Monday, April 09, 2007

Tie The Bell: Elections In November


Elections In November (March 1, 2007)

Technical Issues

There are obvious technical reasons. Say ballot papers. If it takes two months to just print the ballot papers and get them to the polling booths, and there are only 70 days left to June 20, and work on it has not even started, then how can you have elections? And that is just one simple question. There are a dozen such technical issues. Constituencies have not been finalized. The voters' list has not been finalized.

Law And Order

There are law and order issues. Unless all parties can work freely in all villages and all towns for at least a few months before the actual elections campaign, the elections will be meaningless. It is important that we form eight party governments also in all 75 districts, and also in all towns and villages. That is the best way to turn the Maoists into just another party. It has worked at the center, it will work at the local levels.

Madhesi Janajati Movement

There is the Madhesi Janajati Movement. Any organization like the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, or NEFIN, or JTMM-Goit could call a week long Nepal Band and disrupt the polls. It would be easy to do. That would be such a waste. It is important to take the four armed Madhesi groups through a process that the Maoists themselves went through. They also need peace talks, they also need cantonments. If you just take the Nepal Army and the Moaist Army, the Madhesis are vastly underrepresented in the first place. So it makes arithmetic sense to bring in the four armed Madhesi groups.

Nonviolent organizations like Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and NEFIN deserve respectful talks. Together they could easily disrupt the polls. If the Girija Koirala government had treated the Madhesi Kranti with respect when it first took off, maybe we would have had polls before monsoon.

Congress Unification

You can't do that over a weekend. The two factions will have to become one. They will likely need a convention. A new leadership will emerge. Maybe Girija will retire. Nobody is stating the obvious. The guy is physically too frail to carry out the hectic day to day tasks of an interim Prime Minister.

Deuba's Second Inning

Who is the most obvious successor to Girija in a unified Congress? Maybe Deuba. It is for the Congress to decide. But it might be time to get a new Prime Minister from within a unified Congress. It is time Girija get promoted and made a Ganeshman. He should now become a leader of all parties in the country by retiring from active politics.

Maybe it will be Deuba who will take the country to elections in November.

Democratic Republic Now

It is such a sham to wait. Even the RJP and RPP are for a republic as of now. What are the chances the unified Congress will not go for a republic? Nil. So if all parties in and out of power are for a republic, why the pretension?

The interim parliament needs to declare Nepal a republic right away. The monarchy is such a non issue. Declaring Nepal a republic will mean most of the conspiracy theories will go away. And the country can then focus on the important issue of state restructuring, primarily federalism.

What Shape Federalism

Every party is going to have to come up with a specific map. The Congress will have to. The UML will have to. Neither are anywhere close to having it. How can you go face the people without that map?

And the people will need a few months to take a look at all the maps being offered. The ultimate shape of federalism is going to be the thorniest issue in the constituent assembly. It is not going to be the monarchy.

New Parties

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum is poised to become a political party that will emerge one of the largest parties in the country. That group will also need a few months to gel. Give them some time.

UML, Maobadi

If the law and order stuff gets normal, and if the Maoists truly become a political party, and if the UML thinks they have, that will get the ball rolling on the idea of a unified communist party in Nepal. That will be a good thing. The UML is the best judge of whether the Maoists have ditched gun power and muscle power for real.

This process will also need a few months.

Three Parties

Ideally speaking, it will be nice if there are only three or four parties left as we go into the elections. One would be the unified Congress party. Another would be a single, unified Communist Party Of Nepal. A third would be the two factions of the Sadbhavana, the MJF, and the NEFIN, the social justice group. And maybe the RJP and the RPP will become one.

Right now only the Congress seems likely to get together. And that will be okay. That we now have a mixed system and half of the deal is proportional means even if there are many parties, people's votes will not go to waste.

As long as free, fair, and fearless elections can be held, it is okay, it is great to have many parties in the ring. Democracy is cacophony.

Future Army

Just like each party will need a map for federalism, each party will have to have a formula for the future Nepal Army. How many soldiers? What sort of ethnic and gender composition? How do you achieve both?

