Assassination

Himalayan Daily Ramblings

Prachanda says CIA preparing assassination plot

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Jan: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Monday accused CIA for plotting to assassinate him.
He speculated other leaders could also be killed.
“Some international power centers who don’t want the predomination of the left forces desire this,” he said in response to a question of Nepal newsmagazine reporters Sudhir Sharma and Bhojraj Bhat.
They asked: From whom is there a danger [to kill]?
“CIA is infamous for political assassinations. Can’t say they won’t play this game because the rise of leftists in this country through elections will not only impact South Asia; it will have a worldwide impact,” Prachanda added.
“International power center means not only USA but also India,” he said in reply to a follow-up question: But you accused only the palace and USA.
Prachanda said he doesn’t feel insecure because he gets security from the party and now by the government as well.
“I don’t feel insecure because I am within the security ring of the PLA. The state recently assigned a police unit.”
Prachanda last year claimed palace planned to target kill US diplomats assigned in Nepal.
Maoist chief couldn’t furnish proof demanded by then US Ambassador US James F. Moriarty.
Prachanda said he ‘couldn’t say relations with USA have improved’ which still puts Nepal’s Maoists on the terrorist list, but ‘right now things are moving towards improvement’.
In reply to a question,’ Then you sill see a threat from CIA?”, Prachanda shook his head and said,” Yes. That’s there.”
Prachanda also said there could be a ‘democratic coup like in Bangladesh’.
He elaborated: Yes. The army could ‘back’ some persons with a democratic image and run the government. The army won’t come directly in front like Pervej Musharraf did in Pakistan but there would be a coup by pushing civilians.

Election special; diary of the day

Top Maoist leaders to contest elections

Kathmandu, 27 Jan: Top Maoist leaders Sunday decided to field candidates in the 10 April constituent assembly elections.
Chairman Prachanda will
contest from the capital and Rolpa, the remote hill district in the mid-West from where the CPN (Maoist) launched their people’s war nearly 12 years ago.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai will contest from his district and top military leader Raam Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ from Chitwan.
In the first list, party headquarters decided to field 11 top central leaders.
The party decided to contest all seats up for grabs. Altogether 601 candidates are being in direct and indirect elections.
The party asked district units to suggest names of possible candidates.
CPN (Maoist) is the first party to field candidates for Nepal’s first assembly elections.
Prachanda and other top leaders prepared national leaders though political indoctrination which Maoists call '‘training sessions'’ to send them on a three-month campaign.
The party decision to mobilize 150,000 YCL activists, mostly former combatants for the election campaign will raise eyebrows; they could be used storm-troopers to capture election booths.
The Party said 200 YCL activists will be deployed in each booth.
Ruling parties have decided to deploy 2,500 police personnel for their sixth joint rally in Nepalgunj Monday to canvass support for a republic in assembly elections.
Rebel terai groups in the mid-west have called a strike in Banke and Bardia to foil the public meeting.
Nearly ive dozen demonstrator and police were injured in Saturday’s similar mass meeting in Janakpur.
Government and groups in the terai are moving on collision course; indication are the government will ramrod elections even as terai groups said it shouldn’t be held without meeting southern regional demands.
Congress of prime minister is divided as it goes to the polls.
Rebels Sunday again demanded in the party’s ties developed and nurtured by the prime minister with Maoists should be snapped to save the party and country.
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