From: "Magnus Bernhardsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Nepal developments - Nepali press clipping this weekend Rather lenghty post, this... Loads happening in Nepal these days. These are from Kantipur Daily, Katmandu Post, The Rising Nepal and People's Review - in that order. Magnus B 1) Army-police team raid student hostels 2) Parties discuss Govt.-Maoist talks 3) Govt bans mass gathering prior to Maoist meet 4) Maoists threaten to start violence again 5) Govt. says more talks with Maoists 6) Govt flatly rejects Maoists’ demand 7) Maoists put much pressure on petrol pumps 8) 'Maoists taking undue advantage’ 9) No more fear of the police or the Maoists 10) Shutters down in Hile Bazaar fearing Maoist retaliation 11) Setting a mob lose in Kathmandu? 12) Nepal Socialist Party demands for constitutional assembly 13) Maoists need to perform responsible role 14) People retaliate against Maoists 15) A book to understand Maoists' "people's war" 1) Army-police team raid student hostels KOL Report KATHMANDU, Sept 16 – In an attempt to bring security situations in the Valley under control prior to planned the mass gathering to be held by the Maoists, joint Nepal Police and the Royal Nepal Army teams conducted raids in various student hostels belonging to few colleges searching for arms and ammunitions suspected to have been smuggled by Maoist rebels. According to information received so far, at least five students have been arrested with publicity materials such as posters, banners and pamphlets for the mass gathering from a student hostel at Tribhuvan University Campus, Kirtipur and ASCOL Campus, Lainchour. All the raids, including another one in Mahendra Ratna Campus, Tahachal, took place between 3:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. this morning. When contacted, police officials refused to divulge any details such as how many places the raids had taken place or if the search teams had confiscated any arms and ammunition. However, a senior army official confirmed that the raids did take place but still refused to speak further. According to eyewitnesses army had also cordoned off Pulchowk Campus in Patan also but this has not been officially confirmed. Other sources said that at least 50 policemen and 125 army personals from the Singha Durbar Barrack under Brigade No. 1 had conducted the operation. "The security agencies are also planning to raid various industries and monasteries where the rebels are suspected to have forcefully taken shelter," the source added. (sjs/rk) 2) Parties discuss Govt.-Maoist talks KOL Report KATHMANDU, Sept. 16 – All party meeting called to discuss the failed second round of talks between the government and the Maoist rebels, has given its backing to the government on its stand on Maoist demands for a people's republic and a new constitution. The all-party meeting, held at the Defense Ministry in Singha Durbar Sunday morning, also agreed to discuss issues raised during the negotiation within their own parties and report back later in the week to find a common consensus. Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjivi Wagle, who headed the government team to the talks, told waiting reporters that the meeting had agreed to find a common ground over the Maoist crisis. He also said the government should try to implement whatever decision the all party meeting reaches. He said the dates for next round of talks would be finalized later. Another Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the parties would convene their own meeting before coming together again sometime on Wednesday. He also sounded a positive note on Maoists moving their venue of their mass meeting scheduled for September 17 and 21 in Kathmandu to Biratnagar. "By moving the venue somewhere else, Maoists appear to be sending signals that they are serious about not disrupt the ongoing dialogue," Poudel added. Poudel said "the meeting also supported the government stand on certain Maoist demands such as institutional development of a republic and a new constitution." (rk/sjs) 3) Govt bans mass gathering prior to Maoist meet KOL Report KATHMANDU, Sept 15 – The government on Saturday banned mass gathering, sloganeering and strikes within the Valley prior to the supposedly two huge Maoist meets slated to be held in the capital, also further halting any forms of publicity such as poster campaigns and other activities that are against the spirit of the Constitution - all for the maximum notice of one month or any further notice. An announcement issued separately by the Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur Chief District Officers, has also warned that anyone forcefully collecting donations and using buildings or transport vehicles of private individuals, industries and schools shall be taken in control by security personals and will be legally prosecuted. The government move comes after the failure in convincing the Maoists to hold their mass gatherings slated