Who is safe in this nation?

February 7, 2001
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Kathmandu: Intellectuals of the nation opine that as and when the country’s minority groups are sidelined and their genuine grievances are not duly addressed by the establishment, the groups under duress and compulsion join the bands of those who oppose the government and the system as well.

These intellectuals conclude that the sudden increase in the strength of the Maoists insurgency in Nepal in a very short span of five years only could be the reason mentioned above.

According to them, a minority group at a particular period of history might emerge as a majority group and thereby could also control power and rule the former group in majority.

Be that as it may, the fresh analysis of the American Intelligence unit-STRATFOR- in which it says that well within two years or so this Himalayan Kingdom might see the rule of the radical communists that is the Maoists, apparently shook the nation from within. Then followed the American Ambassador’s subtle warning to the present government in which the envoy had hinted at the ailments in which this country of late was in and suggested the establishment under Koirala to perform and provide good governance as well. Ambassador Frank also hinted in his famous last Tuesday’s speech that Nepal’s political parties must converge and arrive at a consensus on matters that were related with the nation’s genuine interests.

Hardly a week had passed of this Ambassadorial meaning loaded comment, the Maoists targeted the nation’s Chief Justice last Saturday when the latter was on a tour to some western parts of the country. He had a narrow escape, however, some of his accompanying colleagues had to lose their precious lives.

The Maoists have almost regretted over the attack on the nation’s CJ and have clarified that “at least at this juncture we were not against such attacks on the officials of the judicial system of the country”. The insurgents have told that they would constitute a commission to probe as to how this sad event occurred.

This means that the entire sad events happened unknowingly? It is rather difficult to digest their theory because the manner the insurgents attacked the CJ caravan in western Nepal forces us to conclude that the dignitary could be their target. However, the insurgents deny.

Now the question arises as to who could be the next target of the insurgents? To recall, the insurgents have already targeted ministers, congress activists in the districts, UML men and at times the men belonging to the RPP camp.

The fresh event in the western region has, to recall, come at a time when the insurgents have already declared that they will observe their sixth anniversary in a big manner and they will show their presence in the capital district to mark the occasion.

This advance notice of the insurgents and the deteriorating law and order situation in the country practically has disturbed the peace of the minds of the local inhabitants for obvious reasons.

Considering the attack on the CJ last Saturday, question could be asked as to whom was safe in Nepal? The answer should obviously come in negative.

The fact is that the security machinery in the country remains demoralised and apparently a sort of panic presumably prevails in the entire machinery. The situation has touched a new low and the government prefers not to assure the public about the measures it has planned for the safety of its voters and the international community based in Kathmandu.

Be that as it may, one high placed source says that the fresh attack on the nation’s CJ could be that the latter had supported the formation of the Armed Police Force during a chat with some media. The source says that the Maoists could have retaliated in their own fashion to hint the CJ that his support for the formation of the APF was simply “unfriendly”.

However, this has yet to be substantiated.

Predictably, the nation is already under tremendous strain. A sort of fear has gripped the nation. Any thing could happen any time conclude intellectuals.

However, what would happen no body knows. Who will make things to happen is any body’s guess.