There is an urgent need for some clarity. The offering to the people has to be clear, so the people can make the final decision.

Deuba Off To DC
Deuba In Jackson Heights
Deuba At Hotel Pennsylvania
Deuba At Columbia

In The News

Be Ready for CA polls, says PM Koirala Himalayan Times
Polls on time if parties work unitedly: PM “I need your and Madhav Kumar Nepal’s full cooperation to hold the election on the scheduled date,” a Baluwatar source quoted the PM as telling Prachanda. ...... Martin is claimed to have told the Maoist supremo that the date of any election should be announced 90 days ahead ..... Martin is learnt to have asked Prachanda to resolve the issues raised by the Madhesis and Janajatis, who have been agitating since the interim constitution was declared on January 15. ...... Sujata Koirala on Sunday said constituent assembly election is not possible on June 20 ..... Everybody knows that it is not going to happen
Election on June 20 not feasible, says Martin not “technically and politically feasible” to hold the CA polls on June 20 ..... “It will take little time to address the Tarai and ethnic issues .... it was not feasible to hold elections on the said date if the issues of Tarai and ethnic minorities remain unresolved
Nepal alleges plot to scuttle polls

Govt to begin fresh talks with Madhesis; amnesty for 10 Maoists Kantipur
RPP writes off constitutional monarchy
PM says prepare for CA elections
JTMM demands prisoner exchange with government
Terai life crippled by JTMM strike
Ministers will be sacked if found corrupt: PM
Election observation committee formed
मुस्लिमद्वारा आरक्षण माग
जनजातिको पर््रदर्शनमा प्रहरी हस्तक्ष्ँेप
कुमारीको मानव अधिकार स्थितिबारे अध्ययन
ँकूटनीतिज्ञले चुनाव हुन सक्तैन भन्नु अशोभनीय’
दलित विद्यार्थी पाकशिक्षाबाट वञ्चित
गाविस भवनमा माओवादी कार्यालय
प्रधानमन्त्रीको वार्ताशक्ति
संघीय संरचनाको विकास
समीकरण नपुगेको अन्तरिम सरकार
आन्दोलनमा विचारहीनता
र्सर्ने भयो चुनाव असार ६ गतेका लागि सारिएको संविधानसभाको चुनाव पुनः कात्तिकसम्म र्सर्ने घोषणा हुन मात्र बा“की छ अब सरकारले चुनाव गराउ“छु भनेको समय जम्माजम्मी ७० दिनको छ भने ७० दिनभित्र सम्पन्न गर्नुपर्ने चुनावसम्बन्धी सम्पर्ूण्ा तयारी पूरा गरेर चुनाव सम्पन्न गराउन कस्सिएर काम गर्दा पनि एक सय ३५ दिन लाग्छ । ..... आठ राजनीतिक दलका नेताहरूमा राजनीतिक इच्छाशक्ति भए जतिसुकै जटिल परििस् थतिमा पनि चुनाव हुनसक्ने तर्कले पनि वैधता गुमाइसकेको छ । चुनाव प्राविधिक विषय हो । इच्छाशक्ति बलियो भए पनि चुनावका लागि प्राविधिक शक्ति महत्त्वपर्ूण्ा हुन्छ । आठ दलका नेताहरूले समयको महत्त्व बुझ्न नसक्दा आएको अप्ठ्यारो हो यो । ....... प्रचण्डले भने असार ६ गतेभित्र चुनाव हुन नसक्ने तथ्य स् वीकार गरसिक्नु भएको आभास पाइन्छ ..... राजनीतिक दलहरूले संविधानसभाका लागि ठोस कार्यसूची अगाडि नल्याएसम्म त्यस्तो चुनावको खासै अर्थ रह“दैन । ...... सात दलका नेताहरू काठमाडौ“बाट गाउ“ फर्किने परििस्  थति अझै नबनेको गुनासो गर्दैछन् । ...... गाउ“ र जिल्ला तहमा अन्तरमि सरकारकै ढा“चामा र्सवदलीय प्रशासकीय प्रबन्ध ..... एकातिर मह“गी र अभावले शहरी जीवन अस्तव्यस्त बनेको छ भने अर्कोतिर शक्तिहरूबीच सन्तुलन मिल्न नसक्दा ग्रामीण जनजीवन असामान्य बन्न पुगेको छ । नेताहरूको अदूरदर्शिताका कारण जाति-जनजाति र मधेशी-गैरमधेशीका प्रश्नहरू आक्रामक ढङ्गले उठाइएका छन् । ...... चुनाव गराउ“दा चुनाव चुनावजस् तो नहोला भन्ने खतरा छ भने चुनाव नगराउ“दा फेर िकहिल्यै संविधानसभाको चुनाव नहुने खतरा पनि छ । ....... असार ६ मा हुने भनिएको चुनाव कात्तिकभित्र सम्पन्न गरनिे अर्को सरकारी घोषणा यसै साता आउन पनि सक्छ । .......