Maoists launch campaign to seize land

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 Dec.: After thousands were evicted from government forest in Kailali, Maoists have launched a national campaign to capture hundreds of ropanis land of individuals, including politicians of other parties.
Maoist landless and Dalits Tuesday seized land of individuals in the hill and terai districts.
Supporters of the main opposition seized the land of late Nepali Congress lawmaker Surya Bhakta Adhikari in Nawalparasi; they seized farmland of RPP Chairman Pashupati SJB Rana in Kavre.
Maoists have launched a new land grab campaign even while retaining assets seized during the decade-old people’s war.
Although the main parties condemn the Maoists for the seizure, the Nepali Congress in government abandoned its pre-condition for the return of seized land and disbandment of YCL as pre-conditions for the April 2008 constituent assembly elections.
People are now suffering for the appeasement policy especially of Nepali Congress which wanted to conduct elections anyhow even though the country wasn’t ready for it.
Maoists have intensified their anti-government and anti-president campaign after ouster from government six months ago.
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Woman killed in Dhanusha

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: An unknown group shot dead a woman in Dhanusha Wednesday morning.
Sakira Khatun died while being rushed to hospital for treatment.
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Nepali Congress condemns Maoist declaration of autonomous federal states

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: Ruling Nepali Congress Wednesday condemned the Maoist declaration of autonomous federal states and asked the main opposition to stop and withdraw the declaration.
“The declaration bypassing the constituent assembly is against the spirit of the comprehensive peace agreement,” Vice-chairman and leader of the parliamentary party Ram Chandra Paudel said,
‘Maoists are saying other parties want to dissolve the CA. On the other hand, they are announcing autonomous federal states from outside the CA.” he added.
A summit of three parties couldn’t be held Tuesday after party President Girija Prasad Koirala said talks with the main opposition won’t be held until they withdraw planned three-day nationwide strike and declaration of autonomous states, Rajdhani reports.
Koirala set the pre-condition four days after they started their campaign.
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Action plan to be signed

Kathmandu, 16 Dec.: Representatives of Maoists, government and UN are signing an action plan Wednesday for the release of 3000 Maoist child soldiers from camps under UN watch.
They were put in camps even after being verified as minors by the UN in December 2007.
Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Representative of UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Wednesday discussed their discharge with Chairman Prachanda.
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Bangladesh hands over leadership to Nepal

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: Bangladesh Tuesday handed over chairmanship of the
49-member Least Developed Countries (LDC) group to Nepal in Geneva.
Bangladesh Ambassador Abdul Hannan handed over the chair to Dinesh Bhattarai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva.
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Water fare hiked

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) hiked water fare 10 to 30 percent effective Wednesday.
Those paying minimum tariff of Rs 810 will now be charged Rs 1,053 per month.
Price hike of water is a touchy issue.
Consumers who don’t get water in their taps are also charged.
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Nepali killed in Afghanistan

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: A Nepali national was killed in Paktia provincial capital Gerdez in southeast Afghanistan on Tuesday when Taliban detonated explosives in an aid agency office though a remote control device, Kantipur reports.
His identity hasn’t been ascertained yet.
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UN asked to explain

Kathmandu, 16 Dec: Government has asked United Nations to explain why Major Niranjan Basnet has been sent from the UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, Rajdhani reports.
Basnet is alleged to be involved in the killing of Maina Sunwar.
Government write to the UN after Nepal Army decided not to sent Basnet to court until investigation reason for return.
The defence ministry sent the letter Tuesday through the foreign ministry.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The country is in an unusual situation. I am happy as well as fearful. Everyone is anxious with attempts to change accepted norms.”

(Chief Justice Anup Raj Sharma, Kantipur, 16 Dec.)
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