Coordinator the Kathmandu district committee of the Maoist-affiliated Newa National Liberation Front, Sailendra Maske, has surrendered before the security forces. At a press conference Tuesday, the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) brought Maske, who surrendered on April 18, before the media.

Maske, former CPN (UML) cadre who joined the Maoist party in 2058 B.S, said the exploitation of the cadres by the rebel leaders and mindless violence unleashed by outfit upset him. “I came to realise that Maoist activities were not going to do any good to the nation and the people. I then decided to quit,” he told reporters.

He further said he was particularly frustrated at the way the rebel party came to the negotiating table and then abruptly pulled out of the peace process. Army spokesman Brigadier General Deepka Gurung said Maske is being provided security on his request.

At the same program, the RNA also presented five persons involved in extortion in the guise of Maoists in Kathmandu. Gyan Bahadur Karki, Ramesh Kumar Sunuwar and Sagar Sunuwar of Ramechhap district, Jagendra Basnet of Sulukhumbu and Bharat Kumar Magar of Okhaldhunga district were arrested from Kathmandu a few days ago.

The extortionists – arrested with Rs.1.3 million cash – had been extorting money from businessmen in Kathmandu since last few months. “I raised money from 10-12 businessmen in Kathmandu. Nobody knew until our arrest that we were extorting in the Maoist guise,” Gyan Bahadur confessed.

Army officials said the drive against extortion racket and other Maoist activities in Kathmandu Valley was going on intensively. They claimed the security situation in the Valley and outside had improved significantly since Feb 1. nepalnews.com mbk Apr 26 05