प्रचण्डस“गकिशोर नेपालको कुराकानी : चैत २३ गते मात्रै संयुक्त राष्ट्रसङ्घका इयान मार्टिनस“ग मेरो कुराकानी भयो । उनीहरू असारमा त कुनै पनि हालतमा चुनाव हुनै सक्दैन भन्दैछन् । भइहाल्यो भने पनि त्यो चुनावको विश्वसनीयताको प्रश्न पनि उनीहरूले उठाएका छन् । ........ असारमा चुनाव भएन भने हामी सरकारबाट हट्दिन पनि सक्छौ“ ...... चुनाव भएन भने आठ पार्टर्ीीचमा राजनीतिक एकता बनिराख्छ भन्न सकि“दैन । ...... हाम्रा ३१ हजार साथीहरू अहिले पनि बडो अप्ठ्यारो स्थितिमा बसिराखेका छन् । त्यो क्यान्टोनमेण्टको व्यवस्थापन र त्यहा“ भएका जनमुक्ति सेनाका योद्धाहरूको भरणपोषणमा अहिलेको जस्तै लापरबाही ............................ सुरक्षाको पर्ूण्ा प्रत्याभूति र चुनावस“ग सम्बन्धित मुख्य मुद्दाहरू निराकरण नभएको ...... प्रमुख आयुक्त पोखरेलले निर्वाचनको मिति घोषणा हुनुपर्ूव सबै ऐन-नियम र आचारसंहिता, चुनावको वातावरण र निर्वाचन क्षेत्र निर्धारण हुनुपर्न ..... सुरक्षाकै कारण तर्राईका कतिपय जिल्लामा कार्यालय खोलेर काम गर्ने अवस्था नरहेको ..... छलफलमा प्रमुख आयुक्त पोखरेललाई आश्वस्त पार्दै गृहमन्त्री सिटौलाले रातदिन काम गरेर भए पनि समयमा निर्वाचन सम्पन्न गराउनैपर्ने बताउ“दै शान्ति सुरक्षाप्रति ढुक्क हुन आग्रह गरे । ....... चुनावमा छुट्टाछुट्टै दर्ुइ मतपत्र राखिने भएकाले आयोगले करीब चार करोड मतपत्र छाप्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । तर, समय अभावका कारण नेपालभित्र छाप्न सक्ने अवस्था छैन । चुनावी प्रणाली र क्षेत्र निर्धारण हुन नसक्दा मतपत्र छाप्ने कार्य सम्भव हुने देखि“दैन । ......... चार महिना बितिसक्दा पनि संविधानसभा सदस्य निर्वाचन ऐन, राजनीतिक दलसम्बन्धी ऐन र संविधानसभा अदालत ऐन अझै पारति हुन सकेका छैनन् । ती ऐनको अभावमा २६ वटा नियम-निर्देशिका तयार गर्न बा“की रहेको छ । यति मात्र होइन, आयोगले अझै मदताता नामावलीसमेत अद्यावधिक गर्न सकेको छैन । ...... आयोगले ५० जिल्लाको मतदाता नामावलीको अन्तिम टुङ्गो लगाइसकेको जनाए पनि सरकारले नागरकिता वितरण टोलीको म्याद चैत मसान्तसम्म बढाएका कारण मतदाता अझै थपिने निश्चित छ । ०६२ चैत मसान्तसम्ममा एक करोड ५३ लाख मतदाता रहेकोमा यसपटक १४ प्रतिशतले वृद्धि भई एक करोड ७३ लाख पुग्ने आयोगको अनुमान छ । ....... निर्वाचन क्षेत्र निर्धारण हुन नसक्दा मतदान केन्द्र तय हुन सकेको छैन । आयोगका प्रवक्ता लक्ष्मण भट्टर्राईका अनुसार मतदान केन्द्र तोक्न नसक्दा यकिन लागत खर्च, आवश्यक सुरक्षाकर्मी, कर्मचारी यकिन हुन सकेको छैन । निर्वाचनका लागि एक लाख ४० हजार कर्मचारी र करीब दर्ुइ अर्ब २५ करोड रुपिया“ खर्च लाग्ने अनुमान आयोगको छ । निर्वाचनको मिति घोषणा भएपछि निर्वाचन सामग्री खरदि गर्नुपर्ने र त्यसको प्याकिङ् र ढुवानी गर्न दर्ुइ महिना लाग्ने दाबी आयोगका कर्मचारीहरूको छ । ....... संविधानसभा निर्वाचनमा एक हजार मतदाता बराबर एक मतदान केन्द्र राख्ने आयोगको योजना छ । जस अनुसार, नौ हजार मतदान केन्द्र र आठ हजार उपकेन्द्र राख्ने प्रस्ताव आयोगले गरेको छ । ....... संविधानसभाको निर्वाचन असारबाट कात्तिकसम्म सरेमा आर्श्चर्य नमाने हुन्छ आयोगले गर्न बा“की कार्यहरु
मितदाता नामावली प्रशोधन
चिुनावको कानूनी आधार निर्माण
मितपत्र तयारी, छपाइ र ढुवानी
दिल दर्ता
मितदाता सन्देश निर्माण
प्रिचारप्रसार
मितदान केन्द्र निर्धारण
खिटिने कर्मचारीलाई तालिम
ििनर्वाचन कार्यालय स्थापना र कार्यक्रम प्रकाशन
भिौतिक स्रोत, साधन र त्यसको व्यवस्थापन
हाम्रो लक्ष्य पद, पैसा र मोटर सुविधा होइन’ हिसिला यमी भौतिक योजना तथा निर्माणमन्त्री अब 'क्यान्टोनमेन्ट' भित्रको हालत कति दयनीय छ भने तर्राई क्षेत्रमा सात सयजति त र्सप नै मार्नुपर्‍यो । टेन्टभित्र बस्दा लामखुट्टेले सताएको छ । खानेपानीसमेत पर्याप्त छैन ।

