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Commentary: Political battle lines drawn
KATHMANDU, NOV 04 - The deep polarisation between Maoists and non-Maoist parties has put the peace process in peril. There is now serious danger that the constitution making process will continue to remain on the backburner and the CA will fail to draft the new constitution by the May deadline.
This growing public perception—that the parties can’t work together and write the constitution—will further erode their legitimacy and may lead to crisis in governance, say analysts.
With the Maoists’ nationwide protests launched this week, the battle lines have been even more clearly drawn. On Monday, the Maoists in Dhankuta besieged the municipal office, where they “appointed” the mayor and deputy mayor. Pushpa Dhungana, the local Maoist leader who made the “appointments”, declared that the move was based on the “people’s constitution” under the Limbuwan Autonomous State.
A day later, a deeply alarmed Home Ministry convened an emergency meeting in Kathmandu atten-ded by heads of security agencies from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and Nepal Army. The government concluded that the Maoist action had breached the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and reiterated what its Spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications had said a day before: the government could go so far as to mobilise the Army if the situation so demanded. On Nov. 9, the Maoists are scheduled to announce autonomous regions, as part of their ongoing protest, which will be yet another breach of the CPA, according to non-Maoist parties.
If anything, both the Maoist move in Dhankuta and the government response thereafter in Kathmandu have only increased the levels of mutual suspicion.
The turn of events since the Maoists started their nationwide protests on Nov. 1 is, however, only the manifestation of the political leadership’s—both Maoists and non-Maoists—failure to find a common ground on some core issues without external coercion: On the fundamental principles for the new constitution (on models of federalism, for example); on issues of integration and rehabilitation of PLA combatants; and on the president’s move in May reinstating then-Army chief Rookmangud Katawal who was sacked by the Maoist government.
Increasingly, the political leadership continues to be seen by the public as having failed in its core responsibi-lity of drafting the constitution by May next year. The race to stay in office, much in display in the 1990s, has restarted. Increasingly, Nepalis are publicly expressing frustration over non-delivery by CA members, each of whom is paid a monthly salary of close to Rs. 50,000. There have been su-ggestions that the CA members should receive a revised paycheck each month depending on their attendance.
“All the parties have abandoned commitment to value-based politics,” says analyst Lokraj Baral. “Unless there is consensus on minimum issues, history will repeat itself.” He attributes Nepal’s failure since the 1950s to institutionalise democracy and relapse into renewed conflicts to political expediency.
Nepal places army on alert for Maoist protests
(AFP) – 16 hours ago
KATHMANDU — Nepal's army and police have been placed on high alert, a government minister said Tuesday, after the opposition Maoist party announced plans to blockade the capital and shut down the main airport.
Finance Minister Surendra Pandey said the Maoists' plans were in breach of the 2006 peace agreement signed by the former guerrillas, who have held regular protests in Nepal since their government fell in May.
"The government has placed all the security agencies on high alert in view of the protests," said Pandey.
"The Maoists have violated the spirit of the comprehensive peace accord by announcing plans to blockade the Kathmandu Valley and shut down the airport. This is not a democratic way to press for their demands."
The Maoists, who fought a 10-year civil war against the state before winning landmark elections in 2008, last week announced a fortnight of nationwide protests aimed at destabilising the new coalition government.
They have vowed to bring Kathmandu to a standstill on November 10 by shutting the country's only international airport during the peak tourist season and blocking all roads into the capital.
They are calling for the president to apologise for blocking Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal's attempt to sack the head of the army, a move they say was unconstitutional.
Representatives from the United States, the European Union and Russia on Tuesday met Dahal and urged him to call off the protests, which they said could escalate tensions in Nepal and harm the economy.
Maoist spokesman Dinanath Sharma denied the protests were in breach of the peace agreement, which prohibits the "spread of social disharmony in any manner, including acts of incitement and instigation."
"We have the right to organise peaceful protests. We have been forced into this because the government is not listening to our demands," he told AFP.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...ITmJyUXTGsxvrw
‘Maoist stir breach of CPA’
The govt now officially states that the Maoist protest movement is in breach of the peace accords. The army is on high alert. Violence is increasing across the country. Nepal needs our solidarity.
