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Kathmandu Friday February 22, 2002 Falgun 10, 2058.
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After Maoist attacks
This refers to the news story entitled
"Bradshaw expresses British support to quell insurgency", dated February 21,
TKP.
British parliamentary under secretary Ben
Bradshaw was on a two day official visit to Nepal and India. Fortunately, he arrived on
the day most of our daily newspapers carried the story on Maoist attacks in Sanfebagar and
Mangalsen that claimed over 138 lives. Bradshaw realised the intensity of the Maoist
insurgency in Nepal. But he did not come to know why and how the Maoists could wipe out
the entire company, comprising 58 army personnel, in less than an hour.
The reason is simple. Our intelligence service
is as good as non-existent. Successive governments have failed to realise that unless we
have enough information we cannot deal with any kind of hard situation, be it a Maoist
attack or any external aggression. The intelligence cell set up by the late King Mahendra
appears to be in slumber after the restoration of democracy. Nepali Congress (NC) leaders,
who should have been in Benaras performing religious rites, have been busy amassing
wealth. A corrupt prime minister says that he can clean corruption and eliminate
insurgency. Corrupt leaders have been saying this to return to power.
Can corrupt NC leaders rule this country? This
question is yet to be answered by the public. The NC cannot claim itself as a democratic
party. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba should have resigned on moral ground after the
Maoists attacked Mangalsen and Sanfebagar in Achham. Deuba should learn lessons from
former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista who resigned during the Panchayat regime on moral
ground. Even Keshar Bahadur Bista resigned when a stampede claimed more than thirty lives
at Dasharath Rangashala. Deuba has no right to remain as prime minister.
Suraj Bhattarai
Kechana, Jhapa |
