This past week, a small meeting of families that have suffered disappearances of loved ones during Nepal’s armed conflict was held in Chitwan district. About 20 people from Nawalparasi and Rupandehi districts were in attendance to discuss the formation of a small committee to speak out for their rights. These families have tried to speak out and bring attention to their cause in the past, but no one has listened. JusticeMaker Ram Bhandari attended the meeting in an advisory role to answer questions and assist the families in the formation of this committee. The resulting body, called PGID (Pressure Group for the Investigation of Disappeared Citizens) Nawalparasi, will be part of a larger regional committee called PGID Western Region. This larger committee is in the last stages of formation and will hold its first meeting in October of this year. The regional committee will consist of Lamjung, Tanahu, Gorkha, Kaski, Syanja, Dhadhing, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Baglung, Parbat, Kapilvastu districts. District committees already exist for all of these districts except Baglung, Parbat and Kapilvastu. Meetings are set to establish district level committees for these three districts in September in preparation for the larger regional meeting in October. The plan for large regional committees of families that have suffered disappearances is part of Ram’s plan to unite families across the country to advocate for family’s rights and truth and justice. The shift in mentality throughout the course of this meeting was simply amazing. At the beginning people looked very distraught and by the end everyone was happy and smiling and excited that action is finally being taken and someone is finally paying attention to their cries for help.

PGID Meeting

Ram Kumar Bhandari

Ram Kumar Bhandari

Woman looks on

Forming a committee

Families of the disappeared