Maoist excesses remain unchecked



Kantipur Report


KATHMANDU, Nov 23 - A day after the government and Maoist leadership on Tuesday signed the historic peace agreement in the capital, declaring an end to 11 years of bloodshed, Maoists have continued their excesses against the spirit of the accord. Maoists Wednesday threatened the CDO in Parbat, padlocked a school in Bara, clashed with Police in Chitwan and continued their "extortion" in Saptari district.
Maoists, police clash in Madi

In Chitwan, a clash occured between Maoists and police at the Madi Area Police Post on Wednesday.

Following agreement between the seven party alliance and Maoists, the police post was reinstated at Basantapur Bazaar. However, a group of Maoists led by Pitambar Poudel, Madi area in-charge of the Maoists Wednesday morning objected to the return of the police in the area without Maoist consent, according to police.

A dispute erupted when the Maoists came to the police office and started manhandling personnel, claimed Superintendent of Police Purna Singh Khadka. Six police posts have been restored in the interior parts of the district during the last two weeks.

2 passenger vehicles hijacked in capital

Maoist cadres, on Wednesday evening hijacked two passenger microbuses from the capital Wednesday evening.

Hemendra Sherchan, president of Basundhara Mirco Bus Entrepreneurs' Association (BMEA), said that about 15 Maoists cadres forcibly took away a passenger micro bus (Ba 1 Ja 9267) from Sahidgate this evening. He said that Maoists have also taken away another micro bus, registered Ba 1 Ja 8896, to their party's liaison office Kupondole the same evening.

Eyewitnesses said Maoists first stormed into the microbus near Sahidgate ordering passengers to get off the vehicle. "We are Maoists. Our party has asked us to take this vehicle and driver to the party office," a passenger on board the vehicle quoted Maoists cadres as saying.

Hari Nepal, field officer of BMEA, said people calling themselves members of the Maoist affiliated Sherpa Mukti Morcha had taken the vehicles to the Maoist liaison office Kupondole.

Adding that Maoists have released both the drivers later in the evening, Nepal said, "The vehicles are still in Maoist captivity."

Confirming the report, Sudeep Pathak, president of Human Rights Organization-Nepal (HURON) said he talked to Maoist central leader Hisila Yami regarding the incident. "I was given a cell number to contact. But the mobile was switched off and could not be reached," he told The Kathmandu Post late Wednesday evening.

"Our close monitoring has found that Maoists cadres had forcibly taken away the vehicles to Maoists liaison office Kupondole this evening," said Pathak, also an immediate past member of National Human Rights Commission. "Our main concern is that Maoists should abide by the peace agreement signed yesterday in both letter and spirit."

‘Road tax’ collected

In Saptari, Maoist cadres have continued collection road taxes. When their other comrades were preparing to go to cantonment sites elsewhere and the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) was already in place, Maoist cadres in Bhardaha of Saptari district, however, were busy collecting "road tax" from vehicles plying along the highway, Wednesday.

Local transportation entrepreneurs expressed concern over continued Maoist tax collection, as it contrasts with point five, sub-point 2.1 of the CPA, which was signed by CPN-Maoist leader Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Tuesday.

As per the agreed point, "collection of cash or kind and tax collection against one's wish and against the existing law shall not be allowed".

However, local bus entrepreneur Subas Thapa was surprised as rebels who had been collecting "taxes' earlier at their erected check post, again charged the vehicles on Wednesday too.

When asked, Amar, district secretary of the Maoists, said they would continue tax collection until their cadres go to the camp site.

School padlocked

Maoists padlocked National Primary school of Kabahi VDC indefinitely of Bara district on Tuesday. The action was taken as the school management had misused the money meant for scholarship to be provided to (dalits) (oppressed community) students, claimed Bhagwan Giri, the Maoist assistant area in-charge.

CDO threatened
In Parbat, Maoists in the district headquarters Kusma warned the chief district officer (CDO) of Parbat, Kamal Kant Regmi, not to stop "Maoists' contractors" from collecting tax on sand and stones in the area.

Maoists have been collecting tax on these goods for the last three months. These were major local income sources of the district development committee. A group of Maoist cadres led by "Saroj", Maoist district secretary, had arrived at the residence of CDO Regmi and warned him not to hinder Maoists in their work, according to eyewitnesses. "The Maoists who arrived at my residence in the evening used threatening language," said Regmi, adding, "I urged them not to dispute with me on the matter as that was not concerned with me." However, the Maoists claimed that they visited the CDO's residence to talk to him only after the CDO and the local development officer (LDO) threatened Maoists while the latter were collecting tax.



Posted on: 2006-11-22 21:33:38 (Server