Swift Repercussions
Just as they were poised to join the interim government, Maoists’ attack against business community has cast doubt over its immediate formation
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
When the delegation of business community were waiting outside the Gate No 3 of Baluwatar to meet with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to complain about the spate of attack against businessmen by the Maoist cadres, the PM had just returned from a crucial all party meeting at the Election Commission where he had asked all to work for the successful holding of the Constituent Assembly (CA) come what may.
But once inside Baluwatar, he said he had no time to meet even with the business delegation – triggering the anger among the already demoralized community.
In a swift repercussion, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) held an impromptu press meet and announced indefinite shut down of all businesses and private sector operations.
In a hindsight, PM’s refusal to meet with the delegation was against his own commitment to create a conducive environment for the polls.
As Maoists have stepped up their attacks and abductions in the capital valley, their joining the interim government has come under fresh doubts as people are certain to raise these issues as proofs that they have not yet mended their ways.
Prime Minister Koirala has himself stated repeatedly that the Maoists won’t be included in the interim government until they correct their ways.
This time, the Maoists labor unions and youth wing struck at the heart of the capital. In a clear breach of the peace pact, the Maoist cadres brutally thrashed a businessman in the capital on Sunday.
Hari Shrestha, 59, the proprietor of Durbarmarga-based Hotel Woodland was abducted in the evening and was thrashed for two hours. The Maoists had been pressuring Shrestha to pay extortion of Rs 2 million for the past four months. According to Shrestha, Maoist cadres led by one Kuldip Rai abducted him in a blindfolded condition and took him to Surya Carpet Factory in Buddhanagar where he was beaten by rods and pipes. He has sustained serious wounds in eyes, back, and legs. He said he was released under condition that he would give Rs 10 million donation and provide 10 rooms in his hotel for free to Maoist cadres. He was also threatened not to inform police and administration about this.
Likewise, Suresh Malla, proprietor of Malla Press was abducted by activists of Maoists’ Young Communist League (YCL) from his office in Chhauni. He was thrashed and abducted by the YCL group led by Bishal Dangol. He was later released on Sunday.
The FNCCI and 72 other business organizations have demanded that the Prime Minister and the eight political parties express commitment to work towards ending the extortion and attacks on the business sector, guarantee security to private sector businesses, and punish those involved in attacks and extortion.
“We are not protesting this single incident alone. We are protesting the series of such attacks targeted at the business community,” said Binod Chaudhary, president of CNI. He said that the protest was aimed at compelling the eight parties to become sensitive towards the deteriorating plight of the business community.
Rajendra Khetan, president of Young Entrepreneur’s Council, added that the protest was necessary because of endless attacks against business community. “We want the leaders to become responsible towards the private sector and pay attention to their plight,” he said.
Even Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat had to express sympathy over the demands raised by the business community though he did criticize them for announcing bandhs.
In a rare show of solidary 72 various business organizations from traders to transporters to airline operators to bank operators to educational enterprises have come together against the unending atrocities of the Maoists.
The Maoists, on their part, have outright denied their hand in the incident. Badri Bajgain, vice president of pro-Maoist All Nepal Trade Union Federation said that it was the workers of the hotel who had attacked Shrestha. “We are surprised that the whole business community is standing behind this person who has had a very dark past. He has been accused of various excesses against workers in the past,” Bajgain claimed.
But as Chaudhary said the protest is not related solely with the single incident but at the tendency of the Maoists to engage in extortion, abduction, threats, intimidations and even outright seizure of factories – which have crippled the already beleaguered business sector.
