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Nepalese PM calls on Maoists to end blockade, industrial strike

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 23, IRNA -- Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba 
has urged the Maoists to end the blockade in the Kathmandu Valley as 
well as the indefinite strikes in some major industries. 
Speaking at a program organized on the occasion of Gaura Festival 
Monday in the capital, Deuba said the Maoist blockade has made lives 
of ordinary people all the more difficult. 
"If the Maoists are really concerned about peace the process, they
must end the blockade and the strikes in industries," he said. 
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan
Adhikari has claimed that the Maoist blockade has had a minimal affect
on normal life in the Valley. 
"Large number of security forces have been deployed to ensure 
security and the government is working seriously to keep intact the 
supply of necessary goods," he said speaking at a program organized by
the Reporters` Club in Kathmandu on Monday. 
He insisted that the decision to close down the factories was 
solely that of the owners. "The government has been promising 
necessary security. If they still chose to close down, we are unable 
to do anything," he said. 
Adhikari also made it clear that the government was ready to 
declare ceasefire if the Maoists hinted that they would come to the 
negotiating table. "We have no preconditions for talks and expect the 
same from the other side," he maintained. 
Earlier, over 1,000 Maoists stormed a district headquarters in 
northwestern Nepal, killing a soldier and losing four of their men as 
angry protestors rallied in Kathmandu Sunday denouncing the rebel- 
imposed blockade and the closure of 12 Multinational Corporations 
(MNCs), including Indian firms. 
The Maoists Saturday night attacked the remote mountainous town of
Khalanga, the headquarters of Jumla district which is about 500 kms 
from Kathmandu, bombing government buildings, looting shops and 
houses, but their bid to capture the town was foiled by security 
forces in a six-hour gun battle, police said. 
The District Administration Office, District Land Revenue Office 
and Agricultural Development Bank were damaged in the attack, they 
said adding there was panic all around as hundreds of Maoists attacked
various government offices with guns and explosives. 
The security forces have recovered six bodies of Maoists and one 
of a soldier after they conducted a search in the area, police said. 
The rebels abducted six policemen after the gun battle that began 
at 11 pm Saturday night. They also broke Jumla District Jail and took 
away six prisoners but later freed three of them. 
Helicopters and ground forces have been mobilized to conduct 
massive search operations. 
However, details of casualty figures were sketchy as Jumla is one 
of the most remote districts of the kingdom. 
The attack came at a time when the rebels have enforced an 
economic blockade of capital Kathmandu which entered the sixth day 
Monday. 
Elsewhere over 25,000 protestors, comprising industrialists and 
laborers, held a rally in Kathmandu to denounce the closure of 12 
multinational companies due to the Maoist threat. 
Around 200 organizations, including various industries, schools, 
hotels, transport companies, garment factories, travel entrepreneurs 
participated in the peaceful rally called by Federation of Nepalese 
Chamber of Industries and Commerce. 
They were carrying placards with slogans `Let`s live in peace`, 
`Protect industries and factories`, `Provide peace and security`, 
`Withdraw shut down and strikes`, `Immediately announce ceasefire`. 
The demonstrators asked the Maoists to withdraw their indefinite 
economic blockade and allow industries to operate in a peaceful 
atmosphere. Due to the Maoist threat 12 multinational companies, 
including Indian firms, had to close down their operation since 
August 17. 
Meanwhile, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), in a press 
release, a copy of which was received by IRNA on Monday expressed deep
concern over the devastating security situation in Nepal and warned of
possible humanitarian catastrophe triggered by the Maoists` siege of 
Kathmandu. 
The human rights organization urged both the Nepali government and
the Maoist militias to respect human life and not to attack any 
civilians in their fight. 
The group called on all parties in the country to ensure that 
essential supplies to the Nepali capital would not be blocked. 
The situation in Nepal has worsened as the Maoists imposed an 
indefinite blockade of Kathmandu from last Wednesday to demand the 
release of detained militants, information of their missing comrades 
and a probe into alleged killings of activists by security forces. 
It blamed the government security forces and the military for 
using the practices of arbitrary arrests, torture, extra-judicial 
killings and disappearances to target on the people, especially 
journalists and human rights defenders, under the pretext of 
maintaining law and order. 
Maoists have been struggling to establish a Communist style 
government in Nepal replacing the constitutional monarchy. 
More than 10,000 people have been killed in the insurgency since 
1996. 
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