 |
Kathmandu Saturday November 04, 2000 Kartik 19, 2057.
|
Dramatic finale to Maoist ultimatum
Key rebel leader free, development raises further questions
By Damakant Jayshi
KATHMANDU, Nov 3 - Two top Maoist rebels
were presented before the press by the government on Friday, fulfilling one of the key
demands put forward by the rebel group.
But soon after captured rebel leader Dinesh
Sharma and Dinanath Gautam were made public, the two rebel leaders were freed. It is
unclear whether the government released them or they were facilitated to
"escape."
Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel,
who is the government's point-man in negotiations with the Maoists, refused to comment on
the latest developments.
But sources indicated that Sharma's and
Gautam's freedom later in the day was part of a "face saving" strategy employed
by the government. It is unclear at this moment whether the Maoists are also involved in
this "face saving" strategy.
The two rebels were paraded before the
press, and made to renounce violence, just when the 3 p.m. deadline set by top Maoist
leader "Comrade Prachanda" was nearing expiry today. Making public Sharma, who
is a central committee member of the Maoist party, and other captured rebels' whereabouts
was one of the key demands put forward by Prachanda in his ultimatum.
Sharma and Gautam are not only free, but
they have also refuted the earlier statement made Friday while being presented to the
press. At the time, both Sharma and Gautam had said that they were renouncing violence.
Sharma told journalists that both he and
Gautam were wedded to Marxism, Leninism and Maoist philosophies. "However, we found
that the citizens were not able to live safely due to sharp rise in incidents of murder,
terror, loot, rape in the last five years."
Sharma went on: "Since the nation's
integrity was being undermined, we have decided to forsake the policy of violence and
terror and raise the problem openly by uniting the people."
Answering the questions, Sharma denied that
they were tortured and expressed ignorance as to how many more were being released.
"We have not yet received the release
order," said Sharma, adding "they had made up their mind to leave the party and
shun violence some 20 days ago. We told the police administration and they approved of our
decision, which we had taken after coming to the conclusion that violence was not the
answer and weighing national and international situations."
Sharma had added that he will consider
going back to his home after assessing the possible threat to his life. He added that he
would first see his partymen's reaction and then decide the future course of action.
"We have not yet decided if we will join any other party."
He also denied that he had abandoned
Marxist philosophy. He declined to comment if his earlier means (of violent struggle) was
wrong.
"We will not fight the government
illegally, but politically," replied Sharma, answering if they would take the
government to court for their illegal detention.
But later in the day, after regaining his
freedom, Sharma issued another statement that picked apart the statement he made before
the press while still in government custody.
Sharma claimed that he was "nearly
fatally tortured by the reactionary government which made him disappear during the last 11
months".
Sharma also said that the earlier press
conference, in which he denounced his party and its violent struggle, was made under
duress. "After soul-searching, I apologise to all my party supporters, sympathesizers
and public for publicly speaking against the party and the revolution," wrote Sharma.
Sharma accused the government of
"murdering, raping, looting and kidnapping thousands of people". Throughout the
11 months, Sharma said he was brutally tortured at the Armed-Police Training Centre,
Kakani. Sharma revealed that he was arrested on December 3 last year from Dhungedhara bus
stop at Vanasthali, Swoyambhu.
The other arrested Maoists - Dandapani
Neupane, Milan Nepali, Palsang Lama, Gore Bahadur Khurkhutte, Kamala Sharma, Matrika
Yadav, Ishwari Dahal - "are either killed or on their way to be killed," he
claimed.
"Therefore, I deny the press
conference and vow that I will fulfil the responsibility to the best of ability bestowed
on me by NCP (M)," Sharma added.
Meanwhile, Maoist sources have castigated
the Koirala government of "exposing its true identity through conspiracies."
They have also indicated that they are not keen to talk with the government any more since
"the Koirala government has failed to fulfil the minimum conditions for talks. The
clamour for talks was used by the government only to hoodwink the people."
Other Stories
|
