BJP Trashes Maoist Allegations
Indian main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (B JP) spokesperson Prakash Javadekar has trashed the accusations made by the Maoists that there were hands of Indian Hindu extremists behind current unrest in Terai. The BJP spokesperson dismissed charges that it was supporting movement against the radical leftists in the Terai region. "It is not our ethos to interfere in the affairs of other countries. Since they (Maoists) are losing the battle against common people, they have started dragging the BJP and the RSS into their mess," Javadekar said. Instead, he accused the Maoists of attempting to derail the democratic process in Nepal . Compiled from reports
Forum Wants Sitaula To Go Before Talks Can Be Held
While welcoming the formation of talks committee by the government, Upendra Yadav, president of MPRF has said that Home Minister Krishna Sitaula must resign to create environment for talks. He said Sitaula must resign on moral grounds for deaths and injuries in Terai. The forum has also demanded action against those who killed Ramesh Kumar Mahato in Lahan on January 18 – which triggered further protests across Terai. It has also demanded immediate end of all atrocities in Madhes. Alongside, it has also revealed its talks team headed by Sitanandan Raya. Yadav said his forum would make the agitation in Terai peaceful. Condemning Maoist chairman Prachanda’s remarks of using Nepali Army and Maoist Army to control Terai situation, Yadav labeled it as militarist thinking and warned that no military force could lead to any solution. He said his recent meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was positive. He said the MPRF was a revolutionary political organization. Compiled from reports
NSP-Anandidevi Distances Itself From Eight Party Alliance
In a clear sign of growing fissures in the ruling alliance, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi) has decided to boycott regular meetings of eight parties till the government properly addresses the Terai demands. The meeting of the central working committee of the party held on Friday (Feb 2) made this decision. The meeting was chaired by party president Anandidevi Singh. Meanwhile, NSP-Anandidevi vice president Bharat Bimal Yadav welcomed the government’s decision to adopt federal system. “Now our demand is to include people of Madhesi origin in all levels of state institutions. Likewise, the government should either go for full-fledged Proportional Representation system or if it wants to stick with mixed system then it should conduct fresh delimitation of constituencies based on population,” he said. Compiled from reports
Terai Violence Affects Border Security
After the continuation of violence in Terai region, the administrations of bordering regions of India have announced strict security provisions. The District Magistrate of Bihar districts including Arariya have issued prohibitory orders banning gathering of more than five persons and banning carrying of any kind of weapon. They have invoked article 144 to prohibit the gathering from Raxaul to Kishangunj area bordering Nepal . The administration has urged people not to go to Nepal till the situation normalized. Likewise, the deployment of Indian SSB forces has been increased in the region. Compiled from reports
City-Centered Revolution In The Offing: Maoist Leader Gajurel
Maoist Politburo member Chandra Prakash Gajurel "Gaurav" Saturday (Feb 3) revealed that the CPN-Maoist’s participation in the interim parliament and the recently thawing relations with India was “merely a stratagem” for declaration of a republic Nepal . Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Maoist affiliated Democratic Students Union (DSU) of the Jawarlal Nehru University (JNU), Gajurel stated that his party’s foray into mainstream politics was also a part of their "ongoing revolution." He disclosed his party’s strategies in reply to the Indian Maoist affiliated intellectuals and leftist leaders who accused the CPN-M of being "unable to maintain its revolutionary image." He assured his supporters that Nepali Maoists had not "abandoned its revolution but were instead strengthening themselves to this end and that in the recent days, the party had managed to achieve a substantial increase in the PLA fighting force." “Since entering mainstream politics, we have increased our military strength from 10,000 to a 37,000-strong PLA. This in itself is a great achievement,” Gajurel said. “We are now capable of launching a fresh revolt any time.” Gajurel’s comments have confirmed conflicting reports in that past that the Maoists had been busy recruiting PLA fighters even after entering mainstream politics. Gajurel, who is also the in-charge of the party's “international command”, revealed that if the parliament failed to get results, they would also conduct a "city-based revolution." “We are going to the elections and make sure that the results are in our favor. If the oppositions capture one booth, we will capture five,” he added. He also divulged that a "People’s Volunteers" was being formed for the party’s city-based revolutions, elections and other “strategic activities”. He also said that the "People’s Volunteers" would have around 100,000 members, adding that the Maoist Chairman Prachanda would soon make an announcement to this end. Gajurel further stated that the refusal by senior leaders to participate in the interim parliament was also part of the strategy. "Why didn’t Chairman Prachanda, Baburam (Bhattarai), Badal and I himself go into the interim legislature? Because, once there, they (parliamentarians) must speak the language of revolution, something those who were there on frontlines are capable of." He also said, if necessary, the CPN-M parliamentarians would lead the street and city-centered revolutions. Disclosing that his party would take up guns as soon as