The Maoist conflict: Headlines 2004
Summary of national and international news reports
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Headlines 2003
Nepal Districts map Links Administrative Zones map
March 2004
Day 1 to 14 Day 15 to 31
March 01 - March 07 March 08 - March 14
March 01 2004 » Dang: "People's Government" formed
March 02
2004
» Midwestern region: The Maoists have intensified their campaign to train child soldiers
» RNA has decided to recruit female soldiers
» Female participation is increasing in the "People's Liberation Army"
» Landmines: Several blasts in different parts of the country
» "People's Governments": Maoists announced more "People's Governments" in Seti-Mahakali Region, Tharuwan, Tamuwan, Tamang Region, Kirat, Madhesh
» All Nepal National Free Students' Union's (Revolutionary) new mission: Military education for students and recruiting child soldiers
» New dimension of war or propaganda?: Maoists would soon have 50,000 militia and 375,000 members
March 03
2004
» Bhojpur: Serious Maoist attack on joint security forces. Heavy casualties on both sides.
» Maoist strategy: To move east to escape security operations in mid-western Nepal.
March 04
2004
» Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Palpa, Syanja, Kaski, Tananun, Parwat, Lamjung, Gorkha, Gulmi, Myagdi and Manang: Maoist-affiliated organisations declaring blockades in the district headquarters
» Bhojpur: Maoists have detained 10 security personnel as per the Geneva Convention. RNA has confirmed the disappearance.
» Bhojpur: Maoists attacked telecommunication tower despite of the announcement of their top leader that they would not destroy any infrastructure projects last year.
» Goverment bans strikes in essential services. The ban includes services like postal, telegraph and telephone services, transport services by air, land or water for moving passengers and goods.
»Maoist strike paralyses life in Bagmati and Narayani zones
» Kathmandu: Normal life came to a stillstand due to a Bandh called by a Maoist organisation
» Nepal: Many people are frustrated at the increasing frequency of strikes
March 2004 Both the Government and the Maoist rebels are ready to talk to each other at the ongoing UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva.
SECRETARY-GENERAL: APPEALS FOR RESUMPTION OF PEACE PROCESS > read more
March 08 2004 » Strike shuts down Nepal: A general strike called by the women's wing of Nepal's Maoist rebels has paralysed daily life
» CPN-Maoist leaders have called the pro-constitutional political parties to unite to institutionalize a republican set up in the country
March 10
2004
» Normal life in the western and mid-western regions has came to a stillstand after the imposition of a 17-day economic embargo in the district headquarters of the region by Maoist ethnic organisations
» Syangja District People's Government: Economic economic sanction was announced in order to disturb King Gyanendra' informal visit to Pokhara on March 28.
» Bhojpur: Maoist rebels are operating "people's court" in villages outside district headquarters. About 75 per cent of the cases are being solved by the people's court.
March 12
2004
» Chitwan: Maoists tried to set tourist bus on fire near Narayangad, Police said.
» Baglung: Maoists intensify military recruitment campaign
» RNA investigation on Khotang and Ramechhap incindents: Soldiers jailed after they had been found guilty of a killing of civilians and captured Maoists.
» Recent clashes: Incidents have been reported from Baglung, Bara, Dhading, Gorkha, Nawalparasi, Parbat, Salyan districts
» Baglung: All VDCs are virtually under Maoist control
» 17-day blockade imposed by the Maoists in various districts of the western region had a sizeable effect on normal life
» Security personnel died in Maoist led land mine blast near Pokhara
» Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) blamed both the government and the Maoist rebels for attacking the freedom of the press
March 14
2004
» UN agencies based in Nepal urged the rebels to stop the practice of extortion. Maoist rebels are trying to extort money from them.
» Government: 1534 Maoist guerrillas have been killed and 279 civilians have lost lives in Maoist attacks since the break of ceasefire in August 2003
» Udayapur: Maoists freed security personnel abducted during the recent clash in Bhojpur
» Dang: Maoist rebels in Dang have begun distributing land captured from Government supporters among their activists
» RNA: Deserted Maoist commander said that moral degradation and deserting the rebels is on a sharp rise
» Dang: "People's Government" will not allow US and Goverment linked organisations to operate in the area
» Bara: Locals hold a street demonstration against killings of the Maoists
» Chitwan: Maoists set fire to a passenger bus near Mugling
» Bhojpur incident: Intelligence reports had warned of an imminent attack.
March 15 - March 21 March 22 - March 31
March 17 2004 » Royal Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve: Maoist landmine killed Park personnel
» Royal Nepalese Army commander: Joint security force is committed to preservation of human rights and individual right to freedom
» Pokhara: Maoist planted bomb. Tension is rising ahead of the King's visit in Gorkha and Pokhara
» Lamjung: Army stopped food transports by tourist groups
» United Left Front has urged the government and Maoists to solve the crisis through peace talks
March 19
2004
» Maoist top leader Prachanda: Maoists again ready for UN mediation. Maoist can hold dialogue under UN mediation respecting appeals made by the human rights organisations and civil society
» Aid agencies warn Maoist rebels against trying to extort money from them
» Thapa renews talks offer at the ongoing UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) meeting in Geneva
» Travel agencies: Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) aircraft to transport passengers because of the Maoists' highway blockade in several western districts
