Incidents involving Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist 2009

January 1: The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) and Nepali Congress agreed to set a three-month deadline for the return of lands and properties seized by Maoists to the rightful owners.

January 4: Cadres of the CPN-Maoist attacked the Bhandaris, the aides of the Pashupati priests, and other devotees in the Pashupatinath temple premises in Kathmandu injuring at least 10 persons.

January 11: Uma Singh, a Janakpur-based journalist, was killed by a group of unidentified assailants. The attackers forcibly entered her apartment in Rajoula and killed her with sharp weapons. Three years ago, the victim’s father and elder brother were abducted from their homes at Mirchaiya in the Siraha District. Her family had then accused the CPN-Maoist of being involved in the abduction.

January 12: The CPN-Maoist and the CPN- Unity Center decided to join together and form Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-Maoist).

January 18: Police arrested a Unified CPN-Maoist cadre, Shrawan Yadav, from his house in the Rampurbirta area of Siraha District on the charge of murdering the Janakpur-based journalist Uma Singh

January 20: The Police recovered over a dozen socket bombs reportedly left behind by cadres of the CPN-Maoist from the house of former Appellate Court judge, Yam Narayan Dhital, at Madhuvan under Dhodhari VDC-8 in the Baridya District

March 18: Fearing for their life, over 90 percent of the locals of Kanchanpur in the Bara District fled their homes after a group of around 300 persons claiming to be cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist looted and vandalised over two dozen houses in the area.

April 6: The Unified CPN Maoist cadres attacked and injured five Nepali Congress (NC) activists at Pukchowk in the Kaski District. According to the NC, the Maoists manhandled its activists who were on their way back after attending a programme at Lekhnath municipality.

April 30: The Unified CPN-Maoist decided to go ahead with the plan to take action against the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Rookmangud Katawal, after a meeting of the party''s central secretariat

May 1: The senior Unified CPN-Maoist leader and Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai said his party is firm in its resolve to take action against the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal even if it has to quit the Government.

May 3: The Maoist-led coalition Government removed the Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS), General Rookmangud Katawal

May 4: Nine months after he was elected the first Prime Minister (PM) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced his resignation which was subsequently accepted by President Ram Baran Yadav. In an address to the nation, the PM said, "To resolve this difficult situation and to create a positive environment to save democracy, nationalism, and peace process, I announce my resignation." The announcement came after the President, who is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, asked the CoAS, General Rookmangud Katawal, to continue in office. In a statement, the President said the Army Chief’s dismissal by the Cabinet on May 3 did not "meet the constitutional requirements and due process."

The Unified CPN-Maoist decided to agitate in the Parliament and the street until their decision to dismiss Katawal is implemented. A meeting of the party secretariat held at Baluwatar following Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s resignation decided to launch the agitation in favour of democracy and civil supremacy.

May 5: The Maoist District committee in Ramechhap issued a warning to members of the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML to leave the District by May 9. The District leaders also threatened to take 'physical action' if anyone being warned did not abide by the circular in the said period. The village committees of the party have circulated the warning throughout the District and posted it in several public places. Maoists have alleged NC and CPN-UML of being pro-Indians.

The Unified CPN-Maoist cadres demonstrated in various parts of the nation against the President who directed the Army Chief to continue with the office despite the cabinet''s decision to terminate him. Further, CA members of the Unified CPN-Maoist decided not to allow any business in the Parliament until President Ram Baran Yadav apologises for his move to reinstate the army chief before the House.

May 6: Protesting supporters of Unified CPN-Maoist clashed with Police at Kathmandu. Police used tear gas and bamboo batons to break up a protest of about 500 Maoist supporters. No one was seriously injured.

May 7: The politburo meeting of Unified CPN-Maoist ended stressing that the party should organise more protest programmes to exert pressure on President Ram Baran Yadav to correct his ''unconstitutional'' move to reinstate the Army chief.

May 9: The Politburo meeting of the Unified CPN Maoist held at Ravi Bhawan decided not to take any initiative to form the new Government until President Yadav corrects his "unconstitutional move" by reversing his step to reinstate the army chief.

May 11: The Unified CPN-Maoist decided to escalate the street agitation against the President's 'unconstitutional' step overturning the Government decision to dismiss the CoAS Rookmangud Katawal at a meeting of the Maoist politburo. Rallies and mass meetings would be organised across the country as part of the protest programme.

