Maoist cadres participating in a mass meeting in Siraha in combat dress with weapons.

Maoist cadres participating in a mass meeting in Siraha in combat dress with weapons.
Photo Source: Parewa.com

Notwithstanding the ceasefire announced by the Maoists, their ‘commitment’ not to extort money from people and the code of conduct signed between them and the government, the Maoists have been blatantly continuing such acts.

According to a report, Maoist cadres have been intensifying a ‘donation collecting campaign’ in Chitwan district as per the party’s circular to collect 50 million rupees as ‘tax’ by July 15 in the district alone.

Maoists have set 50 percent of salary as fixed rate for higher-level government employees while they have demanded Rs 100,000 to one million separately from government offices, reports Kantipur daily.

Maoists have asked for huge sums of money, mainly from the offices of the district development committee (DDC), Bharatpur and Ratna Nagar municipalities, as well as the land revenue, inland revenue, electricity and forestry offices.

The party increased the “tax” rate for teachers to 50 percent of salary, which was 10 percent earlier.

A report from Biratnagar said Maoists abducted Suraj Rajbangsi, a member of the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), from Katahari VDC-4 of Morang district on Friday.

Similarly, a report from Taplejung said the Maoists have continued recruitment for its ‘people’s army’ at various places of the district.

Reports quoted chief of the people’s government’ of Dokhu VDC, Rijan, as saying that they would never stop the expansion of party organization.

Likewise, in Myagdi, breaching the code of conduct, some 300 armed militia of the Basanta Smiriti Brigade of the Maoists held a mass meeting.

Army of Maoist affiliated Madhesi Liberation Front participated in a programme held at the Phulkahapatti village development committee. The 25-point code of conduct signed by Maoists and the government restricts such activities.