Press Releases

6 June 2018

Thirteen Years of Badarmude Incident, issue of justice remains the same

The incident of Badarmude has completed 13th years today. Thirteen years ago, during the armed conflict, former Maoist had detonated the ambush in a passenger’s bus at Badarmude Khola of Kalyanpur VDC in Madi, Chitwan. Post incident, many questions have been raised regarding the delivery of justice to conflict victims including victims of Badarmude through Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) and other political agreements. However 13 years have lapsed and victims are without justice and reparation.

During the armed conflict, 38 people including three security personnel were killed along with serious injuries to 72 people when Maoist cadres detonated ambush in a passenger bus with registration number Na1Kha3245 in a Badarmude Khola , a border between former Kalyanpur VDC-1 and 2 in 2005 June 5. Among the injured, four people died while undergoing treatment by increasing the number of death toll to 42. Other 10 injured are still under medication.

This incident was a serious violation of national and international human rights and Humanitarian law. But, neither the state nor the transitional justice mechanism has shown interest on publicizing the fact and delivering justice to the victim.

The important thing here to remember is, chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal of Maoist had released press statement immediately after the incident and publicly apologized regarding the incident stating that the facts will be publicized after investigation. Similarly, various agreements such as providing employment to the victim’s family, building memorial, providing treatment to the victims were made during the visit of Maoist Chair Prachanda in Chitwan in 2017 December 3. But, the Badarmude incident victim’s committee has been raising questions on the agreement made between Prachanda and some victims saying that their major demand is regarding the security of their lives and action against the guilt.

There is no alternative rather than the justice reconciliation especially, in such heinous crime during armed conflict. However, we feel that the political stand is getting weaker in such serious issue. We believe, if the perpetrator is getting immunity in political cover, the word such as peace, justice and good governance will only be appropriate for speech.

Subodh Raj Pyakurel

Chairperson