Note no. 216	18. 03. 2004
NEPAL: Bhojpur Incident-Maoists make a point: Update 42 by Dr. S.Chandrasekharan In the early hours of 3rd March, 2004 Maoists, over thousand in number attacked the camps of the security forces, administrative and communication buildings and the bank at Bhojpur, the headquarters of the Bhojpur district. This incident is the most serious one since the Maoists called off the cease fire on 24th August, 2003. Besides 32 security personnel being killed (both army and police), ten more have been taken prisoners of whom six have since been returned. The death toll of the Maoists has been placed between twelve and thirty-seven. It could be more than twelve but certainly less than thirty. Interestingly some of the dead bodies of the Maoists were that of women. The telephone tower, and the buildings of the District administrative office were completely destroyed, while those buildings housing the District Land revenue Office, Rashtriya Banijya Bank and some private houses were partially destroyed. Kamal Thapa, minister for Home, Information and Communications visited Bhojpur and assured the locals that communication links would be reestablished and the District Headquarters re constructed. His visit was followed by the visit of crown Prince Paras accompanied by the army chief on the 4th. There is no doubt that the attack by the Maoists has been very serious and had taken the government by surprise. Some of the points that need to be noted in this attack are- Bhojpur has been relatively free of Maoists activities earlier. In our update 6 dated 17th August, Bhojpur district has been shown under "ordinarily affected" districts of the state, compared to many other districts which were badly affected. That within three years, the Maoists could assemble a force of over a thousand to attack the Headquarters shows the growing strength of the Maoists and correspondingly weakening of the district administration in areas that were relatively free in the beginning of the year 2001. Most of the Maoist cadres who attacked Bhojpur have travelled all the way from western Nepal to eastern side over 450 kilometers in the rough terrain without being spotted by the intelligence. Two things show up. One, that the cadres have had support from people all the way and two, intelligence had failed. There are unconfirmed reports to say that the security forces had prior information about the impending attack and yet most of the heads of the security agencies were away on leave. This is a serious reflection on the state of the security forces and their ability in the present critical situation. For the past few months, the government has been announcing, that the Maoists are on the defensive and that they will not be able to mount massive attacks as they used to before. This is attributed to better strategy, preparedness, training and acquisition of new weapons. The Bhojpur incident has once again shown that the Maoists have not lost their ability to attack massively even district headquarters as they had done before and their strength had not diminished. The Bhojpur incident also goes to confirm that the Maoists problem cannot be seen as purely a law and order problem and that there could be no military solution. In our update 38, we sensed a new strategy of the Nepal government to go full steam against the Maoists while talking indefinitely at the same time to the political parties. It is clear that this strategy is not working. There is an urgent need for the political parties and the King to come together. In the interest of both monarchy and democracy both will have to make up. With the five major political parties agitating, another mock parliament session was conducted on the 4th of March with all the leaders addressing the session. It is not clear whether they are aware of the seriousness of the situation in the country side. With the government offices withdrawn to district headquarters, the Maoists are all over and have formed peoples committees at every level in the districts. The party leaders may not also be aware that many of their followers have joined the peoples committees for their own safety and self interest in the non urban areas. In a move to force the government officials, security personnel, representatives of municipal and district developed committees, the Maoists have declared a blockade for a fortnight in district headquarters of Narayani, Gandaki, Dhaulagiri, Lumbini and Gandaki zones. Reports coming from these places indicate that they do not allow even people to move about while all communications by road have also been brought to a standstill. This is a new kind of strategy being followed by the Maoists and the people in the region could face famine if the blockade continued. Another part of the strategy of the Maoists appears to be to create panic in the towns. Kathmandu is experiencing minor explosions almost everyday. Reports from places as far away Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Gorkha and Syangja indicate that public transport has been affected. Thousands of passengers have been reported to have been stranded in Narayangarh, Butwal and Makwanpur. The Nepali Congress takes tentative steps to reunite: With Girija Prasad’s faction agreeing to reunite with the breakaway Nepali Congress (democratic) of Sher Bahadur Deuba, the Nepali Congress meeting formulated a two-point "basis" for reunion. The first includes restoration of former positions of Deuba’s group in the parental party, which will include not only those elected but also those nominated by the party. The second is that the party will hold the 11th party convention soon which will be held in a cordial and fair manner. Koirala is expected to meet Deuba soon. Similarly the feuding groups of the Prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and that of the Party president Pasupathi Samsher Rana of the RPP are likely to settle their differences amicably soon. These are good signs emanating from the political parties, but what is needed is for the King and the political parties to sink their differences and come together. Will they, at least after the Bhojpur incident? List of the incidents since the last update is given as an Appendix. Appendix: Incidents  February 2004 28            A Royal Nepalese Army soldier was killed and six injured when a land mine planted by Maoists went off at Jyamrung VDC in Dhading district. At least two civilians were killed in separate explosions in Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk districts.                 The Maoists killed a cadre of CPN-UML in Sindhupalchowk. Meanwhile, a Royal Nepalese Army soldier named Tulsi Kandel was killed and two others injured in an explosion carried out by the Maoists at Labu village in Gorkha.  The Maoists kidnapped Shekh Sarajul, member of Raj Parishad (Royal Council) and former minister from his home at Raghunathpur VDC in Rautahat 29            Suspected Maoists demanded one Lakh rupees (one hundred thousand) ransom from the family of Rajesh Khadka, a student who was abducted from Prakashpur Bazaar, Sunsari. Maoist rebels opened fire at Dhupeswor Jha, a pharmacist in Bagewa VDC of Dhanusha district.  March 2004 1             Two children of a family were killed at Chuchure VDC in Ramechhap district by a bomb planted by the Maoists.   2              Suspected Maoists detonated a bomb at a garment factory at Shorakhutte area in Kathmandu. The blast occurred at the second floor of BK Garment Industry at Shibu Town Planning, Shorakhutte. The blast damaged walls of a room and some furniture and machines were destroyed. No human casualties have been reported.                   At least 29 security personnel were killed in a gun battle with Maoists in the eastern hilly district of Bhojpur.   3              Two Royal Nepalese Army soldiers were killed in an explosion carried out by the Maoists at Khanalthok VDC, Kavre.   7              The Maoists’  15-day blockade began in district headquarters of Western development regions.  Suspected Maoists exploded a bomb inside a bus at the old bus-park area of Kathmandu. The blast left three people injured.   8              A one-day general strike announced by the Maoists' women wing  started disrupting life. 10            Maoists shot dead three policemen in Ranitalau, Nepalgunj.  A group of armed Maoist rebels abducted 4 girls from Kailali village of Dhangadhi Municipality.   12            Maoists kidnapped 42 teachers in Dadeldhura and Baglung districts. The ultras also abducted 19 students at Gwalichour VDC in Baglung district. 13           Two constables of the Armed Police Force were killed and one more was hurt during a landmine explosion by Maoists in Chitwan.  Maoists abducted 54 people, mostly students. 14            Maoists blew up an office building of the Department of Transport Management at New Road, Pokhara.    15            A hand grenade  left by the suspected Maoists killed a      five-year-old girl in Ratmate VDC of Dolkha district.  The Maoist ultras shot and killed a traffic policeman on duty in Fidim, Paanchthar
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