Maoists continuing 'extortion' drive in Pokhara: Entrepreneurs

Businessmen and entrepreneurs have complained that Maoists are continuing their `extortion' drive despite the ceasefire and repeated requests from the government not to do so.

Reports quoted chairman of Regional Hotel Association, Pokhara, Laxmi Bahadur Bhattarai, as saying that the Maoists have been demanding money from entrepreneurs but they are in no condition to pay a penny. Bhattarai also said that they had apprised the Maoist leadership about the issue.

Chairman of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Rajendra Kumar Lalchan, said the Maoists are demanding cash and even goods from shops and other business houses in Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City area.

They have demanded a motorcycle each from all motorcycle showrooms in Pokhara and cloths from local cloth stores, he said.

Kaski district secretary of CPN (Maoist), Karan, said the party has not forced anyone to 'donate' cash or kind for the party. "We have maintained much restraint on the matter of donation collection," he said.

According to reports, Maoists have also intensified their fund collection campaign in Biratnagar. The rebels said they were collecting funds to organise a people's gathering due to be held on Saturday.

Over 200 Maoist cadres have been mobilised to visit every household in the city to collect "donations."

Maoist leadership has said that they are collecting only voluntary donations from people to feed their cadres and has ruled that they are forcing people to pay "donations." nepalnews.com pb May 19 06

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