Public anger makes Bandh a failure
Peace marches, motorcycle rallies organised

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 27:Enough is enough, and people said it with actions. Buses and minibuses, taxis, three-wheelers and other vehicles that came out of the garage, peace marchers and motorcycle rallies, shops that remained open and people going about their daily businesses made the so-called bandh (general strike) a complete failure throughout the country.

All those, who ran vehicles, opened shops and businesses and people, who braved the bandh, despite danger of violence and bombs of the bandh perpetrators, deserve appreciation. A taxi and a minibus were damaged by the terrorists, posing as passengers and sneaking in with explosives that injured the drivers and passengers. But this failed to deter others - much to the dismay of the terrorists.

It was the first time in the last 12 years and after more than 70 bandhs that people stood up to challenge, and they succeeded. All these indicate that people are no longer willing to sit back and cower against the closures now and in the future.

The success came with the active cooperation of the common people, the security forces and the government. Round-the-clock vigilance by security personnel and the government’s prompt compensation for damages gave people a sense of security, which is so vital to infuse confidence among the people.

The successful defiance of the 5-day bandh has given people the courage and a big slap to the Maoist terrorists, who have been perpetrating violence for six years.

The Maoist terrorists had refused calls from common people, business communities and political parties to take back their strike. This showed their total neglect and disrespect to the concern and the interest of the people. By doing so, they failed to gauge the determination of the people to rise and foil their intentions of bringing the country to a halt.

When it became certain that their bandh was going to receive a beating the Maoists resorted to more violence and destruction. They continued killing innocent civilians, political party workers, destroying communication towers and other development infrastructure.

The looting of foodgrains meant for the poorest people in Mugu and Jajarkot under the food-for-work programme is just another example of the Maoists’ atrocity against the most vulnerable section of the society.

This only showed their desperation in the face of increasing defeat at the hands of the security forces and growing rejection by the people. This proved the Maoists are now totally alienated from the people who are convinced that the Maoists’ activities would bring only destruction and suffering to the common masses.

It has been proved that it is the poorest people, daily wagers, peasants and those at the bottom rung of the economy who are the biggest sufferers. Any bandh no matter how unsuccessful it might be has its effects. This time also transportation was hampered to some extent. Trade and industry sector did not function as smoothly as in normal times and the country suffered hundreds of million rupees in terms of loss in production, marketing and others.

But the role of the political parties, their organisations and the leaders were far from satisfactory. When the common people were spontaneously coming out against the bandh, the political parties and the leaders lagged behind. People had expected them to join them and their supporters to come out openly but they limited themselves to verbal statements. This is not enough if the fight against the violence, wave of destruction and lawlessness the terrorists have unleashed in the country.

In Mahottari, no adverse impact has been seen in Mahottari district in the fifth consecutive day of Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists. Life of the local people remained normal and unaffected.

Local markets at Jaleshwar, Matihani and Pipara have been open fully and buses and mini-buses were seen plying to and fro Janakpur, Jaleshwar and Bhittamod.

According to Mahottari district administration office, railway services on Janakpur-Bijalpura route was in operation in a smooth manner.

Meanwhile, in Ilam, Eastern Taxi Entrepreneurs’ Association, Ilam took out a taxi rally in protest against the repeatedly called Nepal bandh, a nation-wide strike and against murder and violence bogging the country.

Some 25 motorcycles and 40 taxis plied in a queue in the rally that commenced from Biblyante Bazaar.

In Janakpurdham, an all-party peace rally was organised here against the Nepal bandh called by the Maoists as well as the murder and violence in rural areas of Dhanusha district.

A peace rally started from the Mulabari Health Post at Yagyabhumi VDC travelled eight kms passing through Bhimanchowk, Dharapani, Kumahara, Kisanpur and Bhagwanpur VDCs and converged into a meeting at Bhanu Secondary School.

The participants carried placards with slogans ‘Stop terror and violence’, ‘End the Nepal bandh’, and ‘Stop destruction of national property’.

At the concluding function, Heramba Bahadur Thapa of Nepali Congress, Kedar Adhikari of CPN-UML, Palsang Lama of RPP, Asarphy Minwar of SJM and Bhagat Bahadur Lama called for solidarity against murder and violence.

Vehicles were plying normally but as today was a public holiday, less number of people were seen in the streets.

At Balaju Park, where a fair was held today because of the Chaitra Shukla Purnima, devotees congregated in large numbers.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere in the valley till evening, according to the valley police office.

Siraha: Nepal Tarun Dal district working committee and Democratic National Youth Association took out an all-party motorbike rally at Lahan Bazaar today.

The rally that began from the compound from the Pashupati High School concluded on reaching the same place.

Charikot: All the shops at Charikot, the headquaters of Dolakha district, remained open today, the fifth day of the five-day Nepal bandh called by the Maoist terrorists.

The bridges on Bhankkhola and Halhalkhola streams damaged by the terrorists is not motorable.

Likewise, the terrorists have damaged the Mudey sub-station of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and disrupted the power supply in the headquarters.

Gorakha: The final day of the bandh at the call of the Maoist terrorists evoked no response here today.

No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere of the district so far.

Kalaiya: There was no impact of the Nepal bandh here as the security system was good. The shops were opened in response to the request of the local administration and the traders.

