Massive public fury against Maoist atrocities
Media Communications Center
March 22, 2007
BY PRAJWAL SHRESTHA
The suppressed anger of the general people at the atrocities of the Maoists burst into the open and they lent complete support when the business leaders of the country called for a protest against the kidnappings, torture and extortions by the till recently terrorist group. Though the resentment of the people had been building for a long time, it had not blown into such a massive show of fury.
The catalytic factor was the kidnapping, physical and mental torture and extortion of two local Kathmandu industrialists, Hari Shrestha of Hotel Woodlands and Suresh Malla, owner of one of Nepal’s biggest and oldest printing press. The FNCCI, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and almost all business groups joined hands and held a press conference in front of the prime minister’s residence and announced their protest programmes.
The general people readily joined in the rally called by the business organizations on Tuesday morning and unlike the protests called by political parties and specially Maoists, when so called supporters are herded in forcefully, the people came spontaneously. This is a vivid example of the peoples’ sentiments against this group which has stormed itself to power through sheer force and terror. It is also a slap in the face of some UN officials like Ian Martin and also diplomats from Nordic and Scandinavian countries who have constantly backed the Maoists in spite of the killings and injustices it had carried out in the name of peoples’ war.
The business leaders deserve praise for showing courage to come out against such behaviour from the cadres of a party which is on the verge of entering the government. It has already gotten into the interim parliament, that also with the second largest number of MPs, without contesting any election.
In fact in spite of the several agreements reached with the seven parties and the government, the Maoists have been openly moving around with weapons and an MP even challenged the government to disarm him when went with a pistol inside the parliament. It may also be recalled here that the Terai movement took a violent and nasty turn when an armed Maoists killed a peaceful protestor. But the government has been only a mute witness to all such outrageous actions of the Maoists.
Meanwhile, the activities of the Maoists and the outrage of the people seen on Tuesday, should also open the eyes of the seven political parties, which have bent backwards to accommodate virtually all the demands of the group. These were the same parties, who when in the government previously, refused to talk to the Maoists when they demanded republic and constituent assembly polls. But now, the parties have made a complete U-turn and are now strident backers of the Maoist demands.
If the Maoists are so arrogant now, how will they behave when they have government machinery under their control and if they win in the constituent assembly polls? The parties should reflect on this and think of their own future in Nepalese politics. The government has been seen as the weakest side, with it being able to do nothing against any party which has taken the law into its own hands. The nation will pay a heavy price for the present inadequacies and weaknesses of the "revolutionary loktantrik government"
But of course for now, in an unprecedented move, the general people, who normally remained silent and mute witness to political blackmail, have shown they will not remain tolerant all the time. The Maoists have woken a sleeping tiger.
The suppressed anger of the general people at the atrocities of the Maoists burst into the open and they lent complete support when the business leaders of the country called for a protest against the kidnappings, torture and extortions by the till recently terrorist group. Though the resentment of the people had been building for a long time, it had not blown into such a massive show of fury.
The catalytic factor was the kidnapping, physical and mental torture and extortion of two local Kathmandu industrialists, Hari Shrestha of Hotel Woodlands and Suresh Malla, owner of one of Nepal’s biggest and oldest printing press. The FNCCI, Nepal Chamber of Commerce and almost all business groups joined hands and held a press conference in front of the prime minister’s residence and announced their protest programmes.
The general people readily joined in the rally called by the business organizations on Tuesday morning and unlike the protests called by political parties and specially Maoists, when so called supporters are herded in forcefully, the people came spontaneously. This is a vivid example of the peoples’ sentiments against this group which has stormed itself to power through sheer force and terror. It is also a slap in the face of some UN officials like Ian Martin and also diplomats from Nordic and Scandinavian countries who have constantly backed the Maoists in spite of the killings and injustices it had carried out in the name of peoples’ war.
The business leaders deserve praise for showing courage to come out against such behaviour from the cadres of a party which is on the verge of entering the government. It has already gotten into the interim parliament, that also with the second largest number of MPs, without contesting any election.
In fact in spite of the several agreements reached with the seven parties and the government, the Maoists have been openly moving around with weapons and an MP even challenged the government to disarm him when went with a pistol inside the parliament. It may also be recalled here that the Terai movement took a violent and nasty turn when an armed Maoists killed a peaceful protestor. But the government has been only a mute witness to all such outrageous actions of the Maoists.
Meanwhile, the activities of the Maoists and the outrage of the people seen on Tuesday, should also open the eyes of the seven political parties, which have bent backwards to accommodate virtually all the demands of the group. These were the same parties, who when in the government previously, refused to talk to the Maoists when they demanded republic and constituent assembly polls. But now, the parties have made a complete U-turn and are now strident backers of the Maoist demands.
If the Maoists are so arrogant now, how will they behave when they have government machinery under their control and if they win in the constituent assembly polls? The parties should reflect on this and think of their own future in Nepalese politics. The government has been seen as the weakest side, with it being able to do nothing against any party which has taken the law into its own hands. The nation will pay a heavy price for the present inadequacies and weaknesses of the "revolutionary loktantrik government"
But of course for now, in an unprecedented move, the general people, who normally remained silent and mute witness to political blackmail, have shown they will not remain tolerant all the time. The Maoists have woken a sleeping tiger.
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