A government task force looking at forest destruction and landlessness has expressed concern over the rate of forest destruction in the wake of political changes in Nepal. It has also recommended strong measures.
Forest security committees — composed of representatives from political parties, community leaders and local officials in 18 of 25 districts — have been formed to stop immediately the massive destruction of forests.
The task force, constituted by the new government last September, has recommended 150 steps Including those related to landless settlers estimated at two million. The task force is headed by Drone Prasad Acharya, a former member of Nepal's version of parliament who has leftist sympathies.
Nepal s forests cover 37 per cent of the country. But most of It Is degraded. A hefty 2.7 per cent annual Increase in population has exerted tremendous pressure to convert forest land for agriculture.
Although the rate of deforestation is disputed, the problem of landless settlers encroaching on forest land is a recurrent and sensitive political Issue. Successive governments have been unable to tackle the problem.
Mr. Acharya submitted his report to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai on February 8. Two days later, police opened fire on demon-
Landless Peasantry Threatens Forests
strati ng forest settlers in the southwestern township of Sunwal. killing three and injuring 24 others.
Government officials said the police resorted to firing after settlers obstructing the region's main road started brickbatting the police. Some officials and 15 policemen were also injured in the scuf-fle.
The Nepal Sukumbashi Sewa Sangh, an organisation of landless settlers has launched movements nationwide since January 30 to press its 16-point demand asking author! ties for their settlement.
The organisation held demonstrations In Kathmandu and elsewhere to protest the firing. A delegation of peasants met Prime Minister Bhattaral to brief him on the problem.
"It is unfortunate that neither the government, nor the Nepali Congress, nor the communists are taking any interest in our problems." said Lok Bahadur Basnet, a peasant activist who had also met the prime minister.
He demanded an independent inquiry into the incident, legal action against those in volved. financial assistance to the bereaved families, and free medical treatment to those Injured.
"We may start fresh agitation if our problems continue to be Ignored." threatened the organisation In a press not.
The firing is an embarrassment for the communists who share the government with the centrist Nepali Congress Party
The leader of the Marxist Leninist faction of commu nists, Jhal Nath Khanal. is also the minister in charge of for est and soil conservation.
Mr. Khanal had warned the demonstrating landless peas ants last February 4 that the government would take "strict action" against those felling trees without any authorisation and those smuggling timbers and encroaching upon forests.
He also authorised the se curity personnel to use the "ultimate force . in view of the situation on hand, against those who try to forcibly free the convicts arrested by the personnel and seize timber or other forest products from them."
That Is nowhere near to solving the problem of landless settlers tn forest land Mr Acharya — the head of the forestry task force — said in an Interview that he visited 23 districts where deforestation had decreased after the advent of democracy and this was due to the commitment of major political parties to nature conservation.
However, the size of landless settlers has multiplied by leaps and bounds in just the previous year. For example. 2.500 settlers have cleared the forest and settled there In the northwest district of Surkhet.
In the Manjhudi and Kandra forest areas In Bardtya district near Surkhet. 66.000 people have encroached upon the for est.
— Depthnews Asia.