Iraq's 'Hell' Still Lures Workers

Iraq's 'Hell' Still Lures Workers

Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Aug 10 (IPS) - Many jobless Nepalis are still heading to Iraq to look for jobs, despite the recent spate of kidnappings and beheadings and a ban imposed by the government after the U.S. invasion of Baghdad last year.

''We have been told that they pay us three times more in Iraq than they pay in, say, Kuwait,'' Bishal Thapa told IPS as he waited for his turn standing in a crowd of youths seeking jobs in the Gulf through a recruiting agent.

''We should be fine there, because the security situation in Nepal is not any better either,'' said the 19-year-old youth, from Biratnagar district, who was referring to the Maoists' insurgency in the country.

The Maoists have been fighting since 1996 to abolish the monarchy and set up a communist republic in the world's only Hindu kingdom. The revolt has claimed more than 10,000 lives, scared away investors and tourists and threatened the stability of multi-party democracy set up in 1990.

For youths like Thapa, Nepal now offers little hope and tens of thousands of youths like him are literally fleeing, or preparing to flee, their homeland, looking for lucrative job offers either in the Middle East or East Asia.

<snip>

Meantime, labour recruiters in Kathmandu say over 17,000 Nepalis have already landed in Iraq, while 35,000 are waiting to get there.

More: http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=25012

TYY :(

NEPAL:

Circus Children Exploited for Sex and Entertainment

Surendra Phuyal

KATHMANDU, Jul 22 (IPS) - The recent rescue of 12 Nepali girls trapped in a circus in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh highlights the work of child rights activists in efforts to stop the abuse of children for public entertainment. But for many Nepali girls, the circus is still one of the few options out of extreme poverty.

''I love my family very much and they depend on my income,'' said Mana (not her real name) who sent her earnings back home to Nepal to support her family on a regular basis.

''Actually, I was able to marry off my younger sister with the money I earned in the circus,'' she told IPS.

Ironically, Mana is one of 12 Nepali girls rescued last month and subsequently repatriated from the Great Roman Circus, based in Karnailganj, in India's Uttar Pradesh state.

She worked for the circus for ten years, earning between 1,000 to 2,000 rupees (21 to 42 U.S. dollars) every month.

More: http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=24741

TYY:cry:

TYY:kick:

ITS IRAQ-NAM-- DEATH SHOWS NO FAVORITES


A place where Death rides a Pale Horse

Sometimes Death travels beyond the boundaries of the combat zone and wreaks havoc on mere
bystanders.

Death inflicts the ultimate penalty in no particular order.


The Innocent, The Guilty, The Careless and The Unlucky-- are all targets.