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Clear And Present Danger
For Maoists, the current polarization and division among constitutional forces seems to be the God-sent opportunity, as they continue to run amok across the nation
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
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Tansen : Bloody aftermath |
It was Tansen last week. The tiny town of historic popularity known for lush green hills and breathtaking natural beauties did not deserve the mindless attack that not only drew precious blood of Nepalese but also destroyed historic buildings.
On January 31, the Maoists launched a massive attack in the famous hill station in western Nepal – timed carefully to ensure that it hugged the headlines of the following day when the King’s government would be observing the first anniversary since February 1, 2005 takeover of executive powers.
Furthermore, the attack also came on the eve of the significant visit by Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of the US Pacific Command. Admiral Fallon is the senior most American military official visiting Nepal since royal takeover last year.
At least, four Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) soldiers, seven police personnel and four Maoists have died after the latter launched heavy attack against Tansen – headquarters of Palpa district on Tuesday night. Following the nightlong attack, over 100 police personnel went missing but later came into contact.
Few days after the attack, the Maoists set free some of the persons they had abducted from Tansenand handed them over to human rights activists and journalists. The freed persons included Chief District Officer Laxman Thapa.
In a frighteningly similar tactics that they have been employing to such regular success, the Maoists came in thousands armed with modern weapons, launched simultaneous attacks in several security positions in the cover of darkness, ran amok the town, killed some, abducted few and melted away before the security forces could get them. And in eerily similar manner, the security forces could not be deployed to nab the fleeing Maoists who seem to have vanished into thin air after the attack. A day later the Maoists came up with statement claiming huge setback to the government forces and seizure of large number of weapons. They also claimed that two government officials including CDO Thapa, 20 police personnel and three army personnel were captured after the attack.
The Maoists had concentrated their attack at District Police Office, District Administration Office and District Prison. Over 130 prisoners were set free after the attack at the prison. The attack left Tansen Palace, the main administrative building that has historic archaeological significance, in ruins.
After visiting the town in shambles, Home Minister Kamal Thapa said that the Maoists lacked sense of humanity or patriotism. “Their barbaric and condemnable attack in Tansen exposes their inhuman character,” said Thapa. The district administration office, district police office, prison, Bal Mandir (Child orphanage run by the government) lay in ruins as the security forces accused the Maoists of taking cover of private residences and using human shields while launching their attack. “I want to praise the bravery of our security personnel who laid down their lives and applied restraint even as they successfully repelled the attackers,” said Thapa.
In recent months since the escalation of dispute among the constitutional forces – the monarchy and the political parties – the Maoists have been extracting advantages to further their violent rebellion.
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Freed abductees : Unpleasant experience |
After withdrawing their unilateral ceasefire, the Maoists even launched an attack against Thankot police post in Kathmandu killing one dozen police personnel. They have stepped up their activities exploding bombs in Pokhara, Biratnagar, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Nepalgunj and so on.
In Nepalgunj, the Maoists have been regularly attacking police posts at their will. They even attacked Nepalgunj airport and killed security personnel posted there. Clearly, they are becoming emboldened with every passing day even as the constitutional forces fail to reconcile their differences forgetting the fact that the festering problem could end up destroying them altogether.
It is not for nothing that the international community including the United States, the United Kingdom, the EU, India and now even China are calling for the political forces to resolve their differences and get together to face the Maoist menace. Unfortunately, these calls are not being heeded at all.
This week, the Maoists called a weeklong Nepal Bandh (February 5-11) paralyzing the normal life across the country. Traffic was sparse even in Kathmandu valley whereas the schools, factories and businesses remained shut. The Maoists had announced the bandh to disrupt the February 8 municipal polls. They planted bombs in different parts of Kathmandu during bandh.
Already the Maoists have unveiled their plans to ‘climb the spine to smash the head.’ According to them, the spine means peripheral cities and highways whereas head means the Kathmandu-centric regime. They have vowed to carry out their activities to topple the central government in what they term as ‘strategic offensive’ phase in which they say they are at present.
Strangely, however, the bickering political forces in the capital seem to be minimizing this ‘clear and present danger.’ They seem content fighting each other even as the third force is slowly but surely building up its strength. While the government could be confident of defeating the Maoists militarily, the political parties seem happy with the fact that the Maoist leaders have ‘promised’ to them that they will join the ‘competitive democratic practice.’ After the signing of 12-point understanding reportedly in New Delhi, India, the political parties have stopped worrying about the Maoists. Whether their indifference is justified or not, only they may know. But for the nation, the unbridled growth of violent politics is surely going to cost high.
As the country continues to become killing fields, the apathy shown by key political actors to arrest the further slide of the situation has hurt the millions of peace-loving Nepalese. Given the prevailing atmosphere it is clear that the Maoists would be able to further strengthen their violent activities and even gain political recognition by inciting a section of political force and by driving wedge to further divide the constitutional forces. The advantage, unfortunately, is clearly going in their favor due to the recalcitrant and short-sighted behavior shown by the legitimate political forces.
Govt. Increases Compensation
In order to encourage the transporters to ply during bandh days, the authorities have decided to dangle a carrot. The government will give extra 20 percent on insurance amount the owners of damaged vehicles (during bandh) are entitled to, reported The Himalayan Times daily. Owners of those without insurance will get proper compensation.
This was decided at a meeting of transport entrepreneurs and other concerned bodies chaired by the state minister for Labor and Transport Management, Rabindra Khanal. “In case of death of driver, co-drier or helper of a vehicle plying during the bandh the government will give additional cent percent amount besides compensation due from the insurance firms,” said a release from the Ministry.
Drivers are insured for Rs 150,000 each while the co-driver and helper are insured for Rs 100,000 each. Vice-president of the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs, Tulsi Ram Maharjan, said the government has assured the federation of forming a probe panel to inspect all damaged vehicles and find whether they got compensation.
To provide immediate compensation, the government has decided to give either approximately 40 percent of the total damage cost after inspection of the vehicle or a maximum of Rs 50,000 that will be deducted from compensation due.
According to the Ministry spokesperson Dhruba Kumar Sharma, there will be 50 percent exemption on customs duty on vehicles to replace those totally damaged during the bandh. The new ones will also be allowed to ply on the previous routes. Vehicles plying on bandh days will get all these benefits even if they are damaged within the next one year’s duration.
On the eve of weeklong Nepal Bandh called by the Maoists, a series of bombs exploded in Pokhara on Saturday (February 4) evening. Five explosions occurred simultaneously in Pokhara bazaar followed by sounds of firing by the security personnel plunging the city into grip of fear.
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