal organizations and researchers for their
purpose. We are always open to collaborate and face the first risk. You can
find us as first signatory in group litigation at the court, petition to the
government and public appeal to violent groups.
We
are a must
During
Maoist insurgency, the conflicting parties needed our presence to expose
atrocities being inflicted upon them. Very simple methods we had acquired
during our engagement paid the value. If someone was abducted or arrested, we
were the first to be approached by the victim family and or the conflicting party.
INSEC was almost like a synonym to human rights. People sent public appeal to
establish INSEC offices in their villages when they actually meant was
establishment of a human rights organization. During conflict era, almost all
districts were deserted by national and international organizations including
those involved in development and service providing activities. We were the
only one with firm and effective presence in every district and regional
headquarters.
Salute
to human rights martyrs
We
lost our four comrades. They were murdered by the State, Maoists and notorious
criminals. Several threats of abductions and public notices calling us People's
Enemy and appealing the people to punish us were publicly issued by the Maoists
during and immediately after the conflict and even after the signing of the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 2006.
Home
grown experience and tactics
In
1996, the insurgency was an emergency and a sudden outburst. We did not have
any academic or professional expertise. But we explored the basics, based on
our own experience.
Yes-But
& Taking Risk for Truth
We
know that dialogue with insurgents and militarized security organization is
always cumbersome. But Nepal is lucky in the sense that all parties to the
conflict had repeated their commitment to uphold human rights principles.
Hence, instead of saying NO, we would choose YES-BUT theory while dealing with
them. Yes: accepting their limitation and difficult situation and BUT:
reminding their national and social responsibility on account of their duty to
protect people's fundamental rights and development.
We
encouraged the Maoists to issue public statement committing to IHL and engaged
with government to recall their constitutional commitment towards IHL.
Exemplary
case
In
remote village cluster of 7 villages in Mid-West region there was massive
violence caused by Maoists and government troops. We went to the village to
express our empathy and mourning of youths killed by conflicting parties. While
discussing with mothers, we decided to put banners in all entry points which
read -We want peace in our villages, strangers, please don't disturb us".
After knowing some Maoist commissars and fighters are coming that night I
decided to spend night there. Common question was formulated. When Maoists were
in the kitchen for food and mothers were ready to serve them, one lady posed a
very difficult question "Brother Comrades, I had to walk for hours to
fetch water so that my mother and grandmother could cook food for you. You have
destroyed all drinking water projects in our area".
Another
youth was courageous enough to add another query "Comrades, I know some
day you will stand for election and we will cast vote for you. You will be our
ministers. Then you will talk about development for people. But to know the
fact and rule the nation, one has to be educated. I am sorry to tell you that
you have destroyed our schools. I am sure; you would not find any educated and
reliable cadre from this village anymore". Comrades did not have answer.
They left in the mid-night instead of next afternoon. But the dialogue and
banner of that day was able to put them out of the villages. Most importantly,
there was no more killing either by Maoist or Security forces. Instead, we were
able to organize an informal dialogue between Security Commander and Maoist
Commander under one hatched roof to exchange the experience and story of
success.
Without
prior permission, we entered a military barrack to request release of illegally
detained person. We used to approach local radio to announce emergency public
notice about abduction and appeal for immediate release and respect of IHL.
Usually radio stations are closed by 10 or 11 p.m. But, upon our request, the
radio stations would reopen any moment and start airing the message regularly
to save precious lives.
After
the CPA, our door to door documentation of Victim Profile has been accommodated
by OHCHR's Nepal Conflict Report.
After
peace process
We
are engaged in several initiatives for security sector reform. We are still
actively engaged in documenting and disseminating human rights issues; sending
practical experience-based supplementary reports at UN. At the field level we
are hosting several Civil Society networks of Defenders, Media and Religious
Groups. Our primary focus is to bring security and public in dialogue. We
believe in evolving local strength to intervene at national politics.
Missing
Connect
Based
on my experience, the reason of mistrust is missing-connect of dialogue and
relationship. For general people Police are still synonymous to Lathi (Stick)
and Gun. In any case, people have empathy towards the sufferer. If Police could
internalize the value of YES-BUT, if they could be self-confident that they can
express the facts and if they are allowed and strengthened to function in
professional autonomy, most of the issues pertaining to Security Sector
confusion and anomalies could be resolved.
Here
the next lap begins.
Presentation
made at Seminar: Human Rights and Security Sector in Asia Pacific. Organized
by: Sydney University at Bangkok on September15-17, 2014.
