NEPAL: Blast victims seek government compensation
By UNION OF CATHOLIC ASIAN NEWS
KATHMANDU (UCAN) – Family members of those killed and injured in the Assumption Church bomb blast are still hoping for compensation promised by the government, which has been delayed.
Newly elected Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, during a visit to the church immediately after the blast, had promised compensation as soon as he had finalized his Cabinet.
That was delayed by political infighting and now, despite a Cabinet in place, the government is suggesting the victims could face more delays.
Home Ministry spokesperson Nabin Ghimire told UCA News on June 30 that “we are currently formulating a new set of norms regarding compensation in such cases and we will be able to look into all such cases only after the norms are finalized.”
The blast killed three people and injured 13 others.
Hira John, an uncle of Deepa Patrick, who died in the blast on May 23, told UCA News he hopes the government will make good on its promise.
“We aren’t expecting more from the church as it has been doing everything it can for the treatment of the injured,” said John, who is also the uncle of two injured Indian girls, Monica Simon and Moni Patrick.
Simon and Patrick underwent treatment for at least three weeks after the blast.
“Although the girls are out of hospital now, their wounds are yet to heal,” John said, adding they intend to seek further treatment in their hometown of Patna, in India’s Bihar state. “We are hoping that the government acts on its promise and gives us some kind of compensation,” he added.
Balan Joseph, 41, who lost his wife and daughter in the blast, said he felt it was the government’s “duty” to compensate the victims.
“Whatever the church has been doing is commendable and the love and concern it is showing is enough for me, but now it is the government’s duty to see to it that the victims are paid some damages,” he said.
Another of the injured, Sun Bahadur Tamang, 49, whose wife was seriously injured in the blast and remains in hospital in Kathmandu, agreed that “the church is already doing its bit by bearing the entire cost of treatment of the injured.”
“It is now the government’s turn to do its part,” he said, adding that “whatever the government can give us will at least be some relief for all of us.”
Father Robin Rai, parochial vicar at Assumption Church, said the church is “considering” coming up with a “support package” for the blast victims. However, he acknowledged that “we cannot give them much as the church has limited funds.”
He said the church has received donations from individuals and social organizations both from within and outside the country but that was insufficient to give the victims “good” compensation.
Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Court on June 29 denied bail to Sita Thapa Shrestha, the woman accused of planting the pressure cooker bomb inside the church.
“During proceedings on June 29, the court did not find any evidence that suggested that Shrestha did not commit the crime, while there was plenty of evidence that proved her involvement. As such the court could not grant her bail,” Bed Prasad Timilsina, an official at the Lalitpur District Court, told UCA News.