for September 17 and 21 elsewhere during the recent talks between the two sides in Bardia district. So far, the rebels have even been involved in various activities in the capital by forcefully collecting various means of support from organizations and individuals for their gathering. (sjs) 4) Maoists threaten to start violence again KOL Report KATHMANDU, Sept 15 – Subsequently after the failure of the second round of government-Maoist talks, the chief negotiator from the rebel side on Saturday said that the Maoists are stuck to their earlier demands for a republican, a new Constitution and an interim government, further warning that they would resort to armed struggle again if they fail to meet any kind of agreement. Speaking at the first ever press meet organized by the rebels in the capital after the end of the second round of talks, Krishna Prasad Mahara (who heads the Maoist talks team) said: “We will return back to our old form of revolt if the our demands are not met through peaceful means.” He also clearly hinted that the rebels were coming to the talk table only to look for peaceful means to meet their demands. Furthermore, Mahara once again said that the rebels are firm in holding the mass gathering in the capital’s Open Air Theatre on September 21, further claiming that the meet would be "held peacefully within the framework of the present Constitution." (sjs) 5) Govt. says more talks with Maoists KOL Report KATHMANDU, Sept. 15 – The Nepali government says talks with Maoist rebels to end the six-year-old insurgency will continue despite the failure of the second round of talks to make headway. The two-day talks, held at Tiger Tops jungle lodge at Thakurdwara in Bardia district, ended abruptly late on Friday night with the government accusing the rebels of being inflexible on their demands. Talking to journalists Saturday morning, Coordinator for the government team Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjivi Wagle, said dates for the next round of talks will be made public after consultation with the Maoist side. Minister Wagle said rebels had presented written agenda and added some of the demands put forward by the rebels were totally unacceptable to the government. "Some of the points mentioned in the Maoist agenda is totally unacceptable to His Majesty’s Government," Wagle said. He did not elaborate what these points were but the government has previously made clear that Constitutional Monarchy and multiparty democracy was not open to negotiations. Moves towards republican state and abolition of monarchy were one of the main demands put forward by the Maoists. He however, said the government had been flexible enough to accommodate "a few" of the rebel demands, some of which were already being implemented. "Some of the demands raised by the Maoists can be resolved through mutual agreement while some of the points raised have already been implemented by the government." Minister Wagle also said that the government had reiterated its earlier stand that rebels abandon their activities, including violence, extortion and threats, which are deemed provocative and a hurdle to peace talks. "We asked the rebels to stop the use of force completely. We have also requested the Maoists to stop collecting money through "forced donations", carry weapons in public or organise mass gathering and rallies," Wagle said. (rk) 6) Govt flatly rejects Maoists’ demand Post Report KATHMANDU, Sept 15 – The much-awaited government-Maoists dialogue virtually reached to a deadlock after the government flatly rejected the Maoists’ demands for a republican state and a new Constitution. But both the sides agreed to sit down across the table again despite serious differences in the second round of talks held on Thursday and Friday. In fact, Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhedar admitted the serious differences today at a press conference. While replying to a question, Gachchhedar said, "Our stance in the talks could be interpreted either way. It could be taken as our rejection of their (two) demands or it can be interpreted as our preliminary opinion." Although both the sides said that they were committed to the talks and that the third round would be held soon, it seems less likely that any concrete result would come out of the talks, given the public posturing of the two sides. During different conferences held here today, the government and the Maoists’ negotiation teams stuck to their guns on the question of the republic and the formulation of a new Constitution. Both the teams returned to the capital after the two-day talks at posh Tiger Tops resort in the Royal Bardiya National Park in West Nepal. "We told the Maoists that we cannot accept their demands to rescind the present Constitution and completely disagree with their call for a republic," said Chiranjivi Wagle, Minister for Works and Physical Planning and the head of the government-negotiating team. He also read out a detailed