USA to treat with Maoists in govt. as individuals

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: USA this week indicated it will
deal with Nepal’s Maoists in government as individuals and how they behave in government.
Washington won’t have relations with Maoists as a political party apparently as it does with other members of government.
This is apparently how Washington, reviewing its Nepal and Maoist policy, has decided to deal with Maoists, if they grab power; this seems unlikely soon.
Incumbent Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala isn’t going to make way for them until sweeping amendments in the constitution to ensure Maoists in government can be toppled with a simple majority of the CA.
Besides, Maoists don’t have a majority to form a government following a hung assembly in CA elections.
‘First of all, the Maoists in Nepal never have been a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ as designated. This is one category under law.
“They have, however, been on the ‘terrorist exclusion list’. That is something that applies to consular issues, visas and other kinds of matters.
“You have to separate two issues here. But you know, ultimately, the basis of our relations with the government of Nepal will be based on the actions of the individuals there,” State Department Spokesman Ton Casey said Wednesday.
US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell is still in Washington for consultations; she went home for consultations after Maoists emerged as the biggest party in the 601-member CA staking a claim to form a post-election government.
Casey attempted to make a difference between a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ and a ‘terrorist exclusion list’ US had previously had said Nepal’s Maoists were also on its ‘watch list’.
Washington was in a dilemma following elections.
Powell for the first time established direct relations with Chairman Prachanda by meeting the chairman and holding political consultations before returning home.
Previous direct contacts were limited to handshakes at parties.
In 2007, after failure to persuade Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to keep Maoists out of an interim government with threats to cutoff aid, Washington responded only by denying funds to Maoist-led ministries.
US and India were in a dilemma after the 10 April election on how to handle Maoists who they didn’t expect to win elections.
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Maoists kill civilian in cantonment under UNMIN supervision

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: Maoists killed a man they abducted from the capital in a cantonment under UNMIN observation.
UNMIN remains silent of the murder in a cantonment under its supervision.
Maoists abducted Ram Hari Shrestha from the capital 27 April to the cantonment in Chitwan where he was detained, interrogated and battered for alleged theft of money and a pistol from its office in the capital.
Shrestha died of bruises during questioning and his body was thrown into Trisuli river.
Maoists Friday handed over Govinda Bahadur Batala ‘Jibit’ to police in Chitwan for involvement in the battering that led to Shrestha’s death; two other suspects have gone missing.
For the second consecutive day, Shrestha’s neighbours disrupted traffic on the orad and demanded action from government.
UNMIN previously said it was unable to control them movement of armed Moist in and out of camps before election in violation of agreements with the UN.
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