Badri Khanal, Nepal

I recall the years when democracy prevailed in my country, Nepal. It was an era when SARWANAM theater group traveled to every nook and corner of the country staging drama which advocated for democracy and human rights.

The Panchayat system of politics and single party autocratic rule was in place in Nepal. The King was the supreme leader, placed above the country's constitution, and he nominated his well wishers to run the state affairs. Political parties were banned and the authoritarian regime did not tolerate people expressing pro-democracy views. Under these circumstances, a small group of students from Tribhuvan University decided to use theater to raise awareness and advocate for democracy. Speaking in favour of human rights was designated a crime against the state and so the political activists worked 'underground'. To dodge punishment, the group emphasised that drama was a means of entertainment.

However, stage drama was expensive and limited to the urban elite. Recognising that its advocacy for democracy should reach the people at large, SARWANAM for the first time in Nepal started street theater. Thus, started SARWANAM’s journey for democracy and human rights: a project which has reached the busy streets of Kathmandu, the muddy roads of remote villages and the open fields of rural Nepal.

But the journey was not an easy one. Before each daily production, SARWANAM had to send the script to the Zonal Chief Office. Despite the censorship, SARWANAM members were able to convey their messages through gestures and satirical expressions. When their activities were reported to local administration offices, problems began to arise and some actors were even imprisoned.

Ironically the actions of the authorities only served to raise morale and increase motivation amongst the actors. When the police detained actors, substitute actors stepped in. In 1986, irritated by SARWANAM's persistence, the authorities banned the group from appearing on state-owned Radio Nepal and Nepal Television.

Despite the State's resistance, SARWANAM continued staging drama and earned recognition from the highest echelons of the administrative and political leadership to the lowest sections of the society. In 1990, the Panchayat regime was overthrown by the Popular People's Movement, and a multiparty democracy was established. SARWANAM shifted its focus solely to human rights. Each year, a nationwide drama festival on human rights was organized together with Human Rights and Peace Society (HURPES) and Amnesty International – Nepal. In 1999, when SARWANAM went on tour (staging shows in 40 of the 75 districts of Nepal), Maoists threatened to kill its actors, myself included. The Maoists accused SARWANAM of trying to give the wrong impression about their peaceful revolution. The death threats forced SARWANAM to abandon the tour.

There are several reasons to target and ban SARWANAM. In particular, the intelligentsia, civil society and general public recognize the important contribution of SARWANAM and the ability of its message to motivate others. Moreover, the government administration has always been unhappy with SARWANAM as it exposes the wrongdoings of the state machinery regarding human rights and democratic norms.

Since 1992, SARWANAM has staged almost twenty productions written by prominent human right activist, Mr Krishna Pahari. However, since the royal takeover on 1 February 2005, during which the king sacked the government and assumed power himself, SARWANAM has not been allowed to operate outside the capital city.

The royal government has passed a new decree to tighten and curb the functioning of NGOs. This move has threatened the very existence of several grassroots organizations. Similar restrictions by Maoists have prevented NGOs from running programmes and campaigns at the village level.

Despite ongoing threats and restrictions, SARWANAM is organizing a nationwide drama tour beginning November 2005. The tour will focus on raising morale among those affected by the recent conflict. We know there are threats from the Maoists. The totalitarian government is bound to be equally unhappy. This will be difficult journey. We know it. But still we have decided to go on tour, even if that means putting our lives at stake. We take pride in our efforts in favour of democracy and human rights. Let me add here, your good wishes and voices will give an additional boost to our endeavour. Your humane voices and support will create more noise than all the guns put together.