Maoists to End Ceasefire, Disrupt Polls in Nepal

By Pushpa Raj Pradhan

Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai has said that his party is to end ceasefire after completion of its one month extension.

It has announced programmes to disrupt the upcoming municipal polls scheduled to be held on 8 February, 2006.

In a joint statement signed by Maoist Chairman Prachanda and politburo member Baburam Bhattarai, it is said that the government had shut all doors for a peaceful solution, thus, they go for public campaign from December 22 to January 13.

From January 14 to January 25, the Maoists have announced mass gatherings and meetings against the civic polls.

Maoists also said they will take action against the candidates participating in the elections from January 26 to February 4.

They also announced six-day general strike from February 5 to February 11 coinciding with the municipal polls.

These efforts by the Maoists are solely against human rights and freedom of citizens. How will the special representatives of the UN Human Rights Commission, stationed in Kathmandu and other human rights organizations, as well as, friends of democracy take this issue, it is a matter of curiosity for the Nepalese people supporting democracy.