Maoist Attacks
Maoist insurgents carried out two major attacks against the security forces in a span of 17 days. Immediately following the massacre in Bhojpur district in eastern Nepal on 3 March, the carnage that took place at Beni Bazaar in Myagdi district on 20-21 March, in the western region once again terrorised the whole nation. The security force sources have claimed that 500 Maoists were killed in the incident and confirmed that the insurgents have abducted 37 persons including the Chief District Officer and Deputy Superintendent of Police from Beni bazaar. Different sections of the society and international community criticized these incidents and called for and immediate end to the violence. Almost all the newspapers and media covered these attacks and expressed their fear about the Maoists’ return to the path of violence yet again. They have said “indeed, it was the encounter between the insurgents and the security forces, but the killers and the killed were both Nepalis†and “(it) has become pretty clear that neither of the two warring rivals could win a war against the other.’†They have cried out for permanent settlement and restoration of peace and advised the King to “lessen†his rigidity and save his own citizens.
Donors Complain
The Maoists have accused the NGOs and INGOs of supporting the “feudalist forces†in Nepal and warned them not to implement any community development projects without their prior approval in the districts or areas they claim to have "liberated". These organizations and the international donor agencies have made a complaint that the Maoists were forcefully demanding donations for continuing their activities in the country and expressed their disinclination to persist in their projects. The Himalayan Times (18 March) editorial severely condemned the increasing insurgents’ threat against these developmental projects including even those that mainly benefited the poorest of the poor. The donor agencies, NGOs and INGOs in the social sector have remained generally confined in providing key services to benefit the socially and politically excluded, which the Maoists claim to serve by waging a "people’s war." They, therefore, deserve better than the Maoists' forced extortions for a political cause totally against the operating guidelines of the agencies. The editorial has concluded that the donor funds are not meant for military, political or sectarian purposes and “if these agencies pull out from Nepal, it will only further stymie development.â€Â
Press Freedom
Information and Communications Minister Kamal Thapa has called on the Nepali media not to cover the news which induce panic and terror in the public. The Annapoorna Post on 15 March said “in a democratic country, the media is not subject to government control over what and how news should be presented.†It argued that it was unreasonable to say that the media was exaggerating reports of human rights abuses by the Maoists and security forces but at the same time the seriousness of major incidents like the Bhojpur attack, and bombing of buses and public places by the Maoists deserve to be made public. The government should also look at how the media has helped to boost public morale and the Nepali media is aware of its public service role.
Kofi Annan’s Concern
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has expressed his concern about the worsening situation of conflict in Nepal and urged the Government and the Maoists to “end the fighting and resume the peace process with the participation of all political and civil forces in the countryâ€Â. The Nepali Times (26 March-1 April) in its editorial has questioned the sincerity of the Prachanda’s call for the UN to monitor Nepal’s conflict situation and the Maoists’ respect for human rights and dignity. The editorial noted Kofi Annan’s statement that “there is no military solution to the conflict†and said “there are military hawks who can’t countenance any talk of negotiations, even while they grudgingly admit that there is no military solution.†It appreciated the Kofi Annan’s concern on Nepal and warned that “If efforts to negotiate are not initiated soon, we will see worse carnages than Bhojpurs and Benis in months ahead.â€Â
The Weekly Telegraph (31 March) in its editorial welcomed the UN’s concern and asked the incumbent Government to come out with explanation about the decision on rejection of third party mediation including that of the UN in Nepal’s conflict. It refuted the fear about the negative end for their country if the UN mediated among the warring parties and said “there were scores of cases wherein UN mediation has workedâ€Â. Further, it said that if Prachanda voluntarily invited the UN to monitor the situation and did not worry about the balance of interests of both the conflicting parties at time of the negotiation, the Government should also comply with the UN’s offer.
Impact of Bandhs
Spotlight (12-18 March) in its editorial said that the frequent bandhs have become deadly scourge for the public and devastated the whole country’s economy. It blamed the failure of government and the administration to guarantee peace and security to the citizens and to nullify the bandh. It condemned the Maoists’ “heinous behavior to destroy the very fabric of our society†and called on them to give up their misdirected ideology. The editorial also cautioned the King that his directives were not implemented because of the inefficient and threatened bureaucracy. It is important to search for new avenues, if Surya Bahadur Thapa’s government had exhausted its policies to contain the insurgency and to instill faith among the common people.
Kantipur (13 March) daily quoted the detailed study conducted by the Kathmandu Research Center and said that each Nepali incurs a loss of about NRs 47 and the nation as a whole, NRs 1 billion in losses from each day of ‘bandh’ or general strike. The study points out that among the most affected sectors due to these frequently called bandh programs are education and tourism. Further, a single day of bandh means that more than NRs 3.81 million of government investment in the educational sector goes down the drain.
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