A senior Maoist leader instructed party cadres to chase away activists of the NC and CPN-UML from villages by taking "people's action" against them. "Maoists will take people's action against those supporting the president's move and drive them out of the villages," said the Central Secretariat member of the Unified CPN-Maoist, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, while addressing a protest programme in Sandhikharka.

The Maoists attacked NC's Basanta Raj Bhatt, former VDC chairman and UML member Gopal Silwal, NC District member Krishna Paudel and an NC-affiliated teacher Keshav Paudel in Banke District. According to Bhatt, some 60 knife wielding Maoists attacked him at 11:30 p.m.

May 13: Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, a senior leader of the Unified CPN-Maoist, said his party did not trust the Supreme Court (SC). Speaking in Kathmandu, Baidya said, "The SC is not the people’s court." Expressing dissatisfaction over the judiciary, he said, "Feudalist and reactionary forces are still active in the judiciary." The party would rather carry on with the street protests to press President Ram Baran Yadav to correct his ‘unconstitutional’ move, he added.

May 17: The Unified CPN-Maoist cadres clashed with Nepali Congress activists at Bariyaarpur-4 of Bara District, leaving more than a dozen from both parties injured. Reports quoted Police as saying that eight among the injured are in a critical condition. They had clashed over a land dispute. Most of the seriously injured are local members of the NC while only two belonged to the Maoists.

Maoists pelted stones at the vehicle of the CPN-UML leaders, including general secretary Ishwar Pokhrel, at Tipling of Ramechhap. Police escorting Pokhrel opened fire in the air to disperse the attackers.

May 18: Ignoring its earlier commitment not to obstruct the parliamentary proceedings once opposition parties show majority for formation of new Government, the Unified CPN-Maoist decided it will continue to obstruct the House. The central secretariat meeting of the party held at Baluwatar in the morning concluded that party will continue rallying at the House until their demand to nullify President’s move is met.

The Unified CPN-Maoist lawmakers obstructed the proceedings of the Parliament. Speaker Subas Nemwang had to announce the adjournment of the sitting as the Maoist lawmakers started chanting slogans against the President's move to reinstate the Chief of Army Staff (CoAS). The Maoist lawmakers picketed the rostrum demanding withdrawal of President's move.

May 20: The Unified CPN-Maoist decided to table a 'commitment proposal' against the President's move to block the Government's decision to dismiss the Army Chief at the Parliament and allow the normal proceedings of the House.

May 24: Former Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' urged his cadres to stay ready for a revolution as the 'war' is not over yet.

May 25: Senior leader of the Unified CPN-Maoist and former finance minister Baburam Bhattarai said his party would unilaterally form local bodies if the present Government fails to do so.

May 26: The Unified CPN Maoist has reportedly refused Prime Minister Nepal's call to join the Government. Talking to the media after the Prime Minister's address, Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said there is no possibility of joining the Government or working together until 'civil supremacy' is maintained.

May 29: The CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda has said that his party would now spearhead city-centred protest programmes to pressure the new ruling coalition to nullify the President's decision to reinstate the dismissed Army chief.

May 31: Maoists assaulted the Nepali Congress District president, Mukti Prasad Nyaupane, in Kalikot. Local cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist and the YCL attacked Nyaupane as he was going to the District headquarters Manma from his home in Badalkot.

June 2: The Maoist-affiliated trade unions reportedly continue to occupy buildings and land belonging to the Industrial Estate Management Limited (IEML) in Pokhara, Dharan and Patan although they have been warned to move out many times. The IEML is contemplating starting legal proceedings against the trade unionists to regain its properties.

A Special Court issued clean chits to the Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, senior leader Baburam Bhattarai and over a dozen Maoists on a charge of treason.

The Unified CPN-Maoist demanded that the Indian Government end encroachment of Nepali land on the border and immediately return seized land to create an environment of peace and to maintain security along the border.

June 3: The Unified CPN-Maoist launched a nationwide protest against President Ram Baran Yadav''s decision to reinstate the Army Chief General Rookmangud Katawal, who was dismissed by the then Maoist-led Government.

The Unified CPN-Maoist is to stage similar demonstrations at the Village Development Committee offices across the country and organise other protest programmes in the following days to restore civilian supremacy. The party has said it would launch a stronger protest movement if the President move is not retracted.

