The military police, returning from a patrol, in a street of Khalanga, county town of the district of Rukum, cradle - along with Rolpa – for the Maoist rebellion. Across a total population of 5000 people, the town would number close to a thousand soldiers. This community is one of the three bastions still largely detained and protected by the governmental forces. The rest of the district’s territory is controlled by Maoist.
The exactions committed by these military members upon civilians are legion, even more numerous – according to the Men’s Rights NGOs – than the Maoist abuse. Furthermore, the military omnipresence surrounding Khalanga is primarily a fear factor, for the populations of the neighbouring villages.
November - December 2005 - Rukum - Nepal.
© Pierre-Yves GINET