A bomb that keeps exploding to heal the wounds of conflict

10-year-old Pawan Rai was injured in the blast on August 13. Home Minister Ramesh Akhtar has confirmed that the grenade incident occurred during the armed conflict. The next day, on the 14th International Day of Disappeared Victims, a lamp was lit at Maitighar Mandal in Kathmandu. There was also the presence of the victims who were injured due to left-behind bombs during the conflict. Such incidents and references show that the potential risk of explosives used during the conflict remains. While it is possible to claim that the peace process is over in speeches and papers as long as this situation remains, it is important for political parties and stakeholders to understand the truth that in reality it will never be over. Most

explosions happen to children because children naturally play with interest in new things. On May 18, 2077, four children died in a similar incident in Triveni Rural Municipality of Rolpa. Similarly, on October 12, 2079, two girls died in Tilagufa municipality of Kalikot. Ramchandra Vick of Pokhara lost both his legs when the Bewaris bomb exploded. It was after the peace agreement that Anand Pandey of Calikot Tilagufa lost both his eyes in a bomb blast while working in the fields. Sunita Ghale, who lost a leg in the Lamjung army raid, is also now in the network of victims. Surendra Bahadur Khatri of Myagdi, who lost both his hands in an explosion while chasing a goat in the forest, is leading for justice by forming a network of disabled people who have suffered from a similar incident.

During the Maoist-led armed conflict, both the rebels and the government used lethal weapons to the best of their abilities. It has been established that 17,000 people died related to and unrelated to the conflict. Many were injured. With the formal end of the conflict on November 5, 2063, with a comprehensive peace agreement, it was expected that there would be no deaths in Anahak. However, if even for 18 years, ordinary citizens, especially young children, continue to die due to the conflict, then the state apparatus in the management of explosives and weapons should be regarded as a joke. The government, political parties and all stakeholders should discuss this.

Citizens gladly accepted the then warring parties in the belief that no one should suffer death. In point number 5.1.4 of the detailed peace agreement dated 5th of November 2063, 'Both parties (Nepal government and CPN Maoists) shall inform each other within 30 days of mapping and storage of mines and landmines used during the war and assist each other in deactivating and eliminating them within 60 days. will do' was said. Due to this agreement, which was signed by the then seven-party government of Nepal and the Maoists, the conflict was legally ended. But neither side seemed to be sincere and committed to deactivating and eliminating the explosives. At the same time, there is no sense of responsibility towards such incidents that happen from time to time. For them, some of the sensitive points of the detailed peace agreement have become like 'the river has been washed away, the stick has been forgotten'.

In the latest bill approved by the President, provision has been made for necessary relief and assistance to persons or families who have died, injured and disabled due to the explosion of explosives during the armed conflict since then. This aspect of the Act needs to be implemented honestly and liberally. It is also necessary to sincerely implement the achievements of the struggle of the network of victims of conflict-time weapons explosions after the end of the conflict. Similarly, in order to end the series of explosions of explosive materials during the conflict, it is necessary to carry out a campaign to deactivate such materials.

For this, the accountability of the security personnel of the state side, like the rebels at the time, is expected, because in the meantime there are examples of civilians being injured in the explosion of weapons laid by the state side. Therefore, we must be serious about the fact that young children are dying year after year as a result of all the efforts made to win the war at that time. Schools and families should remind children frequently not to touch or play with strange-looking objects and to notify parents and security personnel if they see such objects.