Now it’s RPP’s turn to ‘snub’ monarchy NepalNews
Govt forms 3-member team to hold talks with agitating groups led by Peace and Reconstruction minister Ram Chandra Poudel to hold talks with various agitating groups including Madhesis and indigenous communities. .... to resolve their demands politically ..... Minister of State for Water Resources Gyanendra Karki and Minister of State for General Administration Ram Chandra Yadav
Terai bandh affects normal life Normal life in eastern and central Terai has been affected due to the bandh (shutdown) called by Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), Jwala Singh faction, on Monday. ..... Highways and other roads in Morang, Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha and Mahottari districts remain deserted while industries and marketplaces have closed. .... calling it a 'public holiday' to mark the 'liberation' of Terai.
Doctors launch protest demanding Dr. Singh's release to secure the release of Dr. Murali Prasad Singh, who was abducted from Rajbiraj, Saptari district, six days ago by an unknown group.
Maoists must return seized properties: Koirala

Congress to kick off campaign from Pokhara; unity to proceed after Deuba's return NepalNews
JTMM-Goit to disrupt CA polls there was no need of holding the constituent assembly polls as the Tarai region is independent and has been declared so. .... Jwala Sing led faction of JTMM said that the faction has no policy to hinder the ongoing SLC examinations.
Locals lock up 8-party leaders, VDC Secy Locals of Govindapur in Morang district locked up representatives of eight political parties and VDC secretary inside the VDC building for four hours protesting against the early return of a government citizenship distribution team from the area.

