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Kathmandu Wednesday November 07, 2001 Kartik 22, 2058.
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Fleeing won't help
Since the Maoist violence flared up, hundreds of
villagers of Syangja, Jumla and other
parts of the country have been reportedly
fleeing their homes to escape from the growing Maoist atrocities. Despite the cease-fire,
the Maoists have not halted their violent activities. Instead, they have intensified their
activities. But the government has become a mute spectator. It has done nothing concrete
to ensure peace and safety in the Maoist-hit areas. It is nothing but sheer impotency on
the part of the government. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is sticking to
"peaceful means" of solving the insurgency. But doesn’t he know that
Maoists are not likely to lay down their arms that easily even if the talks succeed? What
will the government do if the talks fail?
Apparently, the government has not charted out
strategies to contain the insurgency, in case the talks fail. Therefore, the villagers
must gather courage. Those who fled their homes fearing Maoists must go back to their
villages and fight against them. If you, people, continue to leave your villages simply
fearing threats and attacks, it will boast the rebels' morale further, and they will carry
out their activities more vehemently.
Therefore, I earnestly appeal to all those who
have fled and who are in the mood of fleeing to make up their mind to fight against the
Maoists. Don’t expect help from others. Once you start resisting them strongly and
firmly, the rebels would no more dare to attack and threaten you. Die for a noble cause
even if you have to. One death is thousand times better than hundred deaths.
Ramesh Acharya
Putali Sadak, Kathmandu |
