REBEL WOMEN WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED: NWC

February 7, 2003 – (Kathmandu Post) Women Maoist cadres were sexually harassed and exploited by their male comrades, according to a study conducted by the National Women’s Commission (NWC).

Taking reference of a study recently conducted by a fact-finding team of the NWC, Dr Pokhrel claimed that Maoist women were sexually exploited during the insurgency.

The fact-finding was formed to probe into the cases related with sexual exploitation of rebel women by their male colleagues.

Pokhrel said her team discovered that two women rebels gave birth to babies in caves, after being sexually exploited by their colleagues.

A NWC team returned here after visiting many places in Rolpa, Pyuthan, Jumla, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts in the mid and far-western regions recently.

"Two mothers are still in caves in Dadeldhura district," she said, adding that they were not in a position to return home, fearing social ignominy. She, however, did not disclose their identity and the place they are currently living in. Two others, who are under government detention, also said they were sexually exploited by their male counterparts time and again.

"Up to five or six male rebels had established physical relations with us repeatedly," Pokharel quoted the women as saying. She met them in one of the prisons in Rapti zone. She said that the victims were afraid of going back home, even after their release from the detention.

The NWC chairperson told The Kathmandu Post that the commission began investigation on the status of arrested Maoist women, in response to a request from Maoist women’s group, which claimed that the rebel women were raped in detention.

After visiting the prisons in the western Nepal, Dr Pokharel said that many women were framed on theft and robbery and they were not treated as prisoners of conscience. She said that the commission would plead with the government to treat them as prisoners of conscience.

The investigation team found that some of the women had joined the insurgency to revolt against social injustice. The team concluded that the women joined the rebellion because they had to sleep with landlords when they worked as bonded labourers in Terai, and they suffered from steal-marriage in western hills.

From: http://www.mahilaweb.org/footer/news/feb_03/kathmandu_post.htm