Monarchist forces active to disrupt poll: Dr. Bhattarai [ 2008-3-19 ]
By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Mar. 18: Senior leader of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on Tuesday claimed that the monarchist elements in the other political parties were trying to disrupt the election to the Constituent Assembly.
Dr. Bhattarai, however, stressed on the need to maintain unity among the seven parties and defeat the attempts of such elements for the success of the election as his party’s struggle was not against any political party but against monarchist, feudal and foreign reactionary forces.
Speaking at a press meet organised by Tamsaling State Committee relating to a Supreme Court ruling to the district administration office of Kavrepalanchowk district to take action against Maoist leaders on charge of a murder, he said, “Our call for election alliance is not a cry of despair but willingness to fight the reactionary force collectively.�
According to a news report in a daily paper on March 11, the Supreme Court ordered the district administration of Kavre district to take necessary action against Agni Sapkota, Maoist leader and in-charge of Tamsaling state committee over the killing of Arjun Bahadur Lama. Sapkota is contesting from Sindhupalchowk- 2 in the upcoming CA election. The court has also ordered to take action against Suryaman Dong, another Maoist candidate for Kavrepalanchok- 1, among others. Lama is believed to have died during the armed rebellion of the Maoist.
The Comprehensive Peace Accord between the Maoist and the government states that all the cases filed out of political motives against Maoist leaders would be withdrawn.
Dr. Bhattarai stated that his party was in favour of an election alliance among all patriotic, republican and left forces while noting that the real strength of all political parties would be scaled by the election. “No party should take pride in the public support gained during the parliamentary elections and run away from forging the alliance,� he said hinting at the CPN-UML.
Asked about the recent exchange of criticism between his party and the UML, he replied that his party was pointing at those figures in the UML who had been against all through the 12-point understanding between the seven parties and his party two years back and to the peace process itself and not the whole UML party rank.
“Moreover, it is important that the election be in fair and free manner and not that it is an election alliance among the parties,� he stated.
Agni Sapkota accused other party cadres of inciting his party activists through untoward activities so that an excuse could be found to blame and abuse his party. He also added that even the minor incidents were given much emphasis and tussles between the people and the other political parties were pictured as activities carried out by his party activists.
“To link Maoist leaders with a murder accusation just before the election is a plot against the revolutionary force. This is not only an attempt to disrupt the election but also to derail the peace process itself. We are informed that such activities are carried out by NGOs protected by political parties,� a statement of the Committee said.
The statement said that the party was amazed to hear the decision of the Court against the spirit and word of the Accord and interim constitution. “What is stimulating the court to defame leaders of a political party at the election hour and to whom the court is trying to serve by deciding against the spirit of the interim constitution?� the statement asked.