Visitors

9 April08:59Singapore Management University, Singapore
9 April09:05Cablecom GmbH, Wettingen, Aargau, Switzerland
9 April09:27Dean Medical Center, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
9 April10:18Telewest Broadband, Gillingham, Medway, United Kingdom
9 April10:32UBS AG, Bronx, New York, United States
9 April10:49Nepal Telecommunications Corporation, Kathmandu, Nepal
9 April10:55Central Science Library, Delhi, India
9 April10:59Epoch Networks, Houston, Texas, United States
9 April11:12B. C. Jackson Engineering, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
9 April11:34Ownit AB, Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden
9 April11:46Joensuun kaupunki, Joensuu, Eastern Finland, Finland
9 April11:57Minnesota State University System, Saint Cloud, Minnesota, United States
9 April12:04Demon Internet's ADSL Service, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
9 April12:09Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Addition Hills, Quezon, Philippines
9 April12:10Feng Chia University, Taichung, T'ai-wan, Taiwan
9 April12:13Deloitte & Touche, New York, United States
9 April12:34Marshall University, Alkol, West Virginia, United States


9 April12:44Telenor Business Solution AS, Sandvika, Akershus, Norway
9 April12:56Verizon, Flushing, New York, United States


9 April13:09Deutsche Telekom AG, Paring, Bayern, Germany
22 March 2007, Thursday491
23 March 2007, Friday480

Sunday, April 08, 2007

Mathura Shrestha: Liar




Preeti Koirala And Mainstream Pahadi Prejudice
Paudel Bahun Is Lying
Dhruba Adhikary: Your Typical Pahadi Liar
Pahadi Bias Colors Global Media

MATHURA SHRESTHA
“Within two minutes, over a dozen MMM cadres were killed. Then, the MPRF-hired professional killers chased the MMM cadres. Some of the MMM cadres, not acquainted with Gaur, entered the nearby houses for safety. They were dragged out and killed.”


INTERVIEW WITH DR MATHURA SHRESTHA

Dr Mathura Shrestha, a prominent human rights activist, visited Gaur a day after the carnage, in which 29 persons died. Dr Shrestha served as Health Minister in the post-1990 interim government. He attended a meeting of the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) in Delhi and met also Chief of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha, Jaya Krishan Goit a couple of times. Dr Shrestha out-rightly rejects Prachanda's view of outlawing MPRF. He suggests that addressing the Madhesi people’s problems and implementing the decisions taken by the SPA plus Maoists thus far will help restore peace and democracy in the country. Dr Shrestha shares his opinions and recounts eyewitnesses' account on the Gaur carnage with Puran P Bista and Ghanashyam Ojha of The Kathmandu Post. Excerpts:

Q: How do you recount the gory incident of Gaur after your recent visit?

Dr Mathura Shrestha: Madhesi People's Rights Forum (MPRF) had made an announcement through mikes five days ago for holding a public meeting in Gaur at 11 am on last Wednesday. The Madhesi Mukti Morcha (MMM) set up the stage for the carnage after it, too, decided to hold the public meeting on the same ground at the same time on the same day. The locals feared something. As a result, president Deo Padayar Gupta of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Rautahat branch, invited the MPRF and MMM cadres to attend a meeting on Wednesday morning at around 8:00 am.

But none of them attended the meeting. At around 10 am, rallies of both the parties began. Some of the participants of the rallies had come from the adjoining VDCs. Both parties’ rallies met near the district court. The participants of the rallies waved, clapped their hands and welcomed each other's rally, showing an understanding on the holding of Wednesday's public meeting. The locals took this incident as a good gesture that MPRF would hold its meeting first, and then MMM would do so, on the same ground but at different times. Then, the Maoist rally passed through Gaur, while MPRF's rally converted into a public meeting at the Rice Mill ground.

