IRIN: Concerns over growing insecurity, despite ceasefire October 2006

Concerns over growing insecurity, despite ceasefire

Kathmandu, 25October 2006 (IRIN)

Human rights groups and other independent observers in Nepal expressed concern on Monday that the rising level of abduction, extortion, torture and killing by some Maoist factions was threatening to derail the country's fragile peace process and destabilise the state.

Members of the Ceasefire Code of Conduct National Monitoring Committee criticised Maoist leaders for failing to act to control the activities of junior Maoist cadres, who were wrecking havoc across the country, they said.

"Anarchy is growing at the hands of the rebels and there seems to be no rule of law. This is really a serious concern," said prominent rights activist Subodh Pyakhurel.

Rebel commanders have been criticised for not controlling their forces According to activists, the Maoists are trying to create a climate of fear in which people are too afraid to act. "We get calls every day from people asking for our help and they always cry on the phone in desperation," Pyakhurel added, noting that even human rights workers were being constantly threatened by the rebels during visits to investigate complaints.

The monitoring committee is an independent body of citizens' groups, peace and human rights activists, journalists and lawyers formed in June with the consent of both the rebels and the government during the second round of peace talks in May.

Since April, Maoist rebels and the interim government of seven national parties have been involved in several rounds of peace talks following the end of the absolute rule of Nepalese monarch, King Gyanendra.

The talks to end a decade-long conflict that has claimed 14,000 lives have yet to reach a conclusion. But negotiators from both sides say that a final decision on outstanding issues will be made soon after the nationally significant festival of Tihar is over later this week.

The national political parties are urging the Maoists to behave like a normal political party and not set themselves up as a parallel government. "The Maoists have to win over the hearts of the people through their ideology and behaviour instead of through their use of arms and threats," said Madhav Nepal, leader of the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), the country's second largest national party.

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) also raised concerns over continuing Maoist abuses - including abductions, killings and child recruitment - in its annual report on Nepal to the General Assembly in New York last week.

In addition, the OHCHR's report noted the weakness and absence of law enforcement and poor administration of the justice system. "Strengthening both will be essential to firmly establishing the rule of law, protecting human rights and preventing the emergence of elements which risk the undermining the peace process," the report said.

On the question of the rule of law, the police authorities in the capital Kathmandu have also complained that the Maoists are continually interfering in their work. The People's Liberation Army (PLA), the military wing of the Maoists, have started patrolling on the main streets of the capital looking for individuals accused of being involved in criminal activities, they said.

The Maoists openly admitted on Saturday that they have launched their own crime control operation and, in the few last weeks, have 'arrested' over 60 individuals.

"This is nothing but misuse of political power and has nothing to do with controlling crime," said a police officer on condition of anonymity.

The Maoists, however, deny that their actions amount to little more than political propaganda. "We are carrying out our operation to provide security to both the business community and to ordinary citizens so that they are safe from criminals," said Hisila Yami, a senior Maoist leader.

Meanwhile, complains over rebel tax collections continue. The Maoists have been collecting 'taxes' from local villages for some time but have now started targeting foreign tourists, bringing complaints from travel operators. According to local travel agents in the Everest region, one of the most popular adventure tour destinations, tourists were asked to pay a daily tax of US $1 until they left the place.

"If the government or the Maoist leaders fail to establish a strong mechanism to control such activities, then we will surely be heading towards a failed state," said Pyakhurel, who called for extended dialogue between the top Maoist leader Prachanda and the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in the forthcoming peace talks to stop the abuses.

Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), part of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).