People witnessed improvements in Nepal’s security situation after the Royal takeover on 1 February, 2005. Maoist insurgents holding the highest positions in the terrorist party, who surrendered to the government security force in Western Nepal, had disclosed the truth that the Maoists’ backbone was fractured after 1 February and considering the situation, they were compelled to announce a one sided ceasefire.
Even now, the Maoists are not strong enough to launch successful attacks on Army barracks as they were earlier. Still, they are not in a position to claim their area where the government security forces cannot reach.
The government security forces, which were taking a defensive role, are now moving forward on attacks in areas where the Maoists were hiding and the security force are seeing success – incrementally destroying Maoist shelters and training camps.
But, the sudden attacks on different police posts in the Katmandu Valley killing more than a dozen police personnel Saturday afternoon might have been considered as the Maoists’ success by those agitating parties activists but it is not fact. The attacks were possible only after the seven party alliance supported the Maoists by hiding them in the Valley, providing them vehicles and even military dress for the attacks.
The seven party alliance, which, under the initiative of India, has become a strong ally of the Maoists, had designed this plan and supported the Maoists to conduct the Saturday evening attacks, security observers believe.
Leaders of the seven parties are expressing their happiness on the success of the Maoists and killings of police personnel. But, security observers say, it will not last for long.
The Maoists have already disclosed their plan of riding on the back of the seven parties and abolishing the establishment. It makes clear that the seven party alliance is not getting any benefit from joining hands with the Maoists but they are being used by the Maoists at the time when they the Maoists are weak and empowered by the alliance’s support.
According to a source, the Indian Embassy staffers were informing each other by afternoon that day, to stay in their houses and not to come out as the situation was not good. It makes clear that they were informed about the attacks earlier, however, they were not confident of the Maoists’ target and had alerted their citizens.
It is high time for the international community and human rights organizations to assess the situation and evaluate the type of democracy they want to see in Nepal. Do they want to see a democracy without polls, with power seized through terrorist attacks and killing of people or a democracy where power is earned through a fresh people’s mandate! They should make public their reaction whether they want a Maoist-like autocratic leadership in power or they want to see a multiparty government established through the people’s mandate!
At a time when Nepalis are ready to participate in polls, the Maoists, in collaboration with the seven party alliance, have attacked and killed security personnel as a threat against the upcoming polls. The seven party alliance leaders have remained silent, even expressing happiness at the Maoists’ terror and killings in the capital. In this regard, they are no longer a democratic force, rather, they are terrorists who have supported the terrorist elements – they must be punished and the international community must withdraw their support.
By P. Raj Pradhan
