Butwal, Oct. 1 -- "Our sindoor (vermilion powder worn by married women as a symbol of marriage) was wiped out for the constitution, but we got nothing in return," laments Goma Bashyal, who lost her husband to the Maoist war. "The government has denied us justice. My husband wasn't even declared a martyr."

Her husband, Bhabishwor, was killed on April 24, 2001. He was 21 when he was killed. Goma was barely 18 then and pregnant with her son. "It makes me sad to tell my son what happened to his father," Goma said. "And I don't even have a war-victim identity card that would allow me to use state allowances set aside for war victims." Goma has spent countless days seeking justice, but the state has remained unresponsive, she says.

Janaki Ghi...