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Deepening Turmoil
Fresh attacks by Maoists lead the government to further tighten security situation and ban public demonstrations
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
Soon after they announced ‘climbing spine to smash the head,’ Maoists have launched a series of violent attacks including in Kathmandu valley. Two weeks after they withdrew their four-month-long unilateral ceasefire citing lack of response from the government side, the Maoists have stepped up their violent attacks against government offices and security installations in Kathmandu , Bhairahawa, Pokhara, Nepalgunj and other cities.
Their attacks come after reports that they plan to ‘climb the spine (meaning highways, supply routes and peripheral urban centers) to smash the head ( Kathmandu valley).’ This despite their so-called pledge to work together with the seven political parties as stated in the 12-point agenda. The initial sense of euphoria generated by the 12-point is fast dissipating with the Maoists re-engaging in their violent modus operandi. Instead, their attacks have led the government to ban public demonstrations and rallies in the capital valley.
In the immediate aftermath of Maoist attack in security posts within the capital valley, the government has not only clamped night-time curfew but also banned the demonstration or gathering of any kind within the ring road area. Kathmandu and Lalitpur District Administration Offices have separately issued notices clamping curfew within the ring road area of the two districts between 11 pm and 4 am everyday for indefinite period.
The Home Ministry has stated that that the Maoists are poised to take advantage of their 12-point understanding with the political parties to infiltrate their public demonstrations and unleash violence. The Ministry has appealed to the people not to take part in such gathering “as there are possibilities of such gathering turning violent due to Maoist infiltration.”
Furthermore, the Ministry has called on the seven parties to suspend their scheduled joint demonstration in Kathmandu on January 20 and come for dialogue with the government instead. Similar prohibitory orders and curfew have been imposed in most of the city areas across the country.
However, the initial reactions by the political parties to the new decision are filled with anger. For weeks the political leaders have been claiming that they will demonstrate a major show of strength by bringing in half a million people in their rally on January 20. Strangely, even though the Maoists had committed themselves not to disrupt the agitation by the parties, their attacks could lead to total ban on demonstration (by parties).
Rejecting the government’s call for talks and vowing to defy its prohibitory orders, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, spokesperson of Nepali Congress (NC), said, “There is no possibility of holding talks or dialogue with this unconstitutional government.” He added, “We urge Nepali people not to fall under the trap of the government. We urge them to take part in peaceful agitation.”
Thankot Attack
Keeping their promise to smash the head that is Kathmandu , armed Maoists unleashed a methodical violent attacks aimed at shaking the security foundation of the capital valley when, on Saturday (January 14), they killed one dozen police personnel posted at key installations at the fringe points of the valley.
The Maoists fired at police personnel busy in their roll-call routine at Thankot police post – at the gateway to Kathmandu valley – killing eleven police personnel including police inspector Mahesh Rawal. Simultaneously, in a separate attack, one police personnel was killed and many others injured when the Maoists attacked police post in Dadhikot of Bhaktapur district.
In the two incidents, 12 police personnel and one civilian have been injured. At almost the same time, the Maoists also attacked Thali police post in north-eastern region of the capital and bombed some ward offices in Kathmandu and Lalitpur city. Reports say dozens of armed Maoists in army combat dress stormed into Thankot post and sprayed bullets at a time when most of the 40 police personnel posted there were gathered for a roll-call routine. An unarmed traffic personnel Dipendra Niraula was also killed.
Witnesses said Maoists wielding modern weapons opened fire simultaneously at the municipality vehicle tax collection depot, traffic post, police post and sentries. An eye-witness police personnel informed that 15 armed Maoists in army-like uniform got off from a bus and barged into the police post even as around 30 Maoists in civil dress were already mobilized in the vicinity. Most of the police were killed when they were trying to flee or hide, reports said.
After inspecting the site of attack, Home Minister Thapa told reporters that the government is ‘unperturbed’ (by the incident). He said the Maoists undertook a cowardly act by mercilessly killing unarmed traffic personnel as well as police personnel who were not holding weapons.
A few days ago, the Maoists had launched big attack against security agencies and government offices in Dhangadhi – headquarters of Kailali district in far-western Nepal . According to security sources, armed Maoists in separate gangs opened fire at military barrack in Boradanda, ward police office, district and zonal police offices, election office and Nepal Rastra Bank office. Two policemen and one civilian were injured in the ensuing battle. Likewise, they also engaged in serial bombing in Pokhara and Nepalgunj.
Polls Under Question
Given the worsening security situation, the prospects for forthcoming February 8 municipal polls are dimmer with even the smaller fringe parties calling it into question. After Thankot attack, many leaders of smaller parties have started saying they are not assured about the security situation yet. Balram Thapa, general secretary of Democratic Nepal – a new party led by incumbent minister Keshar Bahadur Bista – said that they can not take part in elections until and unless bigger parties and the Maoists are taken into confidence. “The developments of last week have created suspicions over the polls,” he said.
Devendra Mishra, general secretary of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) – whose chairman Badri Prasad Mandal is also an incumbent minister – said that although his party has decided to go for polls, there is still terror among party workers.
On the other hand, the seven party alliance has stepped up their efforts to convince the citizens to boycott the polls. They are busy organizing door-to-door campaigns asking the people to stay away from the elections.
There seems to be a broad consensus against the holding of the polls as the Maoists have already shown what they are capable of doing to thwart it. Amid the environment of fear and terror, it would be useless to pursue with the poll agenda – even as free, fair and credible elections continue to remain the only viable way out of the present imbroglio. As Maoists seem bent on climbing the spine of the parties to smash the head, it, unfortunately, appears that the country is headed towards unprecedented intensity of violence and instability. That is, if the good sense does not prevail among the political actors sooner than later.
Govt. Spokesperson Reproaches Media
In a blatant criticism of media and human rights workers, the government spokesperson and the Minister of State for Information and Communication Shrish SJB Rana has complained the ‘silence’ by them over ‘barbaric rights abuses by the Maoists’.
“They have killed police personnel who were having dinner, who were without arms. But what should we make of the silence by the media and rights workers on this sort of abuses,” said Rana.
He also came down heavily against the seven parties for seizing “people’s fundamental right” of casting vote. Rana said that while the political parties are busy threatening people not to cast vote, the Maoists – in a well-timed manner – launch attack in the capital. “What is this?” he asked.
Rana also complained that the media would soon be starting to criticize ‘the security arrangements made by the government, which is duty-bound to provide security to people.’ “In a next few days, they (media) will be raising issues that police have violated people’s human rights by engaging in search of homes and vehicles,” he said. “But who exactly is attacking our rights? Isn’t it time for us to ponder on this issue,” he said, speaking at a public program in the capital on Monday (January 16).
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