KATHMANDU, NOV 04 - A high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday concluded that the ongoing Maoist agitation breached the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and directed national security agencies to remain on high alert to maintain law and order across the country.
The government concluded thus at the end of a four-hour-long mee-ting chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Tuesday, a day after UCPN (Maoist) took control of Dhankuta Municipality. The municipality seizure is against party policy, Dahal told reporters, but Baburam Bhattarai said the seizure was only symbolic.
All members of the Council of Ministers, Chiefs of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, National Investigation Department and officials of the security cell of the Home Ministry participated in the meeting that assessed the Maoist agitation.
The government also decided to inform the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) that the ongoing Maoist protest violated the CPA.
“We have directed the heads of security agencies, including the Army, to remain alert to respond to the Maoist agitation and maintain law and order in the country,” go-vernment Spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Shanker Pokharel told reporters. The government is determined to ensure law and order with the help of the police force. The Army will not be mobilised unless the CPA is challenged and the protest turns violent, Pokharel said.
The meeting concluded that the Maoist move of capturing Dhankuta municipality and the protest programme related to blockade of Kathmandu Valley and Tribhuvan International Airport and re-establishment of parallel structures across the nation violates the CPA. It also concluded that the programme to declare autonomous provinces on Nov. 9 bypasses the “jurisdiction of the Constituent Assembly to decide on state restructuring.”
Home Minister Bhim Rawal said the government is committed to abide by the CPA and is capable of maintaining the law and order situation. “We will only think of alternative measures within the frame of the constitution and law, if the Maoists go against the CPA,” he added. In the meeting, Prime Minister Nepal is learnt to have instructed officials not to provoke demonstrating Maoists but take “strict” measures to prevent violation of law.
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathman...650/index.html
Maoists will fight back if government oppression continues: Sharma Wednesday, 04 November 2009 10:38
A senior UCPN (Maoist) leader has accused the government of trying to suppress the nationwide agitation waged by the Maoists to uphold 'civilian supremacy', warning that if that continues, the Maoists will be forced to fight back.
UCPN (Maoist) politburo member Janardhan Sharma (File photo)
UCPN (Maoist) politburo member Janardhan Sharma made the remark a day after the government put all the security agencies, including Nepal Army, in high alert concluding that the Maoists have breached the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) by starting their nationwide protests from Sunday.
Speaking at a gathering of party activists in Khalanga of Salyan Wednesday, Sharma said that the Maoists would not be afraid of threats and forewarnings coming from the 'loser' government.
The Maoists call the current government of being formed by "losers", as Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala including other ministers in the cabinet had lost from their respective constituencies during the Constituent Assembly elections.
Sharma, who also served as Peace and Reconstruction Minister during the previous Maoist led government, further claimed that the Maoists have been organizing their "peaceful protests" by remaining under the CPA and have not violated it as the government is saying.
At the gathering, Sharma also directed the party activists to intensify the movement in the district so as to make it more effective.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has also been saying that the party will retaliate if the government tries to suppress their peaceful agitation. nepalnews.com
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index....es-sharma.html
Maoists rename Birendranagar Municipality REPUBLICA
SURKHET, Nov 3: The CPN-Maoist has renamed Birendranagar Municipality as Surkhet Municipality. The municipality has been named under the party´s program to picket the local bodies.
The municipality, on the other hand, has said that the Maoist announcement is illegal as the proposal to change its name is still under cabinet consideration.
Strikes paralyse eastern districts Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:19
Normal life in eastern districts has been badly affected due to bandhs (shutdown strikes) called by the Unified CPN (Maoist) and other groups on Thursday.
The Unified CPN (Maoist) called indefinite shut down in Dhankuta, Taplegunj, Ilam, Panchthhar and Terhathum districts today demanding proper compensation to the families of its activists who were recently killed in Taplejung and action against those found involved in their murder. The former rebels also demanded that the two deceased activists be declared as martyrs.
