Nepal

Farewell to Firearms

A PICTORIAL REPORT

produced by children
in armed conflict in Nepal

Saying Goodbye to Guns...

This comic, "Farewell to Firearms" being presented herewith is not a creation of any artist who might have worked through months to produce it. The concept of the comic, illustrations, articulation, impression and the dialogues are the domino effect of the children's creative thinking. We have merely facilitated the production of this comic by providing technical and material backstopping. The ownership of the comic, therefore, entirely belongs to the children as their original creation.

Thousands of people have lost their lives due to the decade-long internal armed conflict in Nepal. The incidences of disappearance are ever on the increase. Thousands have been displaced. The loss of physical infrastructures is beyond statistical calculation. It is indeed unfortunate that the country, which is renowned as a refugee-hosting nation, should turn into a refugee producing state. Even if children's rights have been considered as non-derogable, the enduring armed conflict had put these rights in great peril. Attempts have been made through this comic to convey the message by children themselves to the parties in conflict about the pains, plights, sufferings, vulnerability and risks the children have to face as a result. This pictorial report with the message "Violence holds no future: Peace possesses no alternative" is brought to you through direct and meaningful participation of children from diverse backgrounds.

Fifty-seven children have relentlessly contributed to the production of this comic. This includes eight children from the shelter home of CWIN, two from CWISH, seven from Rukum, five from Concern-Nepal, three from Bara, three from Rautahat, three from Makwanpur, twelve from the district child clubs of Banke and shelter home run by Sahara, three from Research and Cooperation Organization of Kathmandu and eleven from different schools in Kathmandu and Lalitpur. Their experiences and aspirations have been truly reproduced in the form of a single story in this comic. We would request the readers to consider this book as a noble creation of young artists.

We would like to express our most heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all those children who worked very hard for twelve long days to prepare the manuscripts for this comic book. We would also take this opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation to our co-producer - Watch List. Our thanks also goes to Mr. Ramesh Kumar Poudel who trained the children as an expert on the theme of the comic along with other contributors namely, Mr. Badri Prasad Siwakoti, Ms. Sushma Chhetri, the art trainers and the Him Rights family. Similarly, we are thankful to all those institutions, organizations, clubs and schools who helped in securing children's participation in this endeavor.

We believe this comic illustrates the plight of the children affected by the armed conflict. We hope that this will also serve as an eye opener to both the parties involved in the armed conflict. The underlying core message of this publication is farewell to arms and armed conflict. Let us respect this virtuous message. Let us be responsive. Let us create a society fit for children.

"Children are zones of peace!
Let us endorse the ideal "children's first"!!
Say "Yes" for children!!!"

Dr. Gopal Krishna Siwakoti
General Secretary

Anjana Shakya
Chairperson

For more information about this comic contact the producer, HimRights (Himalayan Human Rights Monitors), at www.himrights.org.