peaceful measures failed to get results, the Maoist leader further added that his party was capable of being "locked and loaded within an hour." Gaurav’s claim of the PLA’s “ability” to be armed and ready for combat has raised suspicions regarding the ongoing UN monitored Maoist arms and armies registration and storage. Union ’s former chairperson, Rona Wilson had chaired the interaction program that continued till midnight in the JNU’s Sutlej hostel, in which around 100 leftist students and intellects were present. While Gajurel was busy giving away the party’s internal strategy, members of his own Indian association, People’s Right Protection Committee (PRPC), however, appeared “uncomfortable”. Gajurel, who was the chief guest during the inauguration of a PRPC program recently, had faced criticism by representatives of Indian and international revolutionary forces who had accused his party of giving-in to a progressive outlook and forgetting the notion of class struggle. Although he did not reply to those criticisms in an open forum, he disclosed his party’s “masterplan” to CPN-M’s foreign well wishers that Friday night. During the program, he also claimed that 80 percent of Nepali territory was still "under the Maoists’ control." He also stated that the cordial relations with Indian government was part of a strategy, adding that his party couldn’t do its job while India remained incensed. eKantipur reports
OHCHR Concerned, Appeals For Urgent Talks
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-Nepal) has said that it is deeply concerned about the violence in the Terai region and the rising toll of deaths and injuries both in the Central and Eastern Region. “It encourages all parties involved to urgently engage in a dialogue in order to prevent further violence and loss of life,” states a press release issued by the OHCHR-Nepal. It said it is investigating cases of deaths and use of force by police also. “OHCHR-Nepal believes that law enforcement agencies must be given the support to carry out their functions impartially and professionally, and with full respect for human rights,” it said. It also expressed concern about violence on the part of protestors and others with destruction of property reported as well as serious injuries. Meanwhile, the OHCHR-Nepal has also noted the arrest and preventive detention of four former government officials, Kamal Thapa and Salim Mia Ansari in Kathmandu , and Badri Prasad Mandal and Ballav Prasad Dahal in Morang District. It has said that the preventive detention orders issued by Chief District Officers (CDOs) under the Public Security Act (PSA) are arbitrary and contrary to international human rights standards. Compiled from reports
PM Promises Federal State
In his televised address to the nation on Wednesday (Jan 31) afternoon, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has promised that Nepal would be a federal democratic state after the Constituent Assembly elections. In order to quell the growing fire of discontent in Terai region, PM Koirala also promised that the electoral constituencies will be redistributed based on population and geography. He said that in Terai region, electoral constituencies will be increased proportionate to the increase in population. PM said these efforts were aimed at ensuring participation of all in the task of nation building. He also invited aggrieved parties to resolve the crisis through talks. “My doors are always open. Anyone can come for talks. Let us solve the problems you may have,” he said. Referring to the demonstrations, he said they could be attributed to transitional phase the nation was passing through. He said the momentous changes that had overtaken the nation resulted in simultaneous rise in aspirations and emotions. He said he had instructed Home Minister to initiate talks with the aggrieved parties by forming a special committee. “I had called for talks in the past, too. But this is my special invitation for talks,” he said. Meanwhile, Koirala appeared very emotional when he addressed the nation. “This is my first and could well be the last address to the nation given my age and health,” he said. Compiled from reports
Ethnic Bodies Impose Bandh
Ethnic organizations, including the Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Forum (SLRF), Limbuwan Autonomous Forum, Limbuwan Rayjaparishad, Tamangsaling Rajyaparishad and Dhimal Rajyaparishad have imposed three-day bandh in Limbuwan, Tamangsaling and Khumbuwan areas from Wednesday (Jan 31). The organizations have been demanding a federal republican set up, ethnic autonomy and the right to self determination. They have warned of strict action against those daring to defy the bandh. “The government is hatching a conspiracy and trying to ignore the demands of janajatis,” general secretary of the SLRF Kumar Lingden said. Compiled from reports
Moriarty Doubts Locking Up Of All Maoist Arms
US ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty, on Tuesday (Jan 30), said he doubted whether all weapons of the Maoists will be locked in UN containers in designated cantonments. “I doubt if all the arms of the Maoists would go in the containers,” Moriarty said, soon after inaugurating the expanded library at Kathmandu School of Law. He said this on the basis of his previous stance that the Maoists were still buying weapons from Bihar in India . He added that he would be the first person to express happiness if all the weapons of the Maoists were locked up. Asked about the American opinion on the current Terai unrest, Moriarty said the issue should be resolved by the government and the political parties together. He added that the Terai people’s concerns should be addressed before the constituent assembly polls were held. Responding to a query, Moriarty said he had no information on royalists’ hand in fuelling the Terai unrest. The Himalayan Times daily reports
