Rolpa: Report from the Gam battlefield (May 2002)

His Majesty's government is ruling indistrict headquarters and the Maoist is ruling in villages in Maoist influenced areas such as Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot and Salyan. Representatives of different parties have already left their villages and are residing at the district headquarters. Maoists have their own people's government and elected representatives in villages.

"Previously, we were tortured by the police and exploited by the feudals in the villages, but now, the police don't come here and we are feeling a great relief under the Maoist rule," say local people in villages where Maoists have claimed their own area.

However they are afraid of any possible attack by police which may destroy peaceful situation in their village. Police and army are present in district headquarters and trying to protect headquarters from any sudden attack by Maoists. In Libang, headquarters of Rolpa, Maoist terror is reflected in everybody's face. Libang alone is left in the government control. Almost all 52 VDCs are under the control of the Maoists.

From 6 pm to 7 am every night, nobody is allowed to come out from house. Police are seen patrolling the Libang Bazar area only. The District Court had about 400 cases each year in the past . Now, there are only about two dozen cases with the court due to the impact of the 'people's war'. It is heard about constitution of Maoists' own people's court in Salyan and Rukum districts. But there is obviously no people's court in Rolpa.

Maoist area begins after crossing Saattale river just 300 metres far away from Libang. Police and government officials say that one cannot easily cross the river. In the Libang side of the river, a group of police can be seen searching every baggage of people coming from across the river. Reporters who want to enter the Maoist controlled areas have to take permission from the area commanders. On the way Maoist check posts put forward plenty of questions regarding the purpose of the visit.

An area commander described the worsening situation of the country and expressed the view that as they held guns, easily they are not in a position to give up arms until and unless poverty and feudals are eliminated from the country. When enemies attack, the Maoists remember their beloved comrades who were killed by the enemy and they attack them strongly. The commander opinion is tough: "Any drama of dialogue will not be successful unless we eliminate the corrupt elements in the governance. After removal of the police post from the village, people have felt a great relief and peace is reinstated in the village. We are helping those people who are not able to cultivate their lands. We are constructing bridges and roads, from which people are pleased ".

The commander strongly denied sex exploitation of women insurgents and said that there are not enough rooms in villages. A group of about 25 insurgents stay in a room. "In such a situation, sex exploitation is impossible, although, if proposals come from the two sides, we will allow them to get married after studying the case," he informed. The commander also denied the recruiting of children and said, "although some socially exploited children come to us, we allow them to work in our organisation but not in our militant force".

At present, the Maoist insurgents are not facing encounters with the police and thus they are involved in development works in villages.Cooperative farming has been introduced in the villages. Maoists discard spies and government officials. Exception is that a government JTA and a postmaster are allowed to work there. Anybody can launch any programme in Maoists' area but permission should be taken from the people's government. Maoists have constructed martyrs gate in many places of the district and also named treks on the name of Maoists' declared martyrs.