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Nepal
in Crisis 2006: Human Rights
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Schools
caught in the conflict - NGO
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KATHMANDU,
3 Apr 2006 (IRIN)
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Many
of these children are at risk from the conflict as the rebels and army
have fewer qualms about attacking each other in and around places of learning
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| Parents,
teachers and NGOs in Nepal are gravely concerned about the rising number
of clashes between Maoist rebels and security forces in or near places
of learning.
Despite
commitments by both the state and the rebels to avoid schools, human rights
groups say they are being increasingly targeted. "Both the state and rebels
have to think of the children first as they are the most vulnerable in
such a violent situation," said activist Gauri Pradhan.
Fears
among parents intensified following an incident on 31 March when a rebel
bomb exploded at a school in Dailekh district - 400 km west of the capital
Kathmandu - leaving 12 students severely injured. |
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At
the same time, the army regularly ignores its commitment to protecting
schools, rights groups charge. Government forces often use school premises
as barracks and this is why the rebels bomb them, parents have pointed
out.
Security
forces have been known to fire from helicopters at school buildings while
pursuing Maoist rebels, who sometimes organise cultural events in school
compounds.
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Teachers have been especially targeted in the conflict, allegedly by both
rebels and the army. Narjit Basnet's hand was chopped off by Maoist rebels.
He still manages to teach the children at a community school.
On
27 March, the army opened fire on a secondary school in Sindupalchok district,
80 km northwest of the capital, during one such Maoist programme. Local
NGO, Human Rights Treaty Monitoring Coordination Committee (HRTMCC) said
that although no pupils were physically hurt, they were left severely traumatised
by the incident.
The
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) office in Nepal has been particularly
critical of what appears to be the deliberate targeting of schools by both
sides in the conflict. |
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"Bombing
and any other acts of violence on school premises are to be condemned.
Under international humanitarian law, parties to an armed conflict must
not target or endanger schools," said a statement by the children's organisation.
According
to a report by local child rights group, Child Workers in Nepal (CWIN),
around 400 children have lost their lives in the decade-long conflict.
Credit
IRIN 2006
Copyright
© UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006
[
This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]
Integrated
Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the UN Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
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