Though the peace talks are going on and Maoists leaders are expressing commitment to respect people’s freedom and human rights, Maoists are forcing people to accommodate their cadres in their houses and feed them.

Maoists are forcing people to accommodate their cadres and feed them till the mass meeting of the party slated for November 10 at the Open Air Theatre of the Capital. Maoist chairman Prachanda is scheduled to address the mass meeting.

Nepalnews received complaints from many of residents in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur that the Maoists are forcing them to accommodate their cadres, who have gathered in Kathmandu to take part in the mass meeting scheduled for November 10 and to feed them.

Maoists have said that they will bring one million people in the capital on the day.

Some residents in localities including Bagdol, Nakkhipot, Dhobighat, Dholahiti, Balkhu, Thapagaun, Magargaun, Bhainsepati, Khumaltar, Hattiban and Kusunti complained that they have been asked to provide shelter to up to 10 cadre each. They have also asked the residents to feed their cadre for three days.

When Nepalnews asked Chief of the Maoist central Command Barsha Man Pun a. k. a. Anant about the pressure created by Maoist cadres to general people to feed and give shelter to them, Ananta said, “Some people are providing shelter voluntarily to Maoist cadres, who are in the capital to attend the mass meeting to be addressed by Maoist chairman Prachanda on November 10, but we are not forcing anybody to do so.”

“As we are planning to bring one million people in the capital in a first public meeting to be addressed by our Chairman, we are seeking cooperation from the civil society and general people but we are not forcing people to feed our cadres,” Ananta, who is one of the deputy commanders of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), said. “I received information this morning that some of our cadres are forcing people to do so and I have already issued directives to them not to do so. If some cadres are forcing people, we will correct it immediately.”

According to reports, the rebels have also captured garment factories at Bouddha and Buddhanagar and the Pashupati Area Development Trust office at Gaushala and other premises for the purpose.

“Three Maoists recently came to my house and asked us to feed 10 cadres and give them shelter from November 8-10,” a resident of the valley told in the name of anonymity.

“Maoists have asked us to provide shelter and feed 10 of them at least for a day and a night,” said a local at Jawalakhel.

The Himalayan Times daily quoted Geeta, a resident of Patan as saying that a few Maoists came to her house and told her family members that they must let 10 Maoists spend two nights in their house and serve them breakfast and dinner.

However, when Geeta’s family members didn’t quite agree to the idea, the Maoists “curtly” told them that they would settle the score when the time came, the daily adds.

Speaking at the special session of the House of Representatives on Monday a lawmaker of Lalitpur district, Krishna Lal Maharjan voiced concern over Maoist activities at a time when leaders of the seven-party alliance and Maoists are holding talks to sort out differences.

“The Maoists are forcing people to feed 10 Maoist cadres and give shelter to two of them in different villages and Wards,” he added.