UN Complicit in Support of Terror

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Cease-fire and Motives-By Deep Raj Sanyal

>From Rashtriya Samachar Samiti National News Agency of Nepal

 

"First among those welcoming the cease-fire extension at its face

value from the international front was UN Secretary General Kofi

Annan. Annan and his men well know the situation here. They are also

aware that the Maoist, declared terrorist by the state, continues rule

the roost and intimidate the people in the villages.A pertinent

question comes at this point. Has the UN or any other international

community or for that matter any domestic rights organizations exerted

as much pressure on the Maoists to renounce the atrocities they have

been continuing with any way?"

 

Maoist chief 'Prachanda' issued a press release on December 2, Friday,

announcing the extension of the so-called unilateral cease-fire by

another month. Even as the previous cease-fire was in place, Maoist

cadres continued to carry out their political activities and also some

sporadic military activities like killing, abductions, extortion and

lo oting.

 

Even though the National Human Rights Commission said violence

markedly dropped by some 88 per cent during the cease-fire period,

this was not the situation on the ground.

 

The Maoists continued to pursue 'psychological terror' in the

far-flung villages and the countryside. They are continuing with their

atrocious activities without any let-up in the garb of cease-fire.

 

Moreover, the latest overture from the Maoist side comes with a rider

to it. The rider attached to the cease-fire extension is that it is to

further the cause of the understanding said to have been reached

between the agitating seven political parties and the Maoist outfit.

 

While announcing the cease-fire extension, Maoist leader Prachanda

said, "We believe the decision will help us push forward with the

movement for peace and democracy and give a new momentum to the

process of seeking a solution to the problem through constituent

assembly elections."

 

This very point mentioned in the Maoist statement makes their

extension of the cease-fire a suspect in the eyes of the common man.

Had it come with a desire for genuine peace and sincere willingness to

resolve the national problem, peace should have been the over-riding

concern of the cease-fire extension. The statement issued by the

Maoists lays emphasis on the topic of seeking the solution to the

problem of the country through the constituent assembly elections.

 

By ranting on the mantra of the constituent assembly elections, a

topic that is not clearly explained either by the Moists or its new

supporters the seven party alliance, the intent of the Maoist

cease-fire is clear- to disturb the forthcoming elections.

 

The statement issued by Maoist leader Prachnada lacks sincerity

towards the Nepali people. It is inspired more by the desire to

aggravate the situation and further vitiate the atmosphere for the

municipal elections and then the parliamentary elections after that.

It is moreover aimed at wooing the seven political parties towards its

agenda.

 

All these premises point to the fact that the cease-fire extension is

another ploy on the part of the Maoists to drive a wedge between the

legitimate constitutional forces of the country and create a favorable

environment to further their sinister desire.

 

It is also so designed o impress upon the international community to

lift up its sagging image. The cease-fire extension, it seems, is more

a strategic weapon of the Maoists than a genuine effort at building

peace. It is motivated with the objective of pushing with its goal of

'divide and rule' gameplan. Ever since the announcement by the Maoist

of the extension of cease-fire, pressure has been mounting on the

government from the domestic as well as the international front for

reciprocating the same.

 

First among those welcoming the cease-fire extension at its face value

from the international front was UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Annan and his men well know the situation here. They are also aware

that the Maoist, declared terrorist by the state, continues rule the

roost and intimidate the people in the villages.

 

A pertinent question comes at this point. Has the UN or any other

international community or for that matter any domestic rights

organizations exerted as much pressure on the Maoists to renounce the

atrocities they have been continuing with any way? It is easier said

than done. While the state as the legitimate authority is bound by law

of the land the rebels do not have any such codified laws and they do

not have any respect for human values and laws. Thus, the state and

the rebels cannot be equated and looked through the same lens.

 

While genuine efforts at establishing lasting peace in the country are

laudable, peace as a short-term gimmick and a stratagem to gain an

upper hand would not be acceptable. What the Nepalese people earnestly

clamor for is a lasting peace in the country, not the peace to fulfill

the vested interests of a sinister force.

 

If the Maoists want the restoration of peace in the country, they

should lay down arms giver up violence and terrorism, and come for a

result-oriented dialogue with the state. If they have really changed

their heart, they should talk with the state, completely cease

hostilities and negotiate for fulfillment of their demands. Then only

can the Maoists be trusted. Rashtriya Samachar Samiti ---------

http://www.rss.com.np/