The main market areas, factories, private offices and educational institutions have been closed in the affected districts and vehicles have opted to stay off the roads in the districts due to fear of reprisals from the protestors.
Transportation has also been direly affected in the Mechi-Koshi highway due to the strike with buses and vehicles stuck in a long queues and hundreds of passengers stranded not knowing when the strike will be lifted and they will be able to reach to their destination.
Meanwhile, Itahari remains closed for the second consecutive day on Thursday due to the general strike called by local residents demanding that the proposed Eastern Regional Stadium be built in the town.
The main Market areas, industries and educational institutions have remained closed since yesterday while transportation has come to a grinding halt.
Transportation along the East-West and Koshi highway around Itahari has also been halted.
On Wednesday, demonstrators obstructed traffic by placing hurdles like rocks, bamboo and timbers on the roads. They also played football and cricket on the roads. A clash between the police and the demonstrators ensued after police tried to remove the obstacles to open the highway. Almost a dozen demonstrators were injured in the clashes.
Residents of Dharan, Inaruwa and Jhumka have also demanded the stadium for eastern region be constructed in their towns. nepalnews.com
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index....districts.html
Violence is increasing. Unkown assailants attempt to murder a Maoist activist. The army's on high alert. Repression is visibly increasing.
Maoist shot at in Dang REPUBLICA
DANG, Nov 3: Gammar Chand Rokka “Prithvi”, a local Maoist in western Dang was shot in his house on Monday night.
Two unidentified men fired four rounds of bullets at Rokka after dragging him out of his house, the police said. He has been hit on his chest, hand and stomach.
Investigation into the incident is on, the police said.
Rokka is currently undergoing treatment at Nepalgunj hospital.
Published on 2009-11-03 22:57:00
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/in...&news_id=11426
A Tale of Two Parties
The UCPN(M) has expressed full support for the CPI(Maoist). They have also revealed that leaders from both the parties have interacted recently. Earlier they had denounced the repression of Indian Maoists.
http://telegraphnepal.com/news_det.p...ee5134714a4ef9
http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/n...ian-naxals.htm
The Indian bourgeois press had accused the UCPN(M) of sending material help to their Indian counterparts in late October. Seems like the accusations weren't baseless after all!
The Nepalis have denied that the meeting ever took place, of course. It's good to see some proof that the links are still there, but in reality the UCPN (M( never broke off ties with the Naxalites, it just had to be a bit more circumspect about its support for them.
News reports from day four are just trickling in atm.
Maoists picket DAOs across the country Wednesday, 04 November 2009 11:55
Main opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) has picketed the district administration offices (DAOs) across the country as part of its second phase protest programme on Wednesday.
Maoist cadres gathered in front of the DAOs of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in the Kathmandu valley and elsewhere outside the capital from early morning, blocking the office gates to prevent the employees from entering inside. The party plans to halt all works in DAO for today and tomorrow.
The Maoists cadres gathered at the DAO gates amuse themselves with dances and songs. They also chanted anti-government slogans. The protests are scheduled to continue till office hours.
There was huge presence of security men at the Kathmandu DAO in Babarmahal in view of the possibility of untoward incidents during the protest.
However, there were no reports of violence during the protest until 11:45 am.
On Monday, the party had picketed the offices of village development committees and municipalities. nepalnews.com
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index....e-country.html
Maoists picket DAOs REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Nov 4: Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) picketed the District Administration Offices across the nation on Wednesday.
As a part of the their protest program to establish ’civilian supremacy’, the Maoists did not allowed officials and citizens from entering the offices. The DAO disruption will continue until Thursday afternoon.
The Maoist cadres obstructed the Kathmandu DAO and disrupted traffic at Babaar Mahal.
In Nuwakot, the Maoists clashed with police and Radhika Tamang, the chair of the Joint People’s Movement Committee Nuwakot, was injured in the event. Police clashed with the protester at Bidur after the Maoists tried to enter the main entrance at 10 a.m.
Chief District Officer Govinda Mani Bhurtel and 17 government employees had entered the office at 8:15 a.m.
Likewise in Sunsari, the Maoist cadres and the police clashed in Inaruwa although early reports say that the security have not used force.
