Nepal suffered through an armed conflict from 1996-2006. Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) launched “people’s war” during this period. There have been gross human rights violations and abuses in various parts of the country from both state and the insurgent. Several successive governments followed the policy to control the conflict by means of using force during this period. None of them were successful in resolving the armed conflict. The King took this situation as opportunity to come to the executive power. He dismissed democratic government and formed a new one with handpicked individuals.

The King often preached for the peace and democracy in the country in order to justify his bloodless coup to both Nepali people and international community. He further adopted a strategy to suppress the armed conflict through military means. He massively used army force which resulted gross human rights violation. Among several such abuses, extra judicial execution of Ms. Maina Sunar by the then Rolyal Nepal Army (RNA) was one of the crimes against humanity. The issue became a matter of hot debate at both national and international levels. There are many such crimes committed from both the State and non-state actors. This caused many people lost their lives, many were displaced, whereabouts of many are still unknown and other many people suffer from various types of atrocities.

Initiative to Make Cinema on Maina

Impunity is widespread. Those who committed inhuman acts and violated people’s human rights have not yet brought before the law. The perpetrators have been enjoying privilege in the changed political context. The victims of human rights violation have neither not got justice nor received reparation. We believe that the culture of impunity must be ended with due justice to the victims and their families.

The cine professionals have also been affected by the conflict one way or other. They want sustainable peace in the country for their professional growth and family wellbeing. Justice is prerequisite for the peace. Once the victims and their families are provided justice, they can contribute to the peace process in the long run. The peace is related with the punishment to the perpetrators. If they are given adequate punishment, no one will dare committing inhuman acts in the days to come.

After the people’s movement in April 2006 and signing comprehensive peace agreement between the government and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), the issue punishment to the culprits is sidelined. Cine professionals believe that this issue must be taken up without any delay to pave the path for sustainable peace and managing transition in the country. Like any other occupation, cine profession has social responsibility and can contribute in promoting and protecting people’s human rights to a great extent. The celebrities are the public personalities and reach to the heart and mind of millions of people. Thus, cine professionals would like to advocate for the justice to victims through taking appropriate action to the perpetrators.

Therefore, Cine Makers Pvt Ltd decided to raise the issue of conflict victims through a cinema. For this purpose, Ms. Maina Sunar’s story has been selected as this represents the cases of many other innocent people who lost their lives during the conflict. The purpose of this cinema is to build public opinion on the issue impunity and create pressure to the political actors to take initiatives as early as possible.