South Asia Terrorism Portal
Political Impasse Guest Writer: Deepak Thapa Kathmandu-based Journalist and Editor When King Gyanendra asked Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa for his resignation on May 7, 2004, a little over 11 months after he had assumed office, it was long overdue. Appointed Prime Minister on June 4, 2003, Thapa had said that his priority would be to put together a political consensus and continue the dialogue with the rebel Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), which had been observing a ceasefire with the Government since January earlier that year. Agreement with the political parties proved elusive, while the Maoists called off the truce in August 2003 and resumed their 'people's war'. His predecessor, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, had called it quits following the heat generated by the movement launched by a group of five political parties on May 7, 2003, even though his Government had already had two rounds of talks with the Maoists. The parties, which represent the majority in the Parliament dissolved in May 2002, have been agitating against the King's assumption of executive authority, the dismissal of the duly elected Prime Minister in October 2002, and the appointment of hand-picked Prime Ministers, namely, Chand and Thapa. Surya Bahadur Thapa had claimed that the five parties' call for the restitution of representative Government had been fulfilled upon his ascension to prime ministership, a record fifth time. But he found no takers, not even within his own party, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), within which dissent was voiced from the moment he named his Cabinet. As for the Opposition alliance, after months of ineffectual demonstrations, it launched a major protest programme on April 1, 2004, which has gained momentum to embrace various non-political organisations and which has witnessed pitched battles between the police and protestors in downtown Kathmandu for over a month. In his resignation speech, Thapa said, "I individually made efforts for dialogue, consensus and joint work. But it was all in vain due to the obstinacy of agitating parties." It was not only the political parties that were putting pressure on the Government. International opinion, especially European opinion, has decidedly been very critical of the Government, especially with regard to the legitimacy of the Thapa Government and the grave violation of human rights by its Armed Forces in the ongoing conflict. The Government has persistently refused to sign the 'Principles of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law' drawn up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during the last ceasefire - as, indeed, have the Maoists. But on the eve of the meeting of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in April, the Government did announce a 'Human Rights Commitment'. While that was clearly intended to take the heat off at the meeting, it did not prevent Nepal from being called upon to work with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. In Geneva, a Swiss-sponsored motion indicting Nepal's human rights record was reportedly scuttled by the US, which, along with India, has been providing military support to the Nepali army. But when donors met in Kathmandu on May 5-6, under the World Bank-sponsored Nepal Development Forum (NDF) 2004, to decide on assistance to the Government's poverty reduction strategy, they had their say. The day before the meeting began, a group consisting of Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, stated that their support was contingent on the reactivation of the democratic process, an immediate ceasefire and resumption of negotiations with the Maoists, and a regard for human rights. Although the statement also appealed to the CPN-Maoists "to renounce violence" and "to commit to respect the human rights of all people", the thrust of the message was aimed at the Government. Amnesty International also put pressure on the donors to "urge the Nepal Government to sign the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which provides for technical assistance and capacity building to Nepal's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to enable it to take on an enhanced monitoring and protection role." The Government responded by approving a 'Human Rights National Workplan' to be implemented by the NHRC from the next fiscal year, but it was not enough to stave off criticism at the donor meeting. Even the normally staid World Bank spoke out with its South Asia Region Vice President, Praful Patel, terming Nepal's political crisis a three-way conflict, in which all sides are "doing things that are inimical to development, such as human rights abuses…" He warned that "alarms have been sounded in the international community that Nepal may be heading the way of another 'failed state'." It had become obvious in the run-up to the NDF that King Gyanendra was getting ready to give Thapa the boot. The King had begun consultations with various personalities, including insignificant politicians, in an attempt to find a way out of the impasse created by the agitations on the streets, and seemed to be waiting for the NDF to end. But the five-party alliance had stood firm on not meeting the King until a 'suitable environment' has been created. They are still wary of the King's intentions even after Thapa's ouster, especially given his insistence on someone with a 'clean image' to head the next Government and lead the country to elections. The parties believe that the King could once again make another appointment that would be unacceptable to them, and have not yet called off their protests. The political demonstrations that began more than a month ago have been characterised by a high degree of sloganeering against the monarchy and advocacy for the establishment of a republic. The five parties themselves have committed themselves to clipping many royal powers and prerogatives through a reform agenda unveiled last year. That could yet prove to be a stumbling block between any rapprochement between the palace and the parties. A clear picture of the political situation is yet to emerge, but no matter who heads the Government, the one constant will not change - the nine-year-old Maoist insurgency. The political parties have indicated that they will bring the Maoists into the mainstream through negotiations. But political imperatives have always impelled Governments in a different direction. Surya Bahadur Thapa, in his farewell speech, himself reiterated that "the resolution of Maoist problem should be sought through peaceful means" even though his Government's own policies were quite the opposite. There have been peace overtures from the rebel side but the Government and the Army has viewed these moves with skepticism, and have claimed that the Maoists are talking peace as a ruse to regroup once more for another round of fighting. Meanwhile, there is no break in the violence and the death toll continues to rise beyond the 2,500 already killed since the breakdown of the ceasefire on August 27, 2003
