Feeling slighted by the party, which ran bulldozers in the settlement she lives when in power, said that she and other women of the settlement are determined not to work for the party as they did in the past. [break]
"We supported them in every movement. We pelted stones for their cause, we carried their flags, burned tires and blocked roads without questioning," she said, adding, "We also endured police baton and boots. A lot of our friends have still been facing consequences."
Tamang, who was staunch supporter of the party, used to believe that she would not have to leave the settlement, if the party won. Leaders had also assured them that they would get land ownership certificates after which they would not have to leave the place. "We erected shacks on the river bank as per their instructions," she said. "To bring the Maoist party to power, we worked day and night, reached door to door to seek vote for Maoist candidates."
Tamang and other people of the settlement were very excited when the party secured majority in the election. But instead of getting permanently settled, the Baburam Bhattarai-led government sent bulldozers and Armed Police Force (APF).
Over 250 squatter homes were demolished some 15 months ago. Around 1,000 people living in the settlement had become homeless with nowhere to go and forced to live in open sky.
Tamang said that leaders and their cadres visited the settlement frequently earlier to seek assistance, but this time no one has come to asking for their support. "No one has visited the settlement to understand their problems since the demolition drive," Tamang said.
Bhattarai had met the squatters and promised food and shelter to them after his government came under severe criticism. He assured them not to worry and provided Rs 15,000 as immediate relief. He had told them that the government would shift them to a planned permanent resettlement.
"Either we will give you land and low interest loans to build house or we ourselves will build home for you," he had promised at the time. But he has not show any concern to fulfill his promise, nor has he again visited the settlement, the squatters complained.
"We have heard that leaders live in big bungalows and use luxury cars," she added.
Tamang was blind supporter of Maoist, who served the party in the capacity of whole timer for seven years since 2001 to 2008. She said that she was influenced by the encouraging speech of the Maoist leaders, who used to talk about the rights of poor and working class people. “I was convinced by their speech and left home to join the party," she said, adding, "I believed that party would bring happiness in the lives of people like me."
Tamang feels that she was used by the party and now regrets her decision to join the "people´s war" risking her life. "My cousin sister sacrificed her life in the revolution. I spent seven years as a whole timer,” she added.
Likewise, Meena Khadka, 38, of the same settlement said that the trauma given by Bhattarai-led government cannot be expressed in words. "Only the people who suffered this kind of situation can understand," she said, adding, "Security personnel fired teargas, rubber bullets at us. Scores of women and children were arrested."
Khadka said that she lost all the property in the demolition drive. Several families of the settlement could not even remove their belongings which got buried in the debris.
She complained that none of the parties spoke against the government´s injustice and barbaric acts upon them. "I came to realize that we are no one to them. Their cheap slogans are meant just to catch our sentiments," she added.
Januka Pokhrel, another squatter, said that they were forced to live in the open sky during the whole monsoon. "I think they are ashamed for their guilt and feared to face us," she said. Pokhrel said that she would support the party that is really serious toward addressing their problems. "We have nothing to do with their political affairs. We will support the party that is committed to create permanent settlements for us," she added. Pokhrel, however, said that not a single party has approached them yet.
Niru KC, another slum dweller, worried about the future of her children. A primary school inside the settlement, with over 150 students, was also demolished. "They have been deprived of their studies since," she complained.
She wished for the squatter-friendly constitution through the new CA election. "We are being deprived of basic amenities like drinking water, toilet, health care services, electricity and others," She said, adding, "I wish political parties come to us and listen to our problems and ensure our rights in the new constitution."
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