Maoists are still recruiting young children from schools
Media Communications Center
December 07, 2006
Dr. Leela Sunuwar
I received a letter from a friend in Botswana. Here it is:
"I hear that seven months after the upheaval in Nepal, the country is still in a mess. Is that true?
1. After a tripartite agreement between the UN, the Nepalese government and the Maoists, the Maoists are still recruiting young boys and girls from schools forcibly. Although, they claimed that
their PLA's strength was 35,000 the Maoists haven't been able to produce even half that number. Around 7,000 of their best fighters haven't reported to the camps along with their better weapons. Three satellite sub-camps each to be located near the seven main sub-camps haven't been decided upon. But the UN guys are due to come as soon as possible. This is the parting gift of retiring UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Could it all be true?
2.We are now out to create many principalities on the basis of ethnicity, religion, caste, tribes, geography, etc. Such a small country, if divided into little autonomous regions would be like Nepal before unification. Wouldn't we have been gobbled up by the British had it not been for Prithvi Narayan Shah? Wouldn't that be our fate now in such a situation?
3. The King has apparently kept quiet and is prepared to accept the people's verdict. He even congratulated all those who went against him for bringing peace. But he is still the favourite whipping boy and party leaders (except the PM) want to get rid of him. We grew up to believe monarchy is the symbol of unity. Has that changed, if so, how?
4. The Maoists are still raising taxes, abducting people, beating up whoever opposes them, providing their own brand of justice and running their own show even after they have signed an agreement not to do so.
5. The major decisions about the country are no longer taken in Nepal, but in a foreign capital. Is that all true?
When are the actual dates for Constitutional Assembly elections? Has my country changed so much and would it change beyond redemption? Should I come back? What can I do? Please advise me.
As far as this country is Botswana is concerned, it is a completely landlocked country, like Nepal, in the centre of Southern Africa bordered by Namibia to the west, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, and South Africa to the
south. It is a multiparty democratic country and was a British colony till 1966. I used to be so proud when I said that we were never colonized.
Now, I am deeply worried. Help me."
I felt like writing back "I am helpless too". I didn't want to tell him of the students who are agitating all over the country, the Civil Servants demanding new regulations with automatic promotions and the Nepalese Ex-Servicemen who lock up the Supreme Court. There are hardly any national function. I just wrote back saying "If you feel so strongly, come back and see for yourself."
In the meantime Maoists' atrocities are continuing:
They have seized 50 quintals of paddy from farmers in Kohalpur.
In spite of their commitment to put an end to all forms of excesses, Maoists cadres in Okhaldhunga are still holding locals' lands and continue to seize the product of farmers in the district.
In Nigali of Kailali, Maoists are still continuing to forcibly reside and eat in the houses of locals.
In Sankhuwasabha, Maoists are pressing people, political leaders and offices in district headquarter Khandbari to purchase tickets ranging from Rs.50 to 10,000 for their cultural programmes.
Flouting accord, they are continuing collection of tax in Tanhaun district which used to be collected by the Tanhun district development
committee.
They have occupied at least seven rooms in a building of the National Construction Company of Nepal at old bus park in Kathmandu.
Refusing to comply with the peace agreement and other accord, Maoists have announced reactivation of their "peoples' government."
I received a letter from a friend in Botswana. Here it is:
"I hear that seven months after the upheaval in Nepal, the country is still in a mess. Is that true?
1. After a tripartite agreement between the UN, the Nepalese government and the Maoists, the Maoists are still recruiting young boys and girls from schools forcibly. Although, they claimed that
their PLA's strength was 35,000 the Maoists haven't been able to produce even half that number. Around 7,000 of their best fighters haven't reported to the camps along with their better weapons. Three satellite sub-camps each to be located near the seven main sub-camps haven't been decided upon. But the UN guys are due to come as soon as possible. This is the parting gift of retiring UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Could it all be true?
2.We are now out to create many principalities on the basis of ethnicity, religion, caste, tribes, geography, etc. Such a small country, if divided into little autonomous regions would be like Nepal before unification. Wouldn't we have been gobbled up by the British had it not been for Prithvi Narayan Shah? Wouldn't that be our fate now in such a situation?
3. The King has apparently kept quiet and is prepared to accept the people's verdict. He even congratulated all those who went against him for bringing peace. But he is still the favourite whipping boy and party leaders (except the PM) want to get rid of him. We grew up to believe monarchy is the symbol of unity. Has that changed, if so, how?
4. The Maoists are still raising taxes, abducting people, beating up whoever opposes them, providing their own brand of justice and running their own show even after they have signed an agreement not to do so.
5. The major decisions about the country are no longer taken in Nepal, but in a foreign capital. Is that all true?
When are the actual dates for Constitutional Assembly elections? Has my country changed so much and would it change beyond redemption? Should I come back? What can I do? Please advise me.
As far as this country is Botswana is concerned, it is a completely landlocked country, like Nepal, in the centre of Southern Africa bordered by Namibia to the west, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, and South Africa to the
south. It is a multiparty democratic country and was a British colony till 1966. I used to be so proud when I said that we were never colonized.
Now, I am deeply worried. Help me."
I felt like writing back "I am helpless too". I didn't want to tell him of the students who are agitating all over the country, the Civil Servants demanding new regulations with automatic promotions and the Nepalese Ex-Servicemen who lock up the Supreme Court. There are hardly any national function. I just wrote back saying "If you feel so strongly, come back and see for yourself."
In the meantime Maoists' atrocities are continuing:
They have seized 50 quintals of paddy from farmers in Kohalpur.
In spite of their commitment to put an end to all forms of excesses, Maoists cadres in Okhaldhunga are still holding locals' lands and continue to seize the product of farmers in the district.
In Nigali of Kailali, Maoists are still continuing to forcibly reside and eat in the houses of locals.
In Sankhuwasabha, Maoists are pressing people, political leaders and offices in district headquarter Khandbari to purchase tickets ranging from Rs.50 to 10,000 for their cultural programmes.
Flouting accord, they are continuing collection of tax in Tanhaun district which used to be collected by the Tanhun district development
committee.
They have occupied at least seven rooms in a building of the National Construction Company of Nepal at old bus park in Kathmandu.
Refusing to comply with the peace agreement and other accord, Maoists have announced reactivation of their "peoples' government."
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