National 1 (Spotlight Weekly)

Tightening The Noose

The US terms Maoists as a threat to its national security and economic policy, indicating it is keeping a close watch over the Nepalese Maoists

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

After enlisting them in the “Other Terrorist Group” in March this year, the United States has decided to declare them as a threat to its national security. Two months after they unilaterally walked out of the peace talks, the recent decision of the United States has put further pressure on the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) and they have once again found themselves in an international spotlight.

This indicates that the world super power United States of America is really concerned about the growing terrorism in South Asia. Just a couple of weeks ago, the USA termed underworld don Dawood Ibrahim as an international terrorist. India has since long accused Dawood as being the main culprit behind the strings of bombing in Mumbai in 1993 that killed hundreds of people.

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On October 31, 2003 the United States government declared the insurgents to be a threat to the US national security and froze the group’s assets as part of a package of sanctions. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage made the designation. “I hereby determine that the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) has committed, or poses a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of US nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States,” Armitage said in a notice published in the Federal Register. The notice listed several aliases for the organization including the United Revolutionary People’s Council, the People’s Liberation Army of Nepal and the CPN (M), all of which are covered by the sanctions.

A day after the decision, US Secretary of State Colin Powell issued an executive order to ban all kinds of financial activities of the organization. He said that the Maoists posed terrorist challenge against the security of US national, US national security and foreign policy. He also accused the Maoists of killing two Nepalese guards of US Embassy and threatening American diplomats. The American government has also taken into account the bombings at Coca Cola bottling plants in Kathmandu and Bharatpur in the past by the Maoists while reaching this decision. The US has also urged other countries to take similar steps.

The US decision was taken after American ambassador to Nepal Michael E. Malinowski went to Washington to present his report on the situation in Nepal. “We denounce terrorism wherever they may be. One of the reasons that we have given attention to Nepal is because of the tactics used by these so-called Maoists. They think in a very different way than most people do. Their callous disregard for human life is something that all right-minded people should oppose,” Malinowski had recently told SPOTLIGHT.

The latest US steps also comes after the Maoists repeatedly harangued the American government. At places like Nuwakot, the Maoists had obstructed in the activities of NGOs charging them of receiving American funding and support. Likewise, the official website of the Maoists is also filled with scathing remarks against America.

Furthermore, the recent statement by the Maoists chairman Prachanda had stated that the rebels would not allow any US-funded NGOs to operate. “The manner they were criticizing USA was inviting this decision,” said a security official, not wanting to be named. “And now, they are in the same bracket as other international terrorist organizations as far as the US government is concerned.”

The Maoists have expressed objection over the recent decision by the American government to term them as a threat to US security and has alleged that the US has once again interfered in the affairs of Nepal. In a statement issued in its Krishna Sen online, the Maoists has termed the US decision as being foolish as it came a few days after the Maoists had made it clear that, at present, they did not have policy against any country including USA. The statement also charges that the US harbors intention to keep a ‘watch’ over India and encircle China by having a military base in Nepal.