However, as the long distance buses were off the road, the price of the vegetables soared in the local market.

Chitwan: The local market remained open while the the short distance vehicles plied as usual.

‘Bandh shuts door for dialogue’

Kathmandu, Apr. 27 (RSS): Three communist parties of the country, issuing a joint press statement today, concluded that the so-called Nepal bandh (general strike) enforced by the Maoists declared terrorists by the government with the help of the gun in defiance of the request of the general public and political parties active in the country has made life treacherous and vitiated the climate for talks.

The three leftist political parties have also called on the Maoists, who are currently engaged in extreme forms of heinous activities like violence and killings after walking out of the negotiating table in utter disregard of the public aspirations and the country’s need, to reassess their activities and stand for the welfare of the people and the country.

Disapproving of the latest steps taken by the government in countering the Maoists, the three left parties have demanded both sides to find a way out of the present crisis by applying the highest political prudence to stop the country from being pushed to a situation of retrogression and the shadow of dependence.

Those issuing the joint press statement are Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar, general secretary of Nepal Communist Party (United), president of NCP (Marxist) Prabhu Narayan Chaudhari and politburo member of NCP (Marxist, Leninist and Maoist) Sitaram Tamang.

Terrorists showing their true colours: Kandel

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 27: State Minister for Home Devendra Raj Kandel today denied that the government had closed door for talks with the Maoist terrorists by announcing rewards on the heads of the terrorist leaders.

"The talks are not ruled out if they lay down the arms, return the cash and kind they have looted and don’t resort to deceits in the name of talks," Kandel told a Face to Face programme here this afternoon. "But how can the government rely on them after being deceived once?"

State Minister Kandel said the terrorists were showing their true colours by capturing the ambulances, kidnapping the ordinary public and looting rice sent to the poor people in the remotest parts of the country. "They are doing all this because they no longer have support of the people and are heading towards defeat."

He said the five-day shutdown failed due to good security arrangements and the spontaneous participation of the ordinary people. "All sections of the society defied the closure feeling that the terrorists would invite further instability in the country if they go on doing whatever the terrorists ask them to do."

Kandel conceded that it was the responsibility of the government to give security to its citizen, adding the government was able to protect the lives and property of the countrymen. "In case it can’t, it should compensate for the losses the people incur and that will be done."

He said the government was preparing a blueprint to intensify the security system. "We have limited resources but we will use them to strengthen the existing police force."

He said the price on the heads of the terrorist leaders would help the government to track them and uproot terrorism. "The signs are positive," said he, declining to give details. Kandel denied that the announcement of rewards to individuals who hand over the terrorists to the government dead or alive was unconstitutional. "This was necessary to crush terrorism."

Britain shows concern over violence

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 27: Britain has showed its concern and has condemned the recent bandh and increasing violence perpetrated by the Maoists.

Jack Straw, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, said: " I view with abhorrence the brutal and indiscriminate terror tactics employed by the Maoists against civilians."

"I am deeply concerned about the worsening security situation in Nepal and the increasing violence linked to the Maoists’ national strike this week," Straw said.

He said these developments are direct threats to democracy and stability in Nepal.

Straw supported the government of Nepal in its efforts to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency and the right of the people in Nepal to choose their government through the ballot box.

He said, "the Maoists must renounce violence and intimidation to come back into the politicial mainstream and re-engage in talks.

"We are in close touch with other key friends of Nepal over how we collectively can reinforce democracy and support the efforts of the government of Nepal to promote a sustainable peace."

17 terrorists gunned down
Kidnapped armyman’s wife rescued

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Apr. 27: Three terrorists were shot dead in Chovar of Kathmandu after a security patrol retaliated against an attack. The forces found three socket bombs from the terrorists.

The Defence Ministry said today 14 other terrorists were killed in six different places during the search and patrol of the security forces.

Five terrorists were killed in Hapur, Urahari and Manpur of Dang, three in Mahamudar area of Bardia, one each in Babiyachour of Surkhet and Dhuwakot of Dhading. One terrorist injured in Dhading has been brought to Kathmandu’s Birendra Military Hospital for treatment.

Yesterday, three armed terrorists were killed in encounter at the Bhalukhang jungle of Palpa district.

The security forces recovered pistols, guns and other weapons, explosives, socket bombs and equipment used for making electric ambushes.

Security forces rescued an army man’s wife from Rasnalu of Ramechhap. The wife was kidnapped by the terrorists two days ago from Dolakha. One terrorist died during the rescue operation.

Several security personnel of a patrol team were injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was caught by an electric ambush today at Turture of Sindhupalchowk. The injured were airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment. The security forces have launched a massive search operation to find the terrorists.

Bombs planted in Mahapal of Lalitpur, Balaju of Kathmandu and Budhabar of Morang were safely defused today. These bombs were laid by the terrorist to create terror among the civilians.

The Defence Ministry said that in Dhangadhi, terrorists destroyed the vacant house of Tek Bahadur Chokhyal, chief whip of the Nepali Congress in the parliament and a building belong to the district chamber of commerce by explosions.

Last night, the Modi Khola Hydro Power Project, Galyang Power House of Butwal Power Company and Agriculture Services Centre of Kohalpur Banke were damaged by terrorist bombings. The terrorists looted cash and jewelry from several houses of Rangsingh-4 of Bidur municipality of Nuwakot.