June 4: The Unified CPN-Maoist staged rallies in capital Kathmandu protesting the alleged encroachment of Nepali territory by India and harassment of Nepalis living in bordering villages. After rallies at different parts of Kathmandu, hundreds of Maoists staged a sit-in protest in front of the Indian embassy at Lainchaur. They also submitted a memorandum at the embassy calling for an immediate end of the border encroachment.

June 5: A Maoist, identified as Ladai Shah of the Pataura VDC area, who was assaulted by the CPN-UML cadres in Rautahat District on June 1, died of injuries in capital Kathmandu.

The Unified CPN-Maoist organised a general strike in the five Districts of western Terai region - Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur. The general strike called at the initiation of the Maoist-affiliated Tharu Mukti Morcha to protest the President''s move against the erstwhile Government''s decision to dismiss the Army chief Rookmangud Katwal brought life in these Districts to a complete halt.

June 8: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist who were protesting the attack on their party office on June 7 vandalised the Banepa-based office of the Kavre District committee of the CPN-UML in the afternoon.

The Unified CPN-Maoist threatened to return to war as its cadres called a general strike in the west and staged a show of might in central Nepal. Hundreds of Maoists poured in from adjacent villages in a show of strength at Banepa, a small town in the Kavre District east of capital Kathmandu, a day after their office there was vandalised by angry locals for enforcing a general shutdown and attacking public vehicles.

Two Maoists were injured when activists of the Youth Force (YF), Youth wing of the ruling CPN-UML, and the YCL clashed at Manma bazaar in Kalikot District. The clash reportedly ensued after a minor argument between the two groups.

June 9: The top leadership of the Unified CPN-Maoist and CPN-UML reportedly agreed to end the political deadlock and move ahead on the basis of a consensus. The parties made an understanding to find a middle-path to resolve the conflict and let the House function smoothly.

June 11: Senior leaders of the ruling CPN-UML and the agitating main opposition Unified CPN-Maoist met in the morning, and discussed ways to end the parliamentary deadlock, but could not arrive at any understanding.

June 12: Normal life in nine Districts of the mid-western region falling under Magarat Autonomous Province, namely Palpa, Argakhachi, Baglung, Gulmi, Rolpa, Pyuthan, Rukum, Salyan and Myagdi, was affected due to the general strike called by the Magar Rastriya Mukti Morcha (MRMM), an ethnic wing of the Unified CPN-Maoist.

June 15: The Unified CPN-Maoist enforced a general strike in two far western zones, Seti and Mahakali to protest the President's move and rejection of their 'commitment proposal' at the Parliament.

June 16: A group of journalists were attacked by cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist affiliated All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) in Nepalgunj.

Cadres of the All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers´ Union, a trade union affiliated to the Unified CPN-Maoist, assaulted Jagdish Maskey, the owner of Gemini Departmental Store, at Bouddha in capital Kathmandu.

June 21: The Unified CPN-Maoist cadres clashed with Police and vandalised Government offices in various Districts, including capital Kathmandu, in the course of sit-in demonstrations they staged in front of the offices across the country to prevent civil servants and service seekers from entering, as part of their protest against the President's decision on the COAS and the recent Government decision to overturn the Maoist-led Government's decision to dismiss the COAS.

The Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said his party is preparing to launch a decisive third people's movement to uphold civilian supremacy.

June 22: A meeting of top leaders of the three major parties - the Unified CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML - held in an effort to break the deadlock in the Parliament ended inconclusively.

June 24: The Unified CPN-Maoist called for a shutdown in Kailali protesting the Police intervention which injured at least 21 Maoists on June 23 at Tikapur in Kailali. The clash ensued when Maoists attacked the car of the State Minister of Power, Chandra Singh Bhattarai, after showing black flags at the inauguration of the Municipal Assembly of Tikapur Municipality.

July 1: Cadres of the ANNISU-R, student wing of the Unified CPN-Maoist, smeared tar on the face of Jasa Bahadur Lungeli, chief of the Mahendra Multiple Campus, in Ilam.

July 6: The Unified CPN-Maoist and the ruling CPN-UML reached a four-point understanding to resume House proceedings, which had been halted for nearly two months due the Maoists' obstruction over the President's decision on the army chief issue.

July 10: 14 People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants of the Ilam-based PLA First Division headquarters and satellite camps quit the PLA to join the Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist. Speaking at a programme of the CPN-Maoist-aligned National Youth People's Protection Committee, the fighters said they decided to part ways with the military wing of the Unified CPN-Maoist as the party confined them as prisoners.