The ground is near the district court. First, the MPRF cadres dismantled the MMM’s stage built for the public meeting. A few MMM cadres present there were beaten up. These MMM cadres left the ground to inform their leaders about the incident. Chairing MPRF's meeting was Ram Prasad Biswas. No sooner did Biswas took his chair as the chief guest, than the MMM cadres entered the field and began to disrupt MPRF's meeting. Then, from the southern and western sides, some people fired shots at the MMM cadres. Later, some MPRF cadres fired at the MMM cadres from the stage. According to eyewitnesses, the MPRF cadres used socket bombs and small firearms, besides sharp weapons and cleft bamboo sticks. I think MPRF had hired notorious higher killers.

Q: How can you claim so when you were not present there?

Dr Shrestha: Within two minutes, over a dozen MMM cadres were killed (on the spot). Then, the MPRF-hired professional killers chased the MMM cadres. Some of the MMM cadres, not acquainted with Gaur, entered the nearby houses for safety. They were dragged out and killed. Some of the MMM cadres were chased as far as eight kilometers and killed. Some of the dead bodies were buried in a water canal.

I was told by eyewitnesses that eight of the killers were local Nepalis and 25 others were Indians. The three locals are Balru, Hafij Mukhiya and Binda Hasin Sahani. The eyewitnesses recounted that “the police force could do nothing”. But local police contradicted this statement saying that “they blank-fired to stop the killings”. Some local people even claimed that Upendra Yadav was staying at the house next to Dr Tayab and the superintendent of police escorted him up to Barganiya near the Nepal-India border.

What was heinous was that five of the women were raped in public. Two people caught their legs and other MPRF cadres raped them in public. Later their breasts were chopped off and burnt to deface their identity. Gagan Singh, Bhusan Singh, Baban and Guddu Jha were involved in raping and chopping-off-activities. Two local Muslim girls were taken away and their whereabouts are still unknown.

Q: Are these rapists local or Indian criminals?

Dr Shrestha: They should be local people because the local residents knew them well and everyone could pronounce their names clearly. Twelve of the MMM cadres were killed at Hajmonia, some 12 kilometers away from Gaur. They included three women and nine men.

Q: According to your assessment, what was the police force doing at that time? Dr Shrestha: Police could do nothing when government offices were set on fire by the MPRF cadres some weeks ago. The police force has been unable to wipe the sign boards written Madesh Sarkar in government offices. What can you expect from them? Secondly, you must understand that King Gynendra conducted municipality polls. All the political parties boycotted the polls except Kamal Thapa's. And you must have learnt that the highest turn out in the country was at Gaur - almost 72 percent of the voters cast their votes in Gaur municipality polls. And Kamal Thapa's candidate got 92 percent of the votes polled. Now you can think of the situation there. Recently, all the government offices have been set on fire. By whom? A girl of late 20s raised a question. She asked me, “Dr Sahab, is political change meant for criminals or the people?” I was shocked to hear such a question from a girl who I think was forced to leave her studies. Then, I asked a few more questions. Her response was: “there is none who supports MPRF at Gaur and I do not know other places. But whatever MPRF wants, it happens here. We can do nothing in the presence of MPRF because of criminalization of politics, culture and religion”. Until the restoration of democracy 1990, there had been a mafia group operating in Gaur. This mafia used to smuggle hashish, gold and idols, and traffic women. But the restoration of democracy led to an emergence of another mafia group. This group killed the leader of the Panchayat mafia in Janakpur. The locals say that the democratic parties have given this mafia group a political protection. Whenever they are arrested, the parties ask the police force to release them. The NC, UML and other political cadres feed and pay them. During the early 1990s, there had been clashes between these two mafia groups. Today, they have joined their hands and the dacoits across the border have also been working in tandem with these two mafia groups. So, it looks that these groups have been very active in Gaur and its adjoining districts. The locals say that MPRF is a mere mask. These two mafia groups are active in the name of MPRF. Even human rights activists cannot release any report on these mafia leaders as they threaten to kill them.

