Land is Life stands in solidarity with the Indigenous Newar peoples and communities in Khokana and Bungamati in Nepal, as they struggle against the threat of displacement from their territories, livelihoods, and cultural and historical sites in the Kathmandu Valley, south of the Nepalese capital. The Newar people of Khokana are one of those still maintaining their distinct identity, cultures and traditions in Nepal.
Last April, affected communities and Indigenous rights groups had called on UNESCO, ILO and UN Nepal offices to take actions against the forced displacement of the Newar in Khokana and Bungamati due to Fast-Track highway and other projects. Communities in Khokana and adjoining Bungamati have been protesting against the construction of the Fast-Track highway by the Nepalese army, but also the extensive developments for the new so called ´smart city´ full of modern facilities like the Outer Ring Road and other planned infrastructure projects, as they fear half a dozen projects will displace entire communities from the the area and the government has confirmed that there will be no compensation for the land affected by the project.
Community leaders have submitted countless complaints (including 23 demands to the government) and organized various demonstrations that have been responded to with police repression, as local and national authorities have failed to effectively address communities’ demands.
On July 3rd, Indigenous Newar farmers in Khokana, supported by human rights activists from across Kathmandu valley, organized a paddy plantation in the lands acquired for the Fast-Track expressway as a form of peaceful resistance. When the police tried to disperse them, it eventually led to clashes whereby over a dozen protestors and four police personnel were injured.
“We were over 1,000 people. We were carrying our musical instruments and were going to transplant paddy, but police interfered aggressively,” said Karma Maharjan, a resident, as local media reports. Leaders say they are not against development, but uprooting communities from their territories is unacceptable.
Land is Life condemns the repression of peaceful Indigenous-led demonstrations and calls on the Nepalese government to unequivocally respect the inalienable rights of Newar and all Indigenous peoples and their territories, to protect their cultural and historical sites, and to reconsider development projects that are negatively impacting all communities in the Kathmandu Valley. Land is Life’s Regional Coordinator has visited the impacted territories and we have partnered via our Indigenous-Led Grants to support grassroots organizations confronting this challenge, we invite you to join us.