July 20: Locals of the Balaju area in capital Kathmandu assaulted the Unified CPN-Maoist Constituent Assembly (CA) member Prem Tamang and leader of the Nepal Tamang Ghedung, an autonomous and non-profit making Tamang People's national organisation, Kumar Blon, while they were allegedly trying to disrupt vehicular movement along the Pasang Lhamu Highway.

Following a debate over the appointment of a teacher, the Unified CPN-Maoist cadres led by Upendra Bohara assaulted four persons at Simar in the Rudreshwor VDC area in Baitadi District.

July 29:The Police arrested a central member of the Unified CPN-Maoist Ram Kumar Poudel along with a Chinese pistol from the capital Kathmandu. He is also the ''division commander'' of the PLA stationed in Chitwan. The Police caught Poudel with a pistol and a bullet in course of checking from the south gate of Singhadurbar.

July 30: Following weeks of deliberations, the Unified CPN-Maoist Central Committee endorsed the political document tabled by Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a. Prachanda some two weeks ago. With this endorsement, formation of national consensus Government for constitution drafting and the conclusion of peace process as mentioned by Prachanda in his document have been adopted by the Maoists as their immediate strategy.

August 2: Chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said his party would resort to a fresh protest movement if the Prime Minister's commitment to address the issues raised by the party didn't materialise within the next four days.

August 3: The Standing Committee meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist seconded party Chairman Prachanda's warning and decided to re-launch a struggle "from the street and the parliament" if the Government failed to come clear on the issues of civilian supremacy and the 'unconstitutional' move of the President on the Army chief episode within the next three days.

August 4: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal expressed disappointment over the current level of mistrust between his Government and the opposition Unified CPN-Maoist and accused its Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda of maintaining a dubious position on the issue of integration/rehabilitation of PLA combatants.

August 7: The Unified CPN-Maoist launched a protest movement as its ultimatum to the Government to address the issue of civilian supremacy vis-à-vis the President's move reinstating the dismissed Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), General Rookmangud Katawal, expired.

The Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman and former Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda warned that the new Constitution cannot be drafted if President Ram Baran Yadav's move to reinstate the CoAS was not discussed in the Parliament.

August 12: Cadres of the ANNISU-R, student wing of the Unified CPN-Maoist, set ablaze two Government vehicles at Butwal in the Rupandehi District. A vehicle each belonging to Nepal Drinking Water Corporation and Revenue Investigation Office were those set ablaze by the Maoist students.

August 13: The Unified CPN-Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai said that "civilian supremacy" must be maintained, and the constitution drafting and peace process should be brought back on track in order to stop further bloodshed in the country. He accused the current CPN-UML-led Government of trying to push the country towards another conflict by reversing the achievements gained through the people's movement instead of institutionalising it.

August 19: The Chairman of the Unified-CPN-Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, said the incumbent Government will not succeed in taking the peace process to a logical conclusion, nor will it be able to frame the Constitution.

August 24: A cadre of the Unified CPN-Maoist was killed and one YCL cadre was injured when an unidentified gang opened fire at Goskhana Tole in Taplejung. The deceased has been identified as Liban Village Committee secretary Lal Dhoj Limbu. The injured YCL cadre has been identified as Lokesh Limbu.

August 26: More than a dozen cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist and Nepali Congress (NC) were injured in a clash on the issue of land at Bishunpurba VDC in Maanpur of Rautahat District. The Police personnel fired three rounds of bullets in the air to contain the situation.

August 27: The Unified CPN-Maoist said the party will be ready for army integration only after the Government assures drafting of new constitution. Speaking at an interaction programme organised by Nepal Institute for Policy Studies in Lalitpur, Maoists chief for political affairs Barsha Man Pun said the party is not ready for army integration at a time when the chances of constitution drafting seem null.

August 31: The Unified CPN-Maoist agreed to join the defunct Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal. An agreement to reactivate the special committee was reached in a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Nepal and Maoist Chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal. The committee is all set to resume operation from September 1.

The Unified CPN-Maoist affiliated All Nepal Farmers' Association seized about 80 hectares of land belonging to Bharat Gurung at Shrinathkot Village Development Committee area in Gorkha District. Gurung is a former aide of the royal family. A group of Maoist activists led by association's District chairman Krishna Dhaurali announced that they captured the land by fixing a party flag.

September 3: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist pelted stones at the convoy of the Prime Minister Madhav Kumar when he was heading to Basantapur Durbar Square to attend the Indra Jatra (a religious ceremony) in the evening.