Q: How could these mafias be hired by MPRF to the extent of butchering so many MMM cadres?

Dr Shrestha: MPRF hired professional killers. They paid them money. Eight of them were Nepali criminals and over 25 were Indian professional killers. I am talking about only those who fired gunshots. Today, the cost to hire the professional killer groups comes to 15 million rupees.

These killers are used during the elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states also. You do not have to campaign if you pay 15 million rupees to these professional killers. You win the elections. I was shocked to hear such stories from a girl who was forced to leave her studies by these local mafias. I was further told that a girl cannot get married to a man of her or her family's choice in Gaur. These mafias come and ask the girl to get married to their choice. If she refuses, she is threatened to be taken to a nearby mango tree and raped to be left a prostitute. Such incidents are common in Gaur. These mafias have been very active since King Gyanendra's regime conducted municipal elections. Now they are being used by MPRF.

These are the tips of the iceberg. In fact Gaur is ruled by criminals and the SPA government, until recently, considered them its allies. Apart from eight Nepalis and 25 Indian professional killers, some MPRF cadres hit with cleft bamboo sticks. Each MMM cadre killed and injured had deep cuts in their heads. You see a cleft bamboo stick is as sharp as khukuri. And you can't survive if you are hit with a cleft bamboo stick on your head. They used other sharp weapons too. All the hospitalized had head injuries. One MMM cadre, who left the hospital after a doctor advised her to leave, was later caught and hit by a cleft bamboo stick. Now that girl is on her death bed. I was shocked to learn that MPRF hired professional killers to kill unarmed MMM cadres.

Q: Whom do you blame for the carnage? Dr Shrestha: What I have been advocating for the past several months is that we should not have opposed MPRF-organized protest programs. The main reason that let the Maoists oppose the MPRF organized protest movement is that the SPA gave up its stance on addressing the Madhesi problems. First, the SPA gave up its stance on federalism in the interim constitution. Second, it gave up its stance on proportional representation. Third, it raised the issue of public opinion and later it gave it up. All this disappointed the Madhesis and other ethnic groups in the hill and mountain. Now we must realize that democracy did generate hope but doubts are undermining our hope for democracy. I see this is the emergence of people's resentment. It is there in Madhes, hill and mountain. The movement in Madhes was not started by MPRF but by Nepal Sadhbhawana Party (Anandi Devi). MPRF shot into the fame only. I agree there are politicians in MPRF. I met Upendra Yadav personally and informed him of SPA's stance on the demands. I advised him to give up the political demands since the SPA government was preparing to address his demands. Secondly, I told him to use peace as a weapon to raise the demands. His response was “we have been put behind bars, now all our cadres are out of our control”, adding that “it will be a peaceful movement.” He had assured me that he would even hold talks with the janjati groups, which he did not do so. Let us not talk of him now. He is not the right kind of politician. He was just a village level leader though he may claim himself a national leader. Second, the primary concern is that the second revolt (April uprising, even if you call it a people's movement) brought the eight parties into a single platform. If these leaders of eight parties continue with leg-pulling politics, then the Gaur carnage is the beginning. These leaders take decisions but fail to implement them. What is the reason behind the failure to implement or delay in implementing and blaming one another? This is not the way of playing politics. Q: But the SPA continues to insist on arms registration before the formation of eight-party government. Isn't it? Dr Shrestha: Arms registration is not a big deal, nor is it the problem. The Nepali Congress did raise arms against the establishment, not once but twice. If we add the incident of Okhaldhunga, it raised arms thrice. When the NC reached an agreement with the then government, it did not surrender all the weapons; so did the Marxists after the Jhapa killing. The Marxist and NC did not surrender all the weapons they had in their possession. So, history clearly tells us that registration of weapons is not the primary concern. The Maoists have agreed to join mainstream politics. Why can't the SPA be accommodative now? The Gaur carnage is an outcome of Maoist pride and the anarchy let loose in the country. There are several counter-Maoist groups unleashing anarchy. Unless the eight parties come together and build trust among themselves, the country will continue to reel under violence.

Posted on: 2007-03-26 10:37:38