reply to the Maoists’ 23-point demands under three sections which they presented to the government during the second round of talks. Wagle said that the government has reiterated its request to the Maoists to drop their plan to hold their students’ and their own meetings in the capital on September 17 and 21 respectively. Speaking about other demands of the Maoists, Wagle revealed that his team assured the rebels that they would implement their demands after due considerations. As far as creating a conducive environment for the talks, Wagle said that they would make public, within a week, the whereabouts of the Maoists who are in police custody or said to be missing. The government would also release the Maoists from the custody as agreed upon earlier after following due procedures, added Wagle. He also said that the government would make necessary amendments and improvements in the Public Safety Regulations (PSR) 2001. The Maoists had demanded its repeal. Reacting to the rebels’ call to disband the Armed Police Force, the Minister said that he had told the Maoists that it was not possible to do so. However, he reiterated the government’s assurance that the force would not be used against any political party. On another contentious issue, the Integrated Security and Development Package (ISDP) under which the army has been deployed in Maoist-affected districts, Wagle said that the programme would automatically become invalid once the peace and security situation improves. 7) Maoists put much pressure on petrol pumps Post Report CHITWAN, Sept 15 – Petrol Pumps in the Chitwan district have been asked to provide at least fifteen thousand litres of diesel to transporters for carrying Maoist supporters to the Kathmandu valley. Petrol Pump owners here said that the Maoist supporters categorized petrol pumps of the district into four groups. Depending upon the size of the pumps they demanded 1200 litres, 800 litres, 700 litres and 400 litres of diesel respectively. However, the petrol pumps agreed to provide half of what was initially demanded, according to a source at the Chitwan Petrol Pump Association. "An understanding to this effect was reached between petrol pumps and Maoists last Wednesday," he said. The demand comes to ensure adequate participation of the Maoist supporters at two different programmes planned to be held in Kathmandu on September 17th and 21st. All Nepal National Independent Student Union – Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), a student wing of the Maoist, is the main organizer of the programmes. While ANNISU-R celebrates its 15th National Convention on September 17th, it has planned a mass meet for September 21, in which they have claimed to bring three to four hundred thousand supporters. 8) 'Maoists taking undue advantage’ Post Report KATHMANDU, Sept 15 - Former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Poudel Saturday blamed the Maoists of taking undue advantage and accumulating power through wrong means during the cease-fire and ongoing Government-Maoists talks. Speaking at an interaction programme, Poudel said the Maoists have been indulging in extortion, forceful donation-collection spree and threatening various industries, schools and colleges to shut down. "By seeing such activities of the Maoists, even national and international organisations have gone against the rebels," he said. The interaction programme on Context of Government-Maoists Talks and Present Situation was organised by Maobadi Utpidit Sangh (Maoist Sufferers’ Organisation) - MUS. Poudel also warned the rebels who have been waging war from the terrains of the western and mid-western region of the country that they would get a major setback and should bear a huge loss if they did not come to an agreement with the Government during the ongoing talks. "Maoists are nothing but the product of confusion and disbelief aroused between the political parties, government and palace, MPs and even between the Prime Minister and Ministers of the Cabinet," said Poudel who had resigned citing differences with the then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Speaking on the same occasion, advisor of MUS Dhruba Raj Thapaliya said the Maoists have become more anarchic after the cease-fire. "Apart from anarchism among the Maoists, they have become further organised despite the government’s flexibility," Thapaliya said. A sufferer of the Maoist violence from Chitwan district, Indra Kumar Oli, said he was severely beaten up just because of being a member of the Nepali Congress Party. "The government has further added to the wound initially made by the rebels," he said blaming the government of not doing anything for the Maoist sufferers’ relief. Addressing the function, MUS vice-president Dharma Raj Neupane said the organisation was established to wage an ideological war against the rebels. "The government has turned to be a mute spectator towards Maoist sufferers who are seeking government’s protection," Neupane said. Speaking on the occasion, Professor Jaya Raj Acharya said the ongoing talks should be able to salvage the country from the probable international intrusion aroused after the horrendous terrorist attack in the USA. Senior advocate Mukund Ragmi said the Maoists, on the one hand, say they are underground and on the other, they are committing terrorist acts in the daylight. "Their intention is questionable," he said. Regmi also asked the government to solve the Maoist problem by mobilising the army in a "peaceful disarm operation" against the rebels to collect their arms and ammunition. 