The Maoist party said it will be boycott all programmes attended by the President and the Prime Minister as part of its protest against the President's move blocking the erstwhile Maoist-led Government's decision to dismiss then army chief Rookmangud Katawal.

The Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Trade Union Federation carried out protest rallies in the capital against the President's move and demanding guarantee of the rights of workers.

September 4: Nearly 50 cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist assaulted the newly appointed priests, Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta, at the Pashupati Temple premises in Kathmandu.

September 5: A bomb disposal squad of the Nepal Army defused a bomb, which was apparently targeted at a regional assembly of the Unified CPN-Maoist, at a ground in Biratnagar. A separate team of the Nepal Army defused another thread-bomb, wrapped with a polythene bag, recovered at Bargachi on the Koshi road.

September 7: The General Staff meeting of the Maoist combatants demanded that the Government should prepare a legal framework to ensure the integration and rehabilitation of combatants before bringing them under the control of a special committee.

September 8: Five cadres of the Unified CPN Maoist were injured when Police personnel charged batons at the Maoists who were chanting slogans and showing black flags to the Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel in the Syangja District. Later the Maoists obstructed vehicular movement from Kubinde to Syangja Bazaar demanding free medical treatment to those injured in the clash.

Speaking to the media in Nepalgunj, the Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said his party would not move an inch backward to end the deadlock in the Parliament unless the ruling coalition agrees to debate the President’s move.

September 10: After two months of deadlock, the Government and the Unified CPN-Maoist reached an agreement to resume the process of discharging the disqualified PLA combatants from the camps.

September 11: Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a. ‘Prachanda’, the chairman of Unified CPN-Maoist, issued a threat to the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML to accept their 45-point demand or else brace for a new movement.

ANNISU-R, the student wing of the Maoists, announced an indefinite closure of private Higher Secondary Schools across the country from September 13 as the Higher Secondary Education Board did not pay heed to its demands.

September 13: The Unified CPN-Maoist cadres assaulted Deep Bahadur K. C., Bakrang village committee chairman of CPN-UML, in Gorkha accusing him of taking Maoist supporters to a regional convention of CPN-UML.

September 14: At least 15 cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist and two Policemen were injured as the Maoists tried to disrupt the convocation ceremony of Purwanchal University, attended by the Prime Minister Madhav Nepal at Shahid Stadium in Biratnagar, headquarters of Morang District.

September 15: Six cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist were injured when they clashed with the Police in Janakpur. The incident took place after the demonstrators showed black flags to Minister for Labour and Transport Management Mohammad Aftab Alam. Dhanusha district committee member of the Unified CPN-Maoist Devsagar Das and YCL Dhanusha coordinator Shyam Yadav are among the injured.

The Maoist aligned Priest Appointment Joint Struggle Committee (PAJSC) unlocked the door of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) office taking into consideration the upcoming Dashain and Tihar festivals. PAJSC had padlocked the PADT office around two weeks ago protesting against the appointment of two new Indian priests at Pashupatinath Temple.

September 16: Continuing their protests, cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist waved black flags and pelted stones at Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal as he attended the 34th convocation ceremony of Tribhuvan University in Kirtipur in Kathmandu. A few Maoist cadres were injured when the Police used force to break the protest.

September 17: Addressing media persons on his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport following a four-day Hong Kong visit, chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist, Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, said his party was ready to withdraw all the protest plans if the parties agree to amend the interim constitution changing the jurisdiction of the President to correct his 'unconstitutional step'.

A three-day meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist held in Jajarkot decided to resurrect their people's Government in the District, arguing that the people have been facing difficulties due to the prolonged absence of representatives at the local bodies. Local leader of the Maoists said the decision was taken since the Government had shown apathy towards the peoples' problems.

September 21: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist showed black flags and pelted stones at the vehicle carrying the Minister for Irrigation Bal Krishna Khand in Tikapur of Kailali District, hours after he said that the Government will be compelled to react strongly if the Maoists continue with their violent ways in the name of carrying out agitation for civilian supremacy.

September 22: The Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda claimed that some Madhesh-based parties are likely to withdraw support to the coalition Government shortly. Speaking to journalists in Pokhara, Dahal said the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress are adamant not to let the House debate the President's move seeing the possibilities of the Government not fetching majority.

September 23: The chairman of Unified CPN-Maoist Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said that his party would table a no confidence motion in the Parliament against the CPN-UML-led Government if there's no agreement to 'rectify' the President's move.

