Combating terrorism

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, while addressing the nation a day after His Majesty King Gyanendra declared a state of emergency, pledged to bring the Maoist terrorists to justice. In all fairness, it can be said that Prime Minister Deuba had made a major breakthrough in bringing the Maoists to the negotiating table, after he succeeded Girija Prasad Koirala last July. However, the Maoists broke off from the talks and resumed "armed struggle" against the democratic establishment after the third round of talks, causing a serious setback to national security and integrity. Perhaps, the Maoists would not have slipped back into the spell of violence and murder, had the government not released over two hundred hardcore Maoists detained on charges of subversive activities. Consequently, a state of emergency has been declared countrywide in accordance with the 1990 Constitution and on the recommendation and consent of the Council of Ministers. Under the emergency rule, the fundamental rights have been suspended, particularly the freedoms of expression and press. Such situation came only after the Maoists resorted to terrorist activities. The Maoist terrorists abruptly began attacking army and police personnel, apart from resorting to extortion, kidnapping, looting, and killing local leaders.

Prime Minister Deuba assured the nation that the government would provide security to all sections of society and, at the same time, hunt down the Maoists, no matter how long it takes to do so. Such state of emergency would not have been declared in the country, had the people not felt any threat to their lives. The Prime Minister noted that "security of the people is the first duty of the government". Besides, there are people who unknowingly tried to help the terrorists. The government must do something to stop them from creating anarchy in the country.

The way the Maoists unleashed atrocities against the people, the army and police personnel shows that they are involved in terrorist activities and in killing innocent people. Prime Minister’s assurance to restore civil rights as early as possible is indeed reassuring. The mobilization of army personnel should not be taken lightly as it is a very important step to wipe out terrorist elements. It must be recalled here that the Maoist rebellion has claimed more than twenty-two hundred lives and displaced over one hundred thousand people in the country.

The Prime Minister, who addressed the nation the other day, has rightly reassured the people that "his efforts are to put an end to terror and killings that have come up as a new challenge to this country". However, the Prime Minister must realize the fact that the citizens of this country have suffered both mentally and economically since the Maoists began their so-called People’s War six years ago. The country had never witnessed such inhuman massacre even during the century-old Rana regime or the partyless Panchayat system. Emergency has been declared to quell the Maoist activities. However, it should not by any means be a weapon to harass, torture and arbitrarily detain innocent people, in the name of combating terrorism, but should be aimed at putting an end to terrorism once and for all in this peaceful country.