 |
| |
VOL. 27, NO. 30, April 04, 2008 (Chaitra 22 2064 B.S.)
|
|
"No One Has Taken Action Against Attackers."
Govinda Raj Joshi
Former home minister and Nepali Congress central committee member GOVINDA RAJ JOSHI had a close shave when Maoist cadres affiliated to Young Communist League attacked him on the way to a mass meeting in his constituency of Tanahu district. Along with him 50 others were injured when YCL attacked his elections rally. Joshi spoke to SPOTLIGHT about the incident:
How did incident occur?
When I was addressing the election rally, YCL cadres with gun, stick, bottles and Khukuri attacked us from all sides. My supporters had no option other than to flee. Most of the injured have their legs broken and head injuries.
Wasn't the security is enough to prevent this situation?
Although I informed district administration office, 16 days ago, nobody was there to rescue us when the attacked occurred.
What about the security force?
They didn't come to rescue us. Maoists even thrashed and abducted some of our cadres.
How about the situation of others injured?
Parbati Thapa, a woman candidate for proportional representation, who has sustained head injury, is in critical condition. My bodyguard and other two are also in serious condition.
Didn't you complain that to prime minister?
I called prime minister, home minister and the police chief, but I didn't get any support from them.
What about the international and local election observers including UNMIN?
Although it is quite close from capital and close to highway, I have not seen presence of UNMIN or any other international observers. You can understand how terrible the situation might be in remote parts of Nepal. UNMIN, election commission and other international organizations have to press the Maoists to improve their behavior.
Has any one been arrested?
I have already filed the complaint and no one is arrested yet.
But Maoist leaders are saying that they were angry local people who attacked you. What do you say?
This is a typical communist style of propaganda. I know people of each household. All the YCL cadres were brought from nearby districts like Gorkha, Kaski and Chitwan.
What do you expect from Elections Commission?
Election Commission must act against the violators of election code of conduct. If EC does not penalize those involved in the incident, they will start to kill the candidates. This time, I survived but I am unsure about the safety of myself and my supporters. At a time when Maoists attack common people in broad day light in a place nearby capital, how can we say that the election will be peaceful?