»Economic blockade by rebel Maoists: Royal Nepalese Army is working to normalize the situation, escorting passenger buses and trucks carrying essential commodities into major towns
» Lamjung: Tourists stranded at Besisahar
» Manang: "Manang 2004"- tourist promotion events postponed
» UN rights experts deeply concerned about the detoriorating of human rights situation in Nepal
read more >
March 21
2004
» Myagdi: Maoists rebels have launched a major offensive against security forces west of Pokhara. Security forces had sustained "heavy casualties" in the overnight violence in Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi.
> read more
» CP-Maoist chairman Prachanda: It is lunatic to talk about elections before addressing the existing problem of a civil war in the country.
» CP-Maoist chairman Prachanda: District headquarters and army barracks have turned insecure due to continuous Maoist attacks
» Kathmandu suburbs rocked by bomb blasts
New round of peace talks?
March 2004
Minister for Home Thapa has ruled out the possibility of immediate peace talks with the Maoist rebels. He calls on Maoists to utilize election as a opportunity to resolve Nepal's problems through negotiations.
Finance Minister Lohani urged the Maoists to come to the negotiating table.
Nepal Congress Party leader Koirala want to initiate a dialogue with the Maoists to rescue the country from the current crisis
Maoist top leader Prachanda welcomed UN Secretary -General's appeal to end violence and resume the peace process.
King Gyanendra's appeal in Pokhara: "Violence and disruptive activities will not be in interest of any one. That is why we hope all those who I believe in democratic values and constitutional process would join the highway of peace and understanding in the greater interest of the people."
> read more
March 22 2004 » Maoist leader Prachanda warned that the rebels would continue to target the government until "a progressive political solution" had been reached.
» Beni clashes: Both Maoist and Army claimed that its forces were victorious in one of the haviest battle since the insurgency was launched in 1996
» Myagdi: According to Army sources, the security forces have taken control of the area and are hunting the Maoist rebels from both land and air
> read more
March 24
2004
» Maoists have set conditions for the release of over 30 security force personnel and officials captured in Beni fightings. Maoist senior leader to be freed first.
» Human Rights organisations: Maoist to respect the freedom of the abducted government personnel in the Beni incident
» Government: Elections will be held despite the violence
» UN secretary general does not believe there is a military solution to the conflict. In a statement the UN secretary general urged the government and the Maoists to take immediate steps to resume the peace process.
> read more
» Baglung: Air-operation launched by the security forces against Maoist rebels involved in the Beni clashes
» Mumbai: Posters put by Nepali Maoists in a suburban railway station urging the Nepali youths to join the their movement
» Mumbai: Posters put by Nepali Maoists in a suburban railway station urging the Nepali youths to join the their movement
» Gandak region: Blockade declared by Maoists ended
March 26
2004
» RNA: Maoist rebels planned a three-day siege of Beni, headquarters of Myagdi district
> read more
> read more
» According to analysts: Maoist strategy was isolating Pokhara
> read more
» Pokhara: Maoist blockade of more than a dozen districts of central Nepal has come at a worse time for this tourist-dependant town.
» Minister for Home has ruled out the possibility of immediate peace talks with the Maoist rebels.
» Minister for Home: Agitation of the five political parties starting from April 1st should be peaceful and should not obstruct the daily lives of people
» Maoist top leader Prachanda welcomed UN Secretary General's appeal to end violence and resume the peace process.
» Dhading: Tourists harassed for defying Maoist blockade
March 29
2004
» King Gyanendra calls for elections within next Nepali year beginning from April 14 (2061 B.S.)
» Minister for Home: Thapa calls on Maoist to utilize elections as a opportunity to resolve Nepal's problems through negotiation
» Gandaki zone: A general strike called by the Maoists affected normal life last weekend
» Government has taken Annan's appeal seriously. UN Secretary-General Annan appealed both involved sides for resumption of peace process last week
> read more
» British envoy to Nepal blamed the Maoists for "widespread" violation of human rights.
» British envoy: Elections require the participation of all "democratic parties" and a climate free of fear, intimidation and violence.
March 30
2004
» Finance Minister urged the Maoists to come to the negotiating table.
» Nepal Congress Party leader Koirala want to initiate a dialogue with the Maoists to rescue the country from the current crisis
» India: Senior politburo member of the CPN-Maoist Baidhya arrested
SECRETARY-GENERAL, DISTURBED BY ESCALATION OF FIGHTING IN NEPAL,
APPEALS FOR RESUMPTION OF PEACE PROCESS
March 22, 2004 - Statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
The Secretary-General is disturbed by the recent escalation of fighting in Nepal, where the continued instability and conflict is having an increasingly devastating impact on the lives of ordinary people. Civilian casualties and serious human rights violations are a routine occurrence, and the country's economic and social development is being seriously hampered.

The Secretary-General does not believe there is a military solution to the conflict. He appeals to His Majesty's Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to take immediate steps to end the fighting and resume the peace process with the participation of all political and civil forces in the country.

The Secretary-General continues to be available to assist the search for a solution in any manner the parties consider useful.

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