Unified CPN (Maoist) Constituent Assembly member and valley in-charge of the Young Communist League Chandra Bahadur Thapa 'Sagar' dancing in front of the Kathmandu District Administration office during their sit in protest programme, Wednesday, Nov 04 09.
Maoist CA members and revolutionary citizens gherao govt offices
Police menace the protest, revolutionaries chant slogans
Nepali protests are AWESOME
Maoist supporters picketing the District Administrative Offices on day 4
Revolutionary flags loom over the police
The state forces are getting more violent against the protesting revolutionary workers. Spread the news of what's happening through Facebook, your group's website and wherever else possible.
Maoists call 2 day DAO gherao
Last Updated : 2009-11-04 1:31 AM
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KATHMANDU: UCPN-Maoist have called a two-day gherao programme in the district administration offices throughout the nation on Wednesday.
According to a source the ghrerao programme is scheduled during office hours.
They have been staging sit in protests in front of the main gates of the offices and disrupting the daily programme of the offices.
According to UCPN-Maoist, central leaders and CA members are participating in the sit in protests.
Protesters have organised cultural programmes in front of the offices to stop the employees from entering.
The Kathmandu District Administration Office Singha Durbar has been gheraoed from the Babarmahal side and the Singha Durbar side by labourers and sister oganisations of UCPN-Maoist respectively.
Transportation in the areas has been affected due to the gherao programme.
On the very first day they had staged a torch rally on Sunday and on the second day they had organised a gherao programme in the VDCs and Metropolitan offices as a part of the protests on Monday.
Earlier Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had directed heads of the four security institutions - Nepal Army, Armed Police, Nepal Police and National Investigation Department to remain on high alert and to formulate a strategy on the Maoists protests in a meet on Tuesday.
The government has deployed heavy security in the sensitive areas of the agitations as a precaution to prevent violence.
Meanwhile, in Inaruwa, 18 Maoist workers were injured when the police attacked them while they were staging a protest. Four of them sustained injuries to the head while others were injured on their arms and legs.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...o&NewsID=44343
Maoist supporters outside the Kathmandu DAO on day 4
NA to curb violent protests: DPM
Last Updated : 2009-11-04 6:05 AM
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Bijay Kumar Gachhadar
THT Online
KATHMANDU: The government would be compelled to mobilise the Nepal Army to curb the protest programmes of UCPN-Maoist if they turned violent, warned Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhadar in a programme in the capital on Wednesday. He claimed that the government had been cautioned about violent protest programmes of UCPN-Maoist through its reliable sources. He described the 12-point pact between the then government and Maoists as a job done in a rush as it lacked future strategies. He claimed that the present coalition government would complete the task of drafting the new constitution.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...M&NewsID=44413
Gachchhadar warns of army deployment Wednesday, 04 November 2009 17:22
Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar has warned that the government would mobilise the army to crush the Maoist protest if they turn violent.
Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar (File photo)
Speaking at the Reporters Club on Wednesday, Gachchhadar claimed that government had received enough information that the Maoists were planning violent protests to pull down the current coalition government.
Informing that the government has asked all the security forces to stay alert, Gachchhadar said Nepal Army might be deployed to keep the situation under control.
He said the 12-point agreement between the Maoists and the then seven parties was signed in haste. Gachchhadar, who is chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) said statements such as army integration must be removed from the peace agreement.
He also claimed that efforts were being made to involve the Upendra Yadav-led Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, which has warned of a protest movement in Terai, in the current government. nepalnews.com
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index....eployment.html
Maoist chairman claims his party will in power soon Wednesday, 04 November 2009 19:39
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has claimed that his party will be in power very soon.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Daha (File photo)
Speaking to reporters at Bhandrapur airport in Jhapa Wednesday, Dahal said the Unified CPN (Maoist) was going to come to power either through dialogue or as the result of the ongoing protest movement.
The Maoist strongman further said the talks with the parties and the protest programmes would go simultaneously until a solution to the current stalemate comes out.
