Protesting workers held in Nepal

By Bhagirath Yogi
BBC News, Kathmandu

Police in Nepal briefly detained nearly 100 former bonded labourers who were protesting in front of the main government secretariat in Kathmandu.

Known as kamaiyas, the workers are unhappy at a lack of jobs since bonded labour was abolished six years ago.

Police said the kamaiyas had organised a protest in a restricted area. They were released after several hours.

Former kamaiyas have been organising similar protest programmes in different parts of the country.

They have been demanding land and employment opportunities from the government.

When the practice of bonded labour was abolished exactly six years ago, the then government promised to provide land and employment to all the former kamaiyas who belong mainly to the ethnic Tharu community.

Non-governmental organisations working on behalf of former kamaiyas say, out of more than 35,000 kamaiyas who were declared free, nearly 19,000 are yet to get land or other benefits from the government.

The kamaiya system was practiced mainly in four districts in western Nepal until a few years ago. Reports say some freed kamaiyas have returned to their former landlords to work on their land upon failing to get alternative employment.