Maoist raid in Kathmandu valley

The Maoists in Nepal have recently intensified their attacks against government and civilian targets. They even managed to stage a spectacular raid right inside the Kathmandu valley in which a police post was attacked resulting in deaths of a handful of policemen. Security agencies in the capital were caught off guard as Maoists planned and staged this high profile attack. Despite being able to launch attacks right inside the valley, the Maoists choice of their target was rasther mundane, a police post at Sankhu, a town in northeastern part of Kathmandu. It is not known how Maoists successfully smuggled arms right into the valley. It was reported that the rebels used automatic rifles like INSAS and AK-47. Security checks leading to Kathmandu have all but failed to check weapons smuggluing by the rebels. The government appears to be apprehensive that thorough checking will infuriate tyhe public. This misguided policy has resulted in token checking of which the current incident is an ineviatble outcome.
Rebels have been successfully utilizing mobile warfare against security forces. They never engage in territorial offensives for they know that such positional warfare would be prohibitively costly for the rebels who are inferior in equipment and material support enjoyed by the Royal Nepalese Army(RNA). So the rebel strategy is hit and run raids. Attack and disappear. RNA's only option would be to decentralize its forces, use guerilla tactics to defeat guerillas, and avoid being encircled by larger rebel force by utilizing a combination of improved situational awareness and timely intelligence. Government forces enjoy international support. However, support should not be seen as blind support. Human rights indicators if it goes unfavorably against the government could cost it international support. Therefore, the Army must enforce human rights irrespective of what the rebels decide to do.

Pokhara mayor assassinated

The mayor of Pokhara, a scenic tourist city in western Nepal, was brutally assassinated by Maoist rebels. Late mayor Harka Bahadur Gurung was gunned down reportedly by three assassins Friday July 2nd, 2004. This latest assassination comes amid reports that Prime Minister Deuba’s government has repeatedly hinted its willingness to sit down and settle scores with the rebels. The late mayor Gurung had repeatedly decided to refuse rebel demand that he resign from his office. Analysts believe the latest rebel stunt will give additional leverage to the rebels so that they can now easily coerce other would be deifiers to yield to rebel pressure. The Maoists do not want to be labeled terrorists by the government. However, they carry out killings, torture and abuse repeatedly so it is surprising they abhor the word terrorists.
Some time back, the Maoist rebels also crippled several Dalit (scheduled caste) for defying rebel diktat. These unfortunate fellows had their lower legs crushed by the rebels. Now, the rebels wish to portray themselves as “liberators” of dalits and Janajatis (ethnic groups). Instead, they brutally exploit these backward groups to participate in warfare and terror.
The real solution to the Maoist problem is nowhere in sight. This is exactly where the international community comes into play. Nepal’s neighbours have hopeless record of doing nothing against the Maoists. India has so far made only token efforts to round up rebels in its territory. China, the ideological heartland of the rebels, have remained quiet citing non-interference in internal affairs of Nepal. Can’t it denounce the Maoists the same way it wants Nepal to keep tight control of anti-China Tibetan activists? The best international intervention into Nepa can come in the form of UN’s auspices. However, UN representative to Nepal, Mathhew Kahane rules out UN intervention? Does he wish more Nepalese children to become child soldiers? Or does he expects the unruly mob of Nepalese politicians to hammer out a solution to this endemic crisis which is bleeding Nepal white? The UN Secretary General should be convinced to recommend to the Security Council to authorize a sizable peacekeeping mission in Nepal. In addition and to complement this force, there should be special UN representative to give momentum to the political process to find a lasting solution to this problem.

