KATHMANDU, June 14: Conflict analysts studying impacts of small arms on Nepal´s peace process have concluded that Nepal is seriously suffering from proliferation of small arms. It is estimated that there are around 55,000 small arms across the country at present.
At a program jointly organized by International Action Network on Small Arms, SAPA-Nepal and IHRICON on the occasion of Week of Action Against Gun Violence in the capital on Sunday, conflict experts said proliferation of small arms started increasing ever since the Maoists launched the armed conflict in Nepal.
Widespread use of SALW (small arms and light weapons) by warring parties and distribution of arms to civilian militias and village defense committees by security forces in Nepal during the armed conflict encouraged arms traders and smugglers openly carrying out business from the porous Indo-Nepal border, they said.
They also said that illicit trade and use of small arms is not only intensifying the civil wars and armed conflicts in different parts of the world but also severely hindering the post-war reconciliation and reconstruction efforts in countries like Nepal, said Dr Bishnu Raj Upreti.
In his paper titled Impacts of Small Arms in the Peace Process of Nepal: Role and Responsibility of Policy Makers, Dr Upreti argued that effective undertaking of security sector restructuring and controlling illegal use of small arms and assurance of security to the people are preconditions for the success of the peace process in Nepal.
The Panel of Governmental Experts (PoGE) has defined small arms as revolvers and self-loading pistols; rifles and carbines; sub-machine-guns; assault rifles, and light machine-guns. Often, light weapons and ammunition and explosives are also considered small arms.
Small arms and domestic violence
Experts have also highlighted that use of small arms have direct bearing on the rise of domestic violence against women and minors. A survey carried out last year has revealed that six women were killed from small arms, 31 women injured, 13 children killed and 25 kids injured due to misuse of small arms in teh year. According to police data, 255 guns were recovered by the police during the year 2007-08.
The worst affected region, the study said, is Tarai where there is rampant presence of armed political and criminal groups. Between January and April, there had been an increase in the number of incidents of armed violence in the Tarai region with 62 per cent of violence involving use of small arms. Twenty-seven small arms-related violence is occurring in the hill areas and 11 per cent in Kathmandu valley. During this period, 148 cases of violence involving small arms use were reported in the Tarai region, 48 in the hilly areas, and 26 in Kathmandu.
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