9) No more fear of the police or the Maoists By Satyendra Timilsina Since, there was a dispute between cable car operator and villagers of Manakamana, I had no other alternatives but to opt for three-hour long exhausting-trek uphill from Abu Khairini, to reach Manakamana. I made my way to Manakamana, crossing the rope-bridge over Daraudi River at Abu Khairini, the entry point for the trekking route uphill. On the way, I met some villagers and had a chat with them. When I was at a resting place after 45 minutes of walk, I saw a man carrying a spade on his shoulders indicating he was returning home from his days works. I talked to him about the setbacks the villagers had to face after introducing the modern cable car technology. Though, I had no intention to make any queries about the Maoists activities, I was much eager to know about it too, so asked him. While talking to him I noticed that the villagers had changed their attitudes in the recent years. The way he spoke, so frankly and without any hesitations, clearly reflected that they have become scare-free of the Maoists as well as the policemen. I could recollect the days three years back when I had taken the same route to the same destination. During my last visit to the temple, I had not been able to find a single person who had talked to me so frankly. At that time, one could clearly see fear in their eyes, quitely saying, "who knows, the outsider could be a Maoist or a policeman." "Now the villagers don’t have to fear anybody. The policemen never come to the doors and the Maoists have almost full control over the village," he said. Also, Maoists come to the villagers, talk about so-called "peoples’ war" and ask them to get involved in it. The villagers provide food and shelter to the Maoists, but never speak a single word opposing their activities, he added. I continued my march up until the next resting place at Khari Bhanjyang, the halfway mark on the route. With around two hours of tiring effort, I was almost soaked in sweat. I sat on the bench under the tree and wiped off the sweat with my handkerchief. A man sitting nearby, who looked like a retired armyman, asked me if I was on my way to the top. "Yeah" I replied with a tiring look. After I knew that he was one from the local village, I questioned him about the Maoists. "Just Yesterday, they had a cultural programme in the village Secondary School. They had invited all the policemen and even the Police Incharge of Gorkha District. You can imagine how free they are here." he said. When I was talking to some of the other villagers on the way, all were unanimous in their sayings. No police actions have been seen in recent years to stop the Maoists’ programmes. "Instead, they look like mute spectator. We have seen both the groups together on several occasions," they said. "Whenever the Maoists plan to stage any programme their cadres come to each house asking to attend it. We have not seen any ‘jankarvahi’ against villagers not attending the programme, because we all participate in it at our own will," they added. 10) Shutters down in Hile Bazaar fearing Maoist retaliation Post Report DHANKUTA, Sept 15 - Hile Bazaar in Dhankuta district was tense and remained closed on Saturday following the arrest of a central member of All Nepal Free Students (Revolutionary) Association, an affiliate of CPN (Maoist) at Hile on Friday. The businessmen closed Hile Bazaar on Saturday as they were scared of possible attack by Maoist workers in retaliation to the arrest.. Police arrested central member of the association Hem Raj Bhandari and another member Dilli Prasad Bhattarai as they were collecting donations from local businessmen. The bazaar has remained closed after the threat of the Maoists. Police had arrested the two along with donations receipt with which they were threatening and collecting money from businessmen, according to police. The local businessmen have urged the police to set free the arrested students and save them from the possible Maoist attack. Meanwhile, the Maoists have built pressure on the chairmen and vice-chairmen of 21 VDCs and other office-bearers to submit their resignations or face action after the Maoists declared Ilaka Jana Sarkar last week. The VDC chairmen and vice-chairmen have all come to the district headquarters. None of them has resigned so far. All the elected chairmen and vice-chairmen are from CPN (UML). After the VDC chairmen and vice-chairmen fled the VDCs, the Maoist workers have started locking the VDC offices. Six VDCs have already been locked, local villagers informed over phone. 