Hard Steps against Maoists

              In its lead news The Kathmandu Post (15 October 2003) reported Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa’s statement that the Government would not give any concessions to the Maoists in the name of peace talks in the future.  The PM’s statement came out as a reply for the frequent resentment at high ranking security levels over the release of more than a thousand Maoist rebels in the ebbing period of the second round of peace talks by the then government led by Lokendra Bahadur Chand.  The security forces complain that the political leadership had always given concessions to the Maoists in the pretext of ceasefire and talks.  Even before the beginning of the third round of peace talks three central committee members of the Communist party of Nepal (Maoist) were released from prison on 29 July 2003.  PM lauded the coordination of security forces in the capital and insisted for similar cooperation especially in the Terai region.   It opined that the assurance given by the PM for adequate financial assistance to security agencies would ‘optimistically solve the scarcity of resources for operations.’ 

          In leading news, the Government instructed Ministry of Home Affairs to step up and coordinate with other ministries in the preparation of a “Vital Installation Security Plan” of the country’s installations like telecommunications, electricity, and water reservoirs and key bridges. The immediate implementation of the Government’s ‘action plan’ would avert the Maoists new strategy of attacks on public installation to destabilize the administration.

Non-Resident Nepalis Conference

           The first ever Non-Resident Nepali (NRN) conference with the Government officials held on 11-14 October in Katmandu became lead news all over Nepal.  Nepal’s weekly magazine Spotlight (17-23 October 2003) in its cover story ‘NRN conference’ quoted “Nepalese from different walks of global life came together to make a joint commitment to help their motherland at a time of great need…  NRNs, who hitherto were known merely as a community that enjoyed gossiping about politics back home every time they gathered, organized a unique conference to discuss how they can help their motherland.”  Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani assured that the Government would make policies including 10-year visa, NRN identity card and other demands put forward in the meeting.  There was an anticipation of investment to this cash-strapped Himalayan kingdom along with knowledge, expertise and experience gathered by the Nepali community abroad.  It cited the Global Investor’s Forum held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat in India as an example to lure the resources from the non-Resident communities.  It appreciated the Government’s new initiatives at the concerns and demands of the NRN community to come together and improve the economic condition of the country. 

Maoists’ Abduction of British Army Officers

          The Katmandu Post (22 October 2003) editorial condemned the Maoists abduction of seven British Army officers including 3 British national, as ‘method to voice their demand deserves condemnation.’  The Maoists first foreigners’ abduction ‘will further erode their credibility in front of the Nepali people and the international community… also dilute the residual political character and content of the Maoist movement. If anything, this incident would put them alongside Kashmiri terrorists, who killed the American journalist Daniel Pearl.’  It said that this incident underscores the Maoist leadership’s intellectual brinkmanship and failed to appreciate the multi-track approach to the conflict.  It warns that these abductions ‘will scare away prospective foreign investors and tourists from Nepal and provoke the international community to review their approach towards the Maoists, pushing the rebels much closer to the list of ‘terrorists.’

          In an interview on October 27, the Maoists supreme leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said ‘we are sorry for what happened against the party policy… we will make the real facts public after necessary investigation.’ He assured ‘from policy level, we have been banning abduction or physical attack upon a foreign citizen, tourist or government employees.’

          Another Kathmandu Post (29 October 2003) editorial appreciated Prachanda’s public apology and subsequently raised doubts ‘whether the announcement is intended to put a cap on the hostile reactions generated by the party’s unruly actions, or has actually started taking into account the wrongdoing by its cadres.’ This will be clear only after the party makes its probe report public and punishes the guilty.  It quoted two incidents -assassination of Supreme Court Chief Justice and five others in 2001 and rape case of 49 year old lady by Maoist cadres- where Maoists had put in to probe never made public.  It expressed its doubts about the “renegade” elements independent activities and said ‘though such acts even when carried out on Maoist leadership’s approval could hardly be condoned.’