Saying that the protests for 'civilian supremacy' will be fully under the control of the party, Dahal accused the government of creating propaganda that the Maoist protests were going to be violent and that maximum force might be applied to contain them.
Dahal arrived in Jhapa on his way to Ilam to attend a programme there on Thursday. He is staying at a hotel in Bhadrapur with tight security, according to reports. nepalnews.com
http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index....ower-soon.html
Bhattarai: We want to write constitution from within CA REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Nov 5: Senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai has clarified that a revolt is not his party´s agenda for now and it is committed to writing the constitution from within the Constituent Assembly.
He said taking up arms once again to force the Maoist agenda would only invite foreign intervention in Nepal and that would make this country another Afghanistan. "We are very aware of regional geopolitics and we will not let Nepal take the Afghan road," he said.
- Revolt is not our agenda for now
- If we take up arms again Nepal will become Afghanistan
- Keeping Nepali Congress out of government after the election was a major mistake
- India should be guided by enlightened interest so that we don´t go to war
- We may unilaterally announce concessions
Talking to a group of editors from major media houses this afternoon, Dr Bhattarai said, "Let me tell you that there may be confusion about our intentions and we also may not have been able to clarify our positions in the past but our roadmap is to write the constitution from within the CA."
He said the confusion among the public about his party´s intentions has arisen due to conflicting views within the Maoist party and also because of the "dogmatic understanding of Marxism and revolution" among senior party leaders.
He said the party will "very soon" make its position clear on the issue and may also announce "unilateral steps" to end the current deadlock if they fail to strike a deal with other parties. "But we hope that all the parties will reach an agreement and we don´t have to move unilaterally." He, however, refused to divulge what that unilateral move would be and when will it come.
He was of the view that writing the constitution on time will need cooperation of all the parties and "that´s why we have been emphasizing the need to form a national government, and as a major party in the constituent assembly we have a legitimate claim to lead such a government." But he was also of the view that the issue of "civilian supremacy" will have to be addressed somehow for the formation of a national government. He hinted that the Maoists would be more flexible in finding a way out over this issue.
He said he was aware of the pressing deadline for writing the constitution but argued that if there was an agreement among the parties they could amend the constitution to give the CA another six months or a year for the task.
Leaving NC out of government was a mistake
Dr Bhattarai said his party has realized that leaving the Nepali Congress, the second largest party in the constituent assembly, out of the government after the CA election was the major mistake. "The political misunderstanding created after that has eventually led us to this mess."
India must be guided by enlightened self-interest
Dr Bhattarai expressed hope that India would eventually be guided by enlightened self-interest which is that Nepal´s Maoists don´t go to war. "With the Indian Maoists already fighting a war I don´t think India wants to open up another front in Nepal." Asked when his party chairman, Puspha Kamal Dahal, was visiting India, he said the date hasn´t been fixed yet.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/in...&news_id=11476
DAOs’ turn to face Maoists’ protest music
Last Updated : 2009-11-04 1:48 PM
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ITAHARI/NUWAKOT: Sporadic clashes broke out between the agitating Unified-CPN-Maoist cadres and the police across the nation today. At least 28 people were hurt in Sunsari and Nuwakot districts in course of the Maoists’ day-long picketing at the District Administration Offices. On November 1, the Maoists launched their second phase of the agitation to restore ‘civilian supremacy’ in the country.
Inaruwa, the district headquarters of Sunsari, was the epicentre of a pitched battle. Trouble started when the Maoist cadres, who were picketing at the main gate of the DAO, tried to barge into the office. Nineteen Maoist supporters and five police personnel were injured in
intense brick batting.
The Maoists alleged that the police charged batons on them. Kedar Guragain ‘Ratna’, assistant in-charge, UCPN-M, Sunsari, and Dilip Neupane of APF were seriously injured. The duo is undergoing treatment in Dharan. Maoist lawmakers Kiran Rai and Bishwojit Tharu also sustained minor injuries. The area in and around the DAO remained tense for
better part of the day.
A similar incident was reported from Nuwakot. “Two persons were injured in the melee,” said Govinda Singh Thakuri, an inspector.
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/ful...c&NewsID=44617
