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Kathmandu Tuesday August 21, 2001 Bhadra 05, 2058.
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Despicable violence
The Maoist women’s wing — All Nepal
Women’s Association (ANWA-Revolutionary) — allegedly set ablaze the
Nepalgunj-based Shah Distillery Pvt Ltd the other day, causing a shiver of fear among the
business community. Such wilful destruction comes at a time when the government and the
Maoists are preparing for dialogue. This apart, the government has already assured the
ANWA-Revolutionary that it will look into their demand for banning the open sale of
liquor. And the ANWA-Revolutionary attacked the distillery just two weeks after the Maoist
ceasefire. What were the reasons that led the ANWA-Revolutionary to set ablaze a private
distillery? Why did the central secretary of the ANWA-Revolutionary refuse to comment on
the incident when she came out of a meeting with government representatives on the issue
of a liquor ban? Has not the ANWA taken too extreme a step in trying to cripple the
economy? These are some questions that trouble us all.
Maoist related incidents — be they in the
capital or in remote places - have been taking place under the very noses of either local
administration officials or police personnel. The local administration was well aware the
Saturday attack on Shah Distillery was coming. It caused damage to property worth 200
million rupees. Had the police personnel, who were alerted beforehand, taken some steps to
prevent it, the seven buildings and machinery and equipment would not have been gutted.
Unfortunately, the police did not act. The local administration and police personnel
remained mere spectators despite their prior intelligence. So much for the security
measures with which the government has tried to reassure the business community. It shows
how the country is fast losing the confidence of the business community as well as of
foreign investors. There is no way industry can operate under such circumstances, nor has
there been any increase in foreign investment.
The Maoists had demanded of Shah Distillery a
sum of fifty thousand rupees a month ago. Earlier, the Maoists had carried out attacks on
Colgate Palmolive, Surya Tobacco and Nepal Lever Limited when these companies refused to
meet their demand. This is sheer extortion. A week later Shah Distillery not only stopped
all production but also paid out twenty five thousand rupees to the Maoists to prevent
them from attacking. Incidents of extortion, looting and coercion have often come to light
ever since the Maoists launched their People’s War. The government cannot remain a
mute spectator at a time when the Maoists are picking on industries one after another. The
country has witnessed investments of over 10 billion rupees in this sector. It cannot
simply shut down a liquor factory whenever the Maoist women’s wing orders it to do
so. The government must get to the bottom of the arson at Shah Distillery and initiate
action against those behind it.
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