October 10: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist hurled stones at the vehicle of Industry Minister Mahendra Prasad Yadav when he was on board in Butwal. However, Minister Yadav was not wounded in the attack, confirmed the Police.

October 13: At least 12 cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist were injured in a clash with the Police personnel in Pyuthan District. The clash broke out when the Police intervened in the Maoist demonstration against the visiting Minister for General Administration Rabindra Shrestha.

21 Maoists from the Palpa District defected to the Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist. They announced their desertion by issuing a statement. This is the third incident of Palpa-based Unified CPN-Maoist cadres leaving the party to join the splinter faction. However, the Palpa chapter of the Unified CPN-Maoist said in a statement that the deserters were expelled from the party for committing financial irregularities.

October 23: The Unified CPN-Maoist gave a 9-day ultimatum to the Government to address the demands raised by the party regarding the President's move. A meeting of the Maoist standing committee held at the party headquarters set November 1 deadline to the Government to come up with an understanding on issues raised by the party vis-à-vis the President's move against the erstwhile Government's decision to sack the then Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal.

October 26: A cadre of Nepali Congress's sister organisation Tarun Dal, Chandra Prakash Hanggam was killed in Ilaam-Godak section of the Mechi Highway in Taplejung District. A group of about half-dozen persons attacked Hanggam and his pillion rider while he was going towards Jhapa from Taplejung on a motorcycle. Pillion rider Patanwa was seriously injured. Nepali Congress alleged that cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist are involved in the murder.

Speaking at a reception organised by the Maoist-affiliated Newa State Council in the capital Kathmandu, Maoist chairman Prachanda said the Maoists are going to create a wave of protests which might well turn into the third Janaandolan (people's movement), and asked party cadres to stay prepared for that.

The Unified CPN-Maoist vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai said in an interview to World People's Resistance Movement of Britain that the ultimate plan of the Maoists is to "smash" the State into pieces in order to replace it with a "new state" that will be led by a proletarian party, or the Maoists.

November 1: After efforts for a consensus made no headway, the Unified CPN-Maoist launched the second phase of protests against the Government from the evening. The Maoists have decided to intensify the stir after the ruling parties objected to their proposal on discussing the President's move during the Army Chief row in the Legislature-Parliament.

November 2: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist 'captured' the Dhankuta Municipality, and 'appointed' the office-bearers of the municipality, including the mayor and the deputy mayor. The Maoists declared Ganesh Bista as the mayor and Kabita Rai as deputy mayor. They also appointed chairmen in nine wards in the municipality. The party declared that its team would look after the entire matters with the municipality.

Maoists picketed the offices of municipalities, District Development Committees and Village Development Committees (VDCs) across the country, preventing work in these bodies during the protest.

November 3: The locals of Dhankuta demonstrated at Sindhuwa since early morning demanding security following the violent incident that took place the previous night. The locals demonstrated against the Unified CPN-Maoist who set ablaze a motorcycle and vandalised a van.

The Unified CPN-Maoist, which had declared nationwide protests beginning from November 1, called off its proposed shutdown at the Tribhuvan International Airport in capital Kathmandu.

The Unified CPN-Maoist Vice Chairman, Baburam Bhattarai, said that his party's plan to declare autonomous federal states would only be symbolic and a publicity stunt. Bhattarai said so in the wake of mounting criticism against the Maoists' protest programme, saying that the main opposition party tried to create parallel power centers.

November 4: The Unified CPN-Maoist recruited youths and began to impart military training to them in Sindhuli District. More than 100 youths have been acquiring military training at Madhutar in the District headquarters for the last one week. The Maoist source said that it had been providing training to the party activists of its youth wing, the Young Communist League (YCL), who were selected from 13 areas of the District.

The Unified CPN-Maoist vice chairman, Babu Ram Bhattarai, clarified that his party is committed to peace and is not planning for any revolt.

November 5: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist staged sit-in in front of the District Administration Offices (DAOs) across the country for the second day. In Kathmandu Valley, hundreds of Maoists gathered in front of the DAOs of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur from early morning, carrying flags and banners emblazoned with slogans for restoration of 'civilian supremacy' and against the President's move.

The Maoist cadres ordered six families in Sabhapokhari and Barhabise VDCs in Sankhuwasabha District to vacate their houses and immovable property at the earliest. All the victims owe their allegiance to the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. The Maoists claimed that these families usurped the assets during the decade-long insurgency. The Maoists claimed that the victims did not seek their permission for the ‘seizure’.