11) Setting a mob lose in Kathmandu? BY OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT All indication so far this week make the September 21st Kathmandu rally of the Maoists a near certainty. In defiance of calls from various political sources for the Maoists to avoid the move for the rally, party leader Prachanda insists that the mass demonstration will go ahead while assuring the public that the gathering will be peaceful. There is no word as yet of the talks and the manner of the talks (in Vardiya today now, it is said) helping abort the mass gathering. There is every word hinting that the mass is building and preparations are well underway to house numbers of migrants to Kathmandu, the size likely to be significant. In many ways the visible presence of organizers arranging for the logistics of such a mass demonstration in the capital city has contributed to a sense of anticipation bordering near panic on the event to take place next Friday. What has added fuel to this is the virtual lack of assurance the government and the mainstream parties can provide the public that no untoward incident will happen in course of the gathering. Stern words and sporadic action against the forceful collection of contributions apart, it does appear that the government has neither the means nor the will to stop the event from taking place. And so the realization that anything can happen that day is sinking in the public psyche. A mob of the size anticipated must be so thoroughly under control as not to allow any untoward incident from happening. That this is to depend so wholly on the goodwill of the Maoist leadership contributes to the sense of discomfort among the public. Regardless of reports that the administrative and security machinery are on their toes, public awareness that the initiative is hardly in government hands and has been solely left to the mob has added to the sense of unease that is likely to prevail until the incident takes place. 12) Nepal Socialist Party demands for constitutional assembly BY OUR REPORTER Recently held meeting of the Nepal Socialist Party, headed by its chairman Rameshor Raj Sarbahara has demanded for a fresh poll for the constitutional assembly to draft a new constitution. The Party has further demanded to allow to organise the Maoists' Janasabha on September 21 in Kathmandu. Likewise, the party has demanded for immediate formation of an all-party government by desolving present Parliament. 13) Maoists need to perform responsible role BY OUR REPORTER The Maoists are the deciding factor for either peace or war. Taking advantage of the soft-corner shown by the government in respecting the environment of cease-fire and talks, the Maoists have come to organise open mass-meeting and creating havoc in the society by raising funds and taking action against the general people. Against such an attitude of Maoists, people have started to retaliate - the incidents of western Nepal and Birjunj are the examples of such a negative activities of the Maoists. If the Maoists continue such an attitude, the popularity gained by them will end. Not only this, if such activities continue, a situation of civil war will obviously come with one Nepali killing another. The other fact is that the Maoists hold strong position and in case of election, they can easily occupy about 80 to 90 seats in the Parliament. If they will make an alliance with other Left forces, the next government will be of the Left. In such a positive situation, if the Maoists are patriotic or wise, they have to change their present stance. They have to negotiate for the formation of an all party government and drafting of a new constitution under the participation of the representatives from all political parties including the representative from the Royal Palace. Indeed, this is not the time to invite a civil war or create a situation for an intervention by foreign army. If the Maoist leaders are aware about the situation, they should compromise with the present situation, which could harm not only the Maoist party, but also the country. Meanwhile, according to some Maoist sources, a strong section within the Maoist party is in favour of compromising with the situation and trying to convince other cadres in keeping aside the demand of a republic state for the time being. Leaders from other Left parties too are opining that the demand of a republic state is not appropriate by looking after the country's present situation. General secretary of the ML party, Bam Dev Gautam, at a function, opined that to ask for a republic state is to demand the head of the King. Likewise, CP Mainali, in an interview to Deshantar weekly, said that Nepal as a republic state is a step towards Sikkimization of this sovereign country. He further hoped that at the negotiation table, the Maoists will not mention the demand of a republic nation. 