News: Small arms big threat to security in Nepal
Kathmandu, June 18: The use of small arms and other portable lethal weapons and casualties after-effects has been reported to be alarmingly high in eastern Tarai districts bordering India.
In the last 17 months, the use of small arms and light weapons resulted in 685 incidents in the country. Of the 969 casualties, 250 people lost their lives, according to Informal Service Sector (Insec), a local organisation that has been recording incidents related to the use of small arms and lethal weapons, reports Kantipur online.
The use of small arms and other lethal weapons is found to be rampant in Tarai, which shares open border with the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, from where these weapons are traded across the border, say experts. Tarai alone accounts for more than 50 percent of incidents triggered by the use of portable and small arms. Kathmandu’s case is no satisfactory.
Among the development regions, Eastern Development Region accounted for the most number of cases (332) related to the use of small arms, while Far-Western Development region is responsible for the least number of cases (320).
Violence, as a result of personal disputes, is mainly blamed for sparking incidents triggered by the use of small arms. Use of khukuri and knives is found to be most frequent, while firearms like pistols are found commonly used.
Insec says more than 60 percent of the victims of gun violence and other arms are financially unable to pay for their treatment. More worrying is the fact that nearly one fifth of the perpetrators of small arms violence are identified as female, it says.
During a workshop organised on Wednesday by Nepal Working Group on Small Arms and other portable lethal Weapons (SApLW) to mark 2011 IANSA Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, members of civil society, representatives from UN organisations and the government expressed serious concerns over the rise of use of small arms.
Speaking at the programme, Tajiro Kimura, director of UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and Pacific and co-founder and member of SApLW, expressed concerns over the rising use of illicit weapons in Nepal. “Use of gun violence is preventable. There are solid international frameworks of political and legal regulations which will be instrumental to reduce gun violence in Nepal.”
Insec chief Subodh Pyakurel blamed ill equipped security agencies and inefficient laws for the rise in the use of illegal arms. “The use of small arms during and after the 10-year-long conflict is to blame for more than 95 percent cases of violence. There are still thousands of socket bombs and other weapons across the nation.” UN says small arms account for 350,000-500,000 deaths a year and injure over one million people in the world.
The event was organised by SApLW, an open ended network of representatives from government offices, civil society and the UN with the slogan “Stop Violence through Arms.”
NOT A SMALL WONDER
• Use of small arms rampant in Tarai districts bordering India
• Eastern Development Region’s record found worst
• One fifth of the perpetrators of small arms violence are female
• Small arms account for up to 500,000 deaths a year in the world
In the last 17 months, the use of small arms and light weapons resulted in 685 incidents in the country. Of the 969 casualties, 250 people lost their lives, according to Informal Service Sector (Insec), a local organisation that has been recording incidents related to the use of small arms and lethal weapons, reports Kantipur online.
The use of small arms and other lethal weapons is found to be rampant in Tarai, which shares open border with the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, from where these weapons are traded across the border, say experts. Tarai alone accounts for more than 50 percent of incidents triggered by the use of portable and small arms. Kathmandu’s case is no satisfactory.
Among the development regions, Eastern Development Region accounted for the most number of cases (332) related to the use of small arms, while Far-Western Development region is responsible for the least number of cases (320).
Violence, as a result of personal disputes, is mainly blamed for sparking incidents triggered by the use of small arms. Use of khukuri and knives is found to be most frequent, while firearms like pistols are found commonly used.
Insec says more than 60 percent of the victims of gun violence and other arms are financially unable to pay for their treatment. More worrying is the fact that nearly one fifth of the perpetrators of small arms violence are identified as female, it says.
During a workshop organised on Wednesday by Nepal Working Group on Small Arms and other portable lethal Weapons (SApLW) to mark 2011 IANSA Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, members of civil society, representatives from UN organisations and the government expressed serious concerns over the rise of use of small arms.
Speaking at the programme, Tajiro Kimura, director of UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and Pacific and co-founder and member of SApLW, expressed concerns over the rising use of illicit weapons in Nepal. “Use of gun violence is preventable. There are solid international frameworks of political and legal regulations which will be instrumental to reduce gun violence in Nepal.”
Insec chief Subodh Pyakurel blamed ill equipped security agencies and inefficient laws for the rise in the use of illegal arms. “The use of small arms during and after the 10-year-long conflict is to blame for more than 95 percent cases of violence. There are still thousands of socket bombs and other weapons across the nation.” UN says small arms account for 350,000-500,000 deaths a year and injure over one million people in the world.
The event was organised by SApLW, an open ended network of representatives from government offices, civil society and the UN with the slogan “Stop Violence through Arms.”
NOT A SMALL WONDER
• Use of small arms rampant in Tarai districts bordering India
• Eastern Development Region’s record found worst
• One fifth of the perpetrators of small arms violence are female
• Small arms account for up to 500,000 deaths a year in the world
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