NEPAL: State-Wide Stir of Maoists Enters third Day: What Next? Update No. 223

NEPAL: State-Wide Stir of Maoists Enters third Day: What Next? Update No. 223

By Dr. S. Chandrasekharan

The state wide agitation of the Maoists with the ostensible objective of pulling down the Madhav Nepal led government is entering the third day with no immediate solution in sight.

With both sides digging in, there should be concern all round as to how the agitation will develop. Will it continue to be peaceful?

The first two days of agitation brought life to a stand still particularly in the capital Kathmandu and people had to rush to the grocery stores to collect their supplies when the agitators were good enough to give two hours in the evening for free movement. It was in effect a curfew imposed not by the government but by the agitators belonging to the UCPN (Maoist).

Barring a few stray incidents outside the capital, the agitation has so far been peaceful. But this cannot go on indefinitely and incidents of violence are bound to occur, judging from the seizure of explosives and other incendiary materials recovered from parts of the city.

With the government determined to maintain order at any cost and with the army already posted at vital installations, it is a question of time before the army is called in to quell the riots.

The agitators have unnecessarily provoked the army, by arresting three army men in civies who happened to be around on the ground that they were spying for the government. They were released subsequently. The Army had already issued a warning that in case of arrest they will mount an operation to rescue their personnel as it is a question of their “institutional reputation.”

Once the army is called, the dynamics of the whole situation will change and the seriousness of such a development is certainly known not only to the government but also to the Maoists.

One fall out from the agitation is that the state school board XII examination (plus two) had to be postponed indefinitely. In view of an unstable situation in Nepal, well to do and even not so well to do parents are planning to send their children to the boarding schools in India and in the process are selling everything to pay for their children’s education.

On the May day rally at Kathmandu which saw a sea of red of over 125000 persons, Prachanda addressed a big crowd at Khulla Manch. He urged the political parties to go ahead in forging a consensus and not to act against people’s mandate. He blamed the present government as illegal both on constitutional and political grounds. He did not see their own agitation as both illegal and unconstitutional as there are legal and constitutional means to bring a government down. Instead the party has taken to the streets to “topple” a lawfully constituted and elected government.

The same day, the 22 parties that formed the government met and asked the Prime Minister not to step down until the Maoists call of their strike. The Spokesman and the General Secretary of CPN ML- C.P. Mainali told the Press that the meeting decided on four points. 1. The government should not reach an agreement with one party alone. This will be against the spirit of the past pacts, constitution, Lok Tantra and Jana Andolan II. 2. Maoists should call off strike and find an “outlet” for holding talks with the government. 3. The government is committed to safeguard the life of the people. 4. The government cannot be a mute spectator of any force that tries to create violence and anarchy in the country.

The first day of the strike went off peacefully except for incidents of vandalism in Butwal and Biratnagar. There were clashes with the locals in Biratnagar. The second day that is 3^rd May saw more vandalism in Jhapa and other places. In Kailali, the Maoists forcibly closed the office of Human rights awareness and Social development. Motor bikes that used the road in defiance of the strike were seized at some places.

The Maoists have proved their strength and their ability to bring life to a standstill in the whole country. It is not a people’s movement and sooner than later people of all walks of life will get frustrated.

The Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, in trying to show that he is in charge, said that his party is willing for a “package deal” that will include the present incumbent stepping down. It is not clear whether he had any brief to make such a statement. But the Maoists who are desperate for a face-saving formula could grab it and look for a mutual satisfactory solution. Certainly they are wise enough not to throw away the dividend that has accrued from the people’s war to the CPA and the consequent people’s mandate in voting them as the largest party. Let good sense prevail!