Violence becoming tradition in Nepal

It is a sad fact of Nepal that the country is wrecked with violence. The newly appointed Prime Minister Deuba has said peace will be his main agenda. However, his effort to include other political parties into his cabinet is yet to gain nmomentum. In the rural areas, rebel grip is tightening. The radical totalitarian Maoist party has attemped to penetrate deeply into socio-economic structure of areas under their control. They intervene into in house quarrels and disputes. They have established people's courts to try opponents and dissidents to their rule. They tax the populace and billet guerillas and other rebel activists into households. Some time back the rebels bombed a passenger bus apparently for defying their shutdowns. Recently, for refusing to pay their ransom, an Indian run school in the capital was bombed with damage exceeding the ransom demand. People are having second thoughts whether to pay the rebels.
Royal family also has been targeted. A lodge in scenic tourist city Pokhara in mid western part of the country was bombed. Surya Tobacco company from whom rebels have demanded nearly $100,000 was also bombed. The only thing preventing the situation to go out of control is the fact that explosives being used by the rebels are primitive technology, home made stuff which are explosives of low yield. Had they possessed high quality powerful devices like in the Middle East, the human and material toll would have been far greater.
Advocacy groups in Nepal have romantic notion that rebels who are in fact intoxicated with raw power at their hands will come and negoptiate peaceful end to the problem. By taking alienated groups and communities into their hands, rebels are proud of their so called legitimacy. They even threaten US; barring travel by US citizens whom they fear as government spies.
The international community has to step forward and help Nepal solve the problem. They can't simply watch and let Nepal fall into abyss of violence. Do something, friends of Nepal.

Continuing violence in Nepal

Each day scores of people get killed in Nepal. This isn't caused by any accidents. It is in fact caused by direct violent action. In the districts, people die regularly. The Maoist rebels are the instigators of much of the violence. These rebels move across remote villages asking for food from locals. They use force if their requests are denied. Anyone having thoughts which defy the rebels are brutally beaten sometimes killed. Goats, buffaloes, even cows are sometimes commandered and taken away for food. The rebels regularly slaughter cows which are sacred in Nepal's majority Hindu religion and forcibly feed beef to even Hindu priests. The rebels have become champions of minorities and ethnic groups who had long been disregarded by ruling elite in Kathmandu, the capital city. The Maoist rebels say they will give equal and just representation to these marginalized groups including regional autonomy. The rebels have already declared areas under their control as "free self governing zones". The government hasn't come forward with programs with which it can win back support of these indigenous communities.
Tourists are also having to pay "special transit taxes" to the rebels. Up till now there hasn't been deaths of tourists at the hands of rebels. The insurgency has cost the once thriving tourism industry severely. There are travel warnings posted by embassies including the US Embassy, whic warn would be travellers to avoid rebel controlled territory.
Nepal's problem has to be internationalized. It cannot be simply regarded as an internal matter of Nepal. Foreign countries as they provide economic and development aid should provide security assistance to protect the lives of ordinary citizens. So foreign intervention should be encouraged especially that of India and China. It would be good if these countries constitute some type of stabilization force inside Nepal which bothe rebels and government dare not challenge. For this kind of concept to materialize, Nepal needs support from US and Europe. Please help Nepal achive peace!

Violence in Nepal

Since 1996, south Asian least developed nation Nepal has witnessed violence which has killed nearly 9,000 people. The chief cause of the violence is the revolutionary people's war launched by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist). Calling for the overthrow of traditional setup in the country, these devout communists want to establish a people's republic. They have made many demands like constituent assembly, round table conference and all party government.
Despite reasonable aims, the rebels are resorting to violence to elimininate opponents, attack army, police and government official. Rebels also kidnap schoolchildren and conscript them for military service. They kill with impunity. Reign of terror has been unleased by these people who can be called terrorists.

The government forces and police lead by people with low awareness are also committing gross human rights violations. The number of people killed by security forces has excceded those eliminated by rebels. The security forces claim all people killed by them are rebel activists.

Nepal needs international mediation to solve this problem. However, local leaders do not agree with this and say there is no need of foreign assistance to resolve this problem. Best solution would be invite UN peacekeepers and deploy them across Nepal.