OBSERVATION

Talk to the Maoists

The NCP (Maoist) called Bandh ended relatively peacefully. For the one week before the Bandh, it was a huge question mark on how that day would end. From political leaders themselves, to diplomats and the people in general, all were anxiously asking what could happen. And as could be expected, nobody seemed to have the answers.

      But just because there were no extra-ordinary incidents, specially here in Kathmandu, it does not mean that the Bandh was not effective. In spite of whatever the government or some sector of the media may have said, the Bandh was completely successful in all parts of the country. In Kathmandu too, vehicular movement was at a virtual standstill and shops in all the downtown areas remained closed.

      As could be expected, the most watched place was Kathmandu. A vernacular weekly had written that Thursday’s Bandh was a test of strength between the Police and the Maoists and in some ways it was perfectly correct. In Kathmandu, police personnel had started to check every taxi and also other suspicious looking people from several days ahead.

      For example, even journalists going home from the SAF Games Media Centre were checked when they were travelling on a motorcycle. The Police checked the bag they were carrying before letting them go near Rato Pul of Gyaneswor. This showed the police were taking no chances in protecting Kathmandu. Also, those were the areas, which were most vigilantly watched.

      Incidentally, there was very little Maoists activities both on the evening before the Bandh and also on the real day. In fact even on Thursday, motorcycles and one or two taxis could be seen around Lainchour and Lazimpat areas early in the morning.  In the suburban areas, the shops were also open when this Observer went around.

      However, to a certain extent it is also true what a vernacular weekly Jana Dharana said the next day after the Bandh. In a banner headline, the weekly, which is considered sympathetic to the Maoists, said, “The whole country was under Maoists control for 16 hours”.  It explained that from 4 am on Thursday morning till 7 pm the same day, the Maoists were in control of the nation.

      This seemed true, not because the Maoists were in real control, but because the government had no reply to all the challenges put up by the insurgents. For example, the government could not bring out any statement, even if it was an ambiguous one, to provide assurance to the people that it was in control and it would be able to provide full security.

So how could the people dare to venture out? The government was quiet about the whole incident. In previous times, a statement was at least issued on what the government would do when such protests were organised. Yet, the Maoists should also not feel that the people supported the Bandh because they were sympathetic to the insurgents’ cause. It was sheer fear that kept people off the streets behind closed doors.

Meanwhile to look at a completely different aspect of the Bandh, the attitude of the Nepalese, which is very laid back could be seen on that day. For example, the butchers could be seen doing a roaring business early that morning. Many people took the Bandh as an excuse to relax, drink, eat meat and enjoy it like it was a holiday. Maybe it is such a lax attitude that is the cause behind the lack of development in the country.

However, what now can be seen, is that the Maoists have become a very powerful force to which the government is buckling. Day by day the insurgents are gaining strength. They may not be able to take control of the whole country, but they can put a spanner in the works and disrupt the smooth functioning of the government and also the people.

They cannot be blamed for the present strategy, whereby they are compelling the government to spend a huge amount of resources in just trying to control some areas. Looking back, if such efforts had been put some years back in taking development works to the remote areas where the insurgents   are most active, probably the Maoists would not have gained so much ground. Now a time has come when they have coolly walked off with a DSP after killling seven policemen, but still the government has been able to do nothing about it. The DSP has even sent a letter which was published in several newspapers, but the policemen are helpless and do not have an inkling of his whereabouts.

How can any confidence be instilled in the people this way?

The Maoists have nothing to lose. They will continue to trouble the government and at the same time make efforts to win the goodwill of the people. With the brutal method of the police, the villagers will be too willing to jump into the arms of the insurgents. The sheer poverty of their villages will also push them in that direction. For now, the government should not follow the policy of trying to wipe out the insurgents through force only. We have time and again mentioned about the socio-economic programmes that will have to be implemented in the backward regions of the country. But it seems, it is too late to do even that. For many, they have reached a point of no return. Therefore, the government must recognise the Maoists as a force with which it should start negotiations.

The country cannot afford to be held ransom time and again.