November 6: After calling off its shutdown strike at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Unified CPN-Maoist withdrew the party’s pre-announced programme to declare autonomous provinces in many parts of the country on November 9. The United National People’s Movement Central Committee of the party, which has been organizing nationwide agitation since November 1 to uphold what it calls "civilian supremacy", issued a press release on stating that the party’s aforementioned program has been called off for now.

November 8: Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda hinted his party could ease obstruction in the legislature parliament to let the budget for this fiscal year pass.

November 9: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist released 19 passenger buses belonging to Araniko Yatayat Sewa Samiti. The Maoists released the buses they had taken under control on November 7 and 8 after the Araniko Yatayat Sewa Samiti, agreed to provide NR 5,000 as ‘donation’ for each of the buses.

November 10: Vehicular movement to and from the Kathmandu valley through various entry points was blocked by cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist as they enforced valley blockade.

The agitating Unified CPN-Maoist, which had withdrawn its earlier plan to announce federal States, on November 9 declared the eastern Districts as Kirat federal state based on, what they describe, caste, language, culture, and historical background. The Maoists made the symbolic announcement amid a function organised at Diktel, the headquarters of Khotang District, as part of their protest against the Government.

A meeting of the Unified CPN-Maoist central officer bearers concluded that the Government is not serious about seeking a consensus to defuse the current political imbroglio. The main opposition party which launched its second phase of protests against the President's "unconstitutional" move on November 1 has also decided to further intensify its stir.

November 12: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist are picketing Singhadurbar which houses Government's main administrative offices for two days starting from as the last programme for the second phase of protest.

The Vice-chairman of the Unified CPN-Maoist, Baburam Bhattarai, said that it is wrong to associate Nepali Maoists with the Indian Maoists. "The attempt to associate us with the Indian Maoists' movement is totally wrong," Bhattarai said, adding, "It's their internal matter and we have no links whatsoever with them."

November 15: The Unified CPN-Maoist vice chairman, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said his party is planning for a no-confidence motion against the coalition Government to topple it and open doors for new national consensus Government.

December 3: The Unified CPN-Maoist concluded that it would demarcate the borders of its proposed autonomous states only after holding broader deliberations.

December 4: As part of the third phase of protest programmes announced by the Unified CPN-Maoist, Maoist-affiliated Nepal National Dalit Mukti Morcha disrupted transport service in the capital Kathmandu in the morning. The ethnic front called strike in the valley for two hours from 10:30 am local time.

December 6: All Nepal Teachers Association (ANTA) affiliated to the Unified CPN-Maoist, and Republic Educational Forum (REF) called for a nationwide shut down of academic institutions on December 7.

The Unified CPN-Maoist-called nationwide general strike brought life to a standstill across the country. The Maoist party had enforced the strike protesting the death of three people in Police action against squatters in the Kailali-based Dudhejhadi forest on December 4.

December 7: Nepal Media Society (NMS), an alliance of publishers and broadcasters, requested the Unified CPN-Maoist-affiliated trade union to seriously internalise people’s freedom and their right to information and demanded that the union immediately withdraw the proposed shut down of the publication houses on December 9.

The Unified CPN-Maoist captured a house reportedly belonging to its lawmaker Binod Pahadi at Butwal in Rupandehi District.

The Unified CPN-Maoist vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai accused the Government of seeking to compel the Maoists to return to war by opening fire at unarmed landless squatters in Kailali District on December 5, killing four persons.

December 8: The CPN-UML leader Jhala Nath Khanal urged the opposition Unified CPN-Maoist to withdraw their plan to announce autonomous states. Speaking to media persons in Salyan in the morning Khanal alleged that Maoists are trying to bypass the mandate given to Constituent Assembly and make it useless.

December 11: Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda accused that the Government is bent on killing some Maoist leaders.

December 13: Despite the national and international concerns over its move, the Unified CPN Maoist declared Seti-Mahakali and Tharuwan autonomous States as part of the party's third round of protests. The Maoists declared five Districts in western Terai as Tharuwan autonomous State amidst a huge gathering of party cadres and supporters in Nepalgunj of Banke District.

Ten political parties in the Government including Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and MJF-Loktantrik urged the agitating Unified CPN-Maoist to withdraw its agitation including the general strike on December 20- 22 and the declaration of federal States.

