The "New Nepal" - The Maoist Way or the Highway?

The SPA government failed to get the Maoist sign-off on its Ambassadorial nominations – at least publicly. But a closer look at the gross violations of the Peace Treaty by the Maoists (that SPA leaders have continued to overlook), reveals that the Maoists have no room to talk. Should they care to push this agenda and make something out of nothing, it will be to the ultimate loss of the Maoists.

In clear and systematic violations of the covenants of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the following Maoist acts against peace have been documented in various media outlets:

• The Maoists coming out of their cantonment sites (bearing arms) from camps in Ilam, Morang and Chitwan (Tandi) to protest the government’s decision to nominate ambassadors. Any thoughts on what might have happened if the army also had to leave their barracks to protect the civilian population from armed Maoists?

• The Maoists spent the last two weeks repelling reclaimed police posts. On December 11, Maoists captured police posts at Sunwal of Nawalparasi and Dhakdhai in Rupandehi district on December 14. The post at Dhakdhai was restored after local people complained about smuggler frequently using the route. In Korobari, Kobhara and Mabhara of Jhapa district also they removed the police posts which were re-established upon the request of the local population. In Dipayal and Doti, Maoists barred authorities from re-establishing police posts. The installation of police posts to maintain law and order has been discussed verbally and also outlined in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. There is no clause which says law and order cannot be maintained until the Maoists become part of the interim government; but it is universally understood that without complete arms management, the Maoists cannot go into the government. So, should law and order remain on hold till the Maoists complete their arms management process?

• On December 14, Maoists ordered Biratnagar Sub-metropolis officials to stop development works and financial transactions. The Maoist in-charge in Biratnagar warned government officials not to initiate any financial transactions and ordered that all on-going construction work be halted. Why should governance and development work remain on hold? Why should the local population suffer till the Maoists come to power? Is this not blackmail of some form?

• Maoists obstructed Village Development Committee (VDC) council meetings in Sankhuwasabha district. They warned twenty-one VDCs secretaries of the district against holding such council meetings. Is this the Maoist version of democracy – only the Maoists are allowed to conduct political activism before the CA elections?

• According to Local Development Officer of Bardiya district, Maoists are collecting millions of rupees by exploiting the District Development Committee's resources. In the southern region of Jhapa district including Shivganj, Baigundhura, Topgachhi and Panchgachhi, Maoists are still collecting taxes. What happened to the dissolution of parallel structures of governance? Why is the SPA government giving the Maoists Rs. 280 million of Nepali tax-payers’ monies only to taxed twice anyway?

• Maoists have stopped murdering people. However, local populations have not been able to live in peace owing to the operation of the parallel Maoist government. In Jhapa district Maoists forced Nandu Thebe of Damak-8 (on December 13) to sign documents stating that he and his family members were willfully vacating their house and property. This was an example of the Maoist court in action. Aren’t these courts supposed to be dissolved (according to the CPA)? What is the timeframe for the dissolution to take place and who is going to verify this for the Nepali people? Do we need to request the UN for another verification team?

• The Maoists forcibly took over twenty-five youths from different VDCs of Panchthar district. They took them to their sub-camp at Yanshila in Morang district. Clearly in violation of all past agreements between the SPA and Maoists. What would the Maoist reaction be if the APF, the CPF and the Army started recruiting again? How is it that everything the Maoists do is alright but anything the government forces do is against peace and provocative? What’s Ian Martin’s team doing in Nepal to enforce the articles of the CPA? Why do we have a CPA with no one to enforce it?

• On December 18, Maoists clashed with police at Gaushala VDC in Mahottari district. The incident took place when Maoists staged demonstrations in front of police office. During the demonstration, the Maoists used verbal assaults against the government forces. Finally, after the police showed no signs of being provoked, the Maoists began their physical assault by throwing rocks at the policemen and attempted to forcefully enter the security perimeter. At this point, the police were left with no choice but to engage the unruly and violent group of Maoists. How does one educate the Maoists in the art of democratic and peaceful protest when the SPA students use the exact same methods to push their agendas?

Ok, so the SPA messed up by not publicly consulting the Maoists before divvying up the peace dividend. But what's the big fuss about "violation of the peace accords" when the Maoists have been (and continue to be) in systematic violation of numerous articles, every single day? Why the search for excuses to discredit the SPA only when the Maoists are twice as guilty for continually shifting goal posts and extracting concessions from the State without reciprocal, measurable concessions of their own. What article of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement have the Maoists honored without piling up additional requirements as successive agreements have been reached?