14) People retaliate against Maoists BY OUR REPORTER The recent incident of Parsa, where the people came out openly against the Maoists, may be a proof that people are not willing to take coyly everything the Maoists throw at them. In the hundreds and even thousands of people of several villages gathered together against the Maoists' forced collecting of money and other atrocities like loot. In the incident some Maoists were killed and several others injured. This is the first time in the last six years since the Maoists' launched their 'People's War' that the people came out openly against the Maoists. By resorting to activities like forced donation, looting of money, grains and other goods the Maoists are increasingly pushing the people to the wall, and for those who have to bear the brunt of the Maoists' actions there is no way but to come out against them. The Maoists leaders, which boast themselves of being a champion of the poor and downtrodden, but almost all the victims of their people's war have been those very people. The Parsa incident has shown that the people have remained quiet against every kind of intimidation of the Maoists only because of fear rather than in support of the Maoists. Meanwhile, there number of incidences of the Maoists forcefully collecting money and other things has gone up. Recently, the Maoists have told several schools of Kathmandu Valley to provide accommodation for their supporters, who they say would pour in the Valley for the rally on Ashwin 5. Similarly, hotels, even big ones, say the Maoists have demanded for fooding and lodging. Even small ones are not spared by the Maoists. A shopkeeper near Maharajgunj, Chakrapath, said a group of youths, calling themselves as Maoists, came to his shop a few days back and took away one sack of rice, several kilos of lentils and vegetables. They even said they would come for money, he said. Likewise, a small travel agency near Thamel also said last week, some people came to his office last week and demanded Rs. 10,000 thousand as a donation for their rally. When he said the business was very low and he had got no client since the last two months, they still demanded whatever he has and got away with Rs.2,000. While going they even gave him a receipt, which said they were from the Revolutionary students' union. Such reports have begun to come from different areas of the Valley. However, with the government first asking the Maoists to stop their rally and then warning them of dire consequence if they went ahead with the rally, there are fear seeping in into the heart of the people of something worrying is going to happen. Some say if the Maoists go ahead with their rally and the government step up to stop it, this could bring a different twist to the Maoists people's war. If there is confrontation, as many people fear, the talks between the government and the Maoists could fall down completely and that could even lead to a new, but untoward, situation in the country, and the coming out of the army from their barracks to quell the Maoists cannot be ruled out. Now, with the people of Parsa taking up arms against the Maoists and the government, which was virtually knelt before them, saying it would take a tough stance against the Maoists, the Maoists have begun to feel the heat of their own war. 15) A book to understand Maoists' "people's war" BY OUR REPORTER "Women and Children in the Periphery of People's War", authored by Sobha Gautam and edited by Tirtha Koirala, is a field report compiled in a book form. The book describes the real situation of people in the remote villages in Rolpa, Rukum and Jajarkot districts. The book, comprises of interviews with local people including women and children and Maoist activists and commentary on the social, economic and cultural situation there. It is in fact a collection of information about the three Maoist influenced districts. As per the field report by Sobha Gautam, it seems, there is no presence of the government in the Maoist influenced villages. According to Gautam, people in these villages have joined the Maoist party as they had no other option. They wanted to escape from the exploitation of political party leaders and the police and brutal police suppression as well as killing of innocent people on the charge of being Maoist. Finally, the report states that poverty, lack of opportunity, illiteracy and exploitation by the feudal-class are the root-cause for the birth and spread of the Maoist movement in Nepal. The Maoists won the confidence of the people by forming their own government and giving justice through their own people's court. The book is available at the Institute for Human Rights Communication Nepal (IHRICON), Anamnagar, Kathmandu, Tel: 231079. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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