December 14: The Unified CPN-Maoist declared two more 'autonomous States' in the eastern Nepal. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal announced Sherpa State in Solukhumbu, and politburo member Gopal Kirati declared Kirat State in Khotang. As part of their third-phase agitation against the Government, the Maoists have decided to go for a phase wise declaration of autonomous States.

Enraged by acts of violence by Unified CPN-Maoist cadres in different parts of the country, including in Salyan, Rukum and Nuwakot Districts, the CPN-UML decided to launch a nationwide ‘exposure campaign’ against the main opposition party.

December 15: The Unified CPN-Maoist captured hundreds of acres of land belonging to various individuals across the country.

December 16: The Unified CPN-Maoist announced two more autonomous States - Newa and Tamsaling - defying calls from several quarters to withdraw the autonomous state declaration programme. Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda declared Newa autonomous State amid a function organized at Basantapur in the capital Kathmandu.

December 18: The Unified CPN-Maoist wrapped up its autonomous state declaration programme by declaring Madhesh autonomous state. The Maoist vice-chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai announced the establishment of Madhesh autonomous state amid a programme organized at Barabigha Ranabhoomi Maidan in Janakpur District.

The Maoists declared that they would go ahead with their pre-announced plan to impose nationwide general strike for three days starting December 20.

The Unified CPN-Maoist cadres pelted stones at Minister for Energy Prakash Sharan Mahat in Baglung in the morning while he was on the way to participate at one programme. He was also shown black flags.

December 20: The entire nation came to a grinding halt on the first day of the three-day general strike called by the Unified Unified CPN-Maoist and at least 50 protesters and two dozen security personnel were injured in clashes in Kathmandu.

Businessmen in Parasi picketed the District office of the Unified CPN-Maoist protesting the party’s decision to close down the Parasi bazaar.

Unified CPN-Maoist-affiliated students set ablaze campus chief’s office of Mahendra Bindeshowri Multiple campus in Rajbiraj for defying their general strike.

December 21: Normal life remained crippled on the second day of the three-day general strike called by the Unified CPN-Maoist. The general strike in the Capital remained relatively peaceful compared to December 20, while clashes took place in some parts of the country with over a dozen incidents of vandalism, arson and attack on Government employees.

Outside the Valley, Maoist cadre vandalised Government offices, attacked Government employees, journalists and resorted to arson. The agitators did not even spare an ambulance in Rupandehi.

Baburam Bhattarai, chairman of the United National People’s Movement that launched the strike, said the strike would conclude in the afternoon of December 22 with rallies and assemblies. Further, he warned of more protests if the Government did not address their demand to restore civilian supremacy.

In a bid to end the protracted political deadlock with the agitating main opposition, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal called on Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal and asked him to shun violence.

December 23: At least 22 activists of Tarun Dal, youth wing of the Nepali Congress party, were injured when the Unified CPN-Maoist cadres attacked them at Harmatari Chowk in Gorkha District.

December 24: After completing its third-phase protests for 'civilian supremacy, Unified CPN-Maoist commenced its publicity programmes for what the party called "national sovereignty". Emerging from a meeting of the party office bearers, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda informed that his party launched the publicity programmes as the 'civilian supremacy' cannot be established without national sovereignty.

The Constitutional Committee (CC) rejected the Unified CPN-Maoist proposal for changing the national flag by voice majority. The CC also declined to take up the terminology ‘People’s War’ in the preamble of the constitution-in-the making, while endorsed the Terai-based parties’ proposal to use "Madhes Andolan" in it.

December 28: The Unified CPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda floated a new strategy to shore up support for his party’s fourth phase of protests. The political dossier, which Prachanda presented at the politburo meeting, says that the Maoist party will work in unison with all ‘nationalist forces’ to give the fourth phase of protests a boost. The fourth phase comprises a month long nationwide ‘awakening and exposure campaign’. "The chairman’s report underscores the need for a national movement,"

December 29: Cadres of the Unified CPN-Maoist attacked Federalism, Constituent Assembly (CA) Affairs and Culture minister Minendra Rijal with bamboo sticks in Udaypur District.

December 31: Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (Unified CPN-Maoist) activists in Dang District have started selling land the party had seized during the insurgency. It has been learnt that the Maoists in the District are forcing landowners to sell captured plots to the party’s chosen clients for commission. Maoist cadres, including some District leaders, are earning commission from land purchasers for arranging land at a cheap price.