"The long wait for justice" (by NayanTara Gurung Kakshapati)

Every few months, Purnimaya visits the family home in Dapcha that is now locked up as she lives in Kathmandu with her children. After her husband was taken and killed by the Maoists, Purnimaya began campaigning for truth and justice, which Maoist party cadres responded to with threats. Purnimaya says she would like to return to live in the village some day.
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Every few months, Purnimaya visits the family home in Dapcha that is now locked up as she lives in Kathmandu with her children. After her husband was taken and killed by the Maoists, Purnimaya began campaigning for truth and justice, which Maoist party cadres responded to with threats. Purnimaya says she would like to return to live in the village some day.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:52:09 +0000

Purnimaya married Arjun Lama at the young age of 13. They had built a happy life for themselves and their six children. Arjun had been progressing as a building contractor in Kathmandu. People in the village respected him. He had been elected president of the local village school on the day he was abducted. It has never been known exactly why they killed him.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:54:06 +0000

Purnimaya married Arjun Lama at the young age of 13. They had built a happy life for themselves and their six children. Arjun had been progressing as a building contractor in Kathmandu. People in the village respected him. He had been elected president of the local village school on the day he was abducted. It has never been known exactly why they killed him.
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Purnimaya goes to visit the newly appointed Chief District Officer of Kavre district to introduce herself and brief him of her husband's pending case. Earlier on the same day, she visited the office of the Kavre District Superintendent of Police (DSP) to request him to expedite paperwork related to the exhumation of her husband's body. The DSP dismissed the request, deferring it to other wing of the police. Purnimaya has spent five years going from one government office to another to seek justice.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:57:21 +0000

Purnimaya goes to visit the newly appointed Chief District Officer of Kavre district to introduce herself and brief him of her husband's pending case. Earlier on the same day, she visited the office of the Kavre District Superintendent of Police (DSP) to request him to expedite paperwork related to the exhumation of her husband's body. The DSP dismissed the request, deferring it to other wing of the police. Purnimaya has spent five years going from one government office to another to seek justice.
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Purnimaya struggles fights on, frequently visiting various human rights organizations. But, promises by political parties as part of the peace process have failed to be fulfilled. The establishment of a Truth & Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission of Inquiry have yet to be established despite constant campaigning by the families, local human rights NGOs and others internationally. The bills for both commissions were eventually presented before the CA in April 2010. Neither complied with international standards and both have yet to be returned to parliament to be passed

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:58:51 +0000

Purnimaya struggles fights on, frequently visiting various human rights organizations. But, promises by political parties as part of the peace process have failed to be fulfilled. The establishment of a Truth & Reconciliation Commission and Disappearance Commission of Inquiry have yet to be established despite constant campaigning by the families, local human rights NGOs and others internationally. The bills for both commissions were eventually presented before the CA in April 2010. Neither complied with international standards and both have yet to be returned to parliament to be passed
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Purnimaya and Arjun Lama's home in Dapcha, Kavre lies empty and damp now. Purnimaya and her children live in Kathmandu, fearing backlash by Maoist cadres in response to their campaign for truth and justice.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:59:39 +0000

Purnimaya and Arjun Lama's home in Dapcha, Kavre lies empty and damp now. Purnimaya and her children live in Kathmandu, fearing backlash by Maoist cadres in response to their campaign for truth and justice.
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Purnimaya fears that she will be absolutely alone if she moved back to the village. All her children are grown and either working or studying, too used to the city life in Kathmandu to want to come back to live in the village with her.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:09 +0000

Purnimaya fears that she will be absolutely alone if she moved back to the village. All her children are grown and either working or studying, too used to the city life in Kathmandu to want to come back to live in the village with her.
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With her husband now gone, Purnimaya has no hope of ever building a house in Kathmandu. With rising land prices she fears her children will never be able to own a home in the city in their lifetime either, thus severely curtailing their chances to have ownership over a stable urban life.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:34 +0000

With her husband now gone, Purnimaya has no hope of ever building a house in Kathmandu. With rising land prices she fears her children will never be able to own a home in the city in their lifetime either, thus severely curtailing their chances to have ownership over a stable urban life.
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Purnimaya prepares for her day. Most of her time now is occupied by visiting various human rights organizations. At times she fears the futility of her efforts for truth and justice. On days like those, Purnimaya stays home and feels like she has nothing to look forward to in life anymore, no plans, no dreams.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:58 +0000

Purnimaya prepares for her day. Most of her time now is occupied by visiting various human rights organizations. At times she fears the futility of her efforts for truth and justice. On days like those, Purnimaya stays home and feels like she has nothing to look forward to in life anymore, no plans, no dreams.
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Unable to find complete stability in the city, Purnimaya still harbors hopes of coming back to live in their village home in Dapcha. Before her husband was abducted, they had just bought wood to repair the ceiling. For five years, while Purnimaya has been engaged pursuing her husband's case, the wood has laid piled up, the ceiling repairs incomplete, and the house damp and molding.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:01:31 +0000

Unable to find complete stability in the city, Purnimaya still harbors hopes of coming back to live in their village home in Dapcha. Before her husband was abducted, they had just bought wood to repair the ceiling. For five years, while Purnimaya has been engaged pursuing her husband's case, the wood has laid piled up, the ceiling repairs incomplete, and the house damp and molding.
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Arjun Lama's coat still hangs on the rafters of their home in Dapcha. A few other possessions of his are also scattered around the house. "He was wearing his expensive watch on the day they took him", Purnimaya remembers, "A local Maoist comrade walks around wearing that watch now. I have seen it."

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:02:17 +0000

Arjun Lama's coat still hangs on the rafters of their home in Dapcha. A few other possessions of his are also scattered around the house. "He was wearing his expensive watch on the day they took him", Purnimaya remembers, "A local Maoist comrade walks around wearing that watch now. I have seen it."
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Purnimaya's daughter and grand daughter take a nap. The children are all grown up now, and are moving on with their lives. It gives Punimaya hope for the future, but also a sense of isolation. At times she feels very alone in her fight for her husband's killing.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:02:54 +0000

Purnimaya's daughter and grand daughter take a nap. The children are all grown up now, and are moving on with their lives. It gives Punimaya hope for the future, but also a sense of isolation. At times she feels very alone in her fight for her husband's killing.
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“I have no courage, no ideas. When you live happily, you have courage and vision. But now I have no courage for anything. No matter whom we approachnobody listens to us. How much longer must we live with this uncertainty?” says Purnimaya.

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:03:26 +0000

“I have no courage, no ideas. When you live happily, you have courage and vision. But now I have no courage for anything. No matter whom we approachnobody listens to us. How much longer must we live with this uncertainty?” says Purnimaya.
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