Friday, June 11, 2004

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.