BANGLADESH
INDIA
Assam
Jammu & Kashmir
Left-wing Extremism
Manipur
Tripura
Total (INDIA)
NEPAL
PAKISTAN
SRI LANKA
Police supports vigilante Islamist group in the northwest: According to a report in Daily Star, in the northwestern districts of Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Bogra, a vigilante Islamist group called Jagrota Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB) was formed in April 2004. The JMJB is alleged to kill people in the name of 'anti-outlaw operations', force women to wear the Hijab (veil) and men to grow beards, reportedly with police collusion. The police are alleged to be supporting the outfit headed by Azizur Rahman alias Bangla Bhai, which has started a drive to 'cleanse' leftist outlaws. It has thus far allegedly killed seven persons and assaulted hundreds of others who oppose them, terming them as Sarbahara(outlaw). However, Rahman while denying the charges has claimed that his group has 300,000 activists across the country. Daily Star, May 7, 2004.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen chief Abdur Rasheed Pir killed in Jammu and Kashmir: The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) 'chief commander of operations', Abdur Rasheed Pir alias Gazi Shahabuddin, was shot dead during an encounter with the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the Maharaj Ganj area of capital Srinagar on May 6, 2004. Pir was the third successive 'chief commander of operations' of the Hizb killed in the last 13 months. In charge of all the operations of Hizb in the State, Pir was allegedly responsible for many terrorist strikes. Meanwhile, the HM has reportedly confirmed the killing and appointed one Gazi Misbah-ud-din as the new head of its operations in the State. State Police Chief Gopal Sharma informed the media in Srinagar that as many as 31 senior 'commanders' of the HM, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) have been killed by the troops in the last 18 months. Daily Excelsior, May 7, 2004. 72 NLFT terrorists surrender in Tripura: On May 6, 2004, seventy-two terrorists of the breakaway Biswamohan Debbarma faction of National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), including 22 female cadres, led by their self-styled general secretary Mantu Koloy surrendered before the Tripura Governor Dinesh Nandan Sahay at a formal ceremony in the capital Agartala. The other top 'commanders' who laid down arms included self-styled vice president Kamini Debbarma, 'finance secretary' Bishnuprasad Jamatia, 'assistant finance secretary' Dhanu Koloy, 'chief of army staff' Benoy Debbarma and 'deputy army chief' Sanjiv Debbarma. In a written statement after the surrender, Mantu Koloy while indicating that they were misguided to take up armed struggle stated, "Now we realize that constitution of India is an ideal framework to live with communal harmony and to ensure development especially of the weaker section". Assam Tribune, May 7, 2004. Civilian killed and 20 injured amidst 18 grenade attacks on polling day in Kashmir: In the third phase of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) elections on May 5, 2004, polling was held in the Anantnag-Pulwama constituency amidst a series of terrorist attacks in which one person was killed and at least 20 others sustained injuries. Preliminary reports indicated that there was a 16% turnout of voters in the constituency, in which the ruling People's Democratic Party president and daughter of the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, is in the fray. In the Chief Minister's hometown of Bijbehara, seven persons, including five police personnel, were wounded when terrorists hurled a hand grenade targeting a polling booth. At Anantnag town, a civilian was killed and three others were injured during a grenade attack in the KP Road area. A grenade attack on a Border Security Force (BSF) vehicle was reported at Arwani in Bijbehara without causing any damage. Further, one BSF personnel was wounded during a grenade attack on a polling station in Kokernag. During a separate grenade attack on a polling station in the Tral area, one police personnel was injured. Three BSF personnel and two more persons were injured in a separate attack on a polling station at Largam in Tral. A girl was injured when two terrorists opened fire at Neelora in Pulwama. State Director General of Police Gopal Sharma said that in addition to the above, eleven grenade attacks took place at different places, but that no one was injured or killed in these. Daily Excelsior, May 6, 2004.
Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa resigns: The 11-month-old Surya Bahadur Thapa led-Government collapsed on May 7, 2004, after the Prime Minister resigned. During an address to the nation, Prime Minister Thapa said, "....I have decided to resign from today." Citing reasons for his resignation, Thapa said he "did not want the current political impasse in the country to continue." While indicating that "It was not in the interest of the country, citizens and democracy to allow such a situation to carry on," the Prime Minister added that he resigned "to give a national outlet" to the current political standoff. Nepal News, May 8, 2004. Nepal Development Forum meeting concludes in Kathmandu: Nepal's donor agencies have said that without peace there can be no meaningful development in the country. Speaking on behalf of the donor agencies at a meeting of Nepal Development Forum (NDF) on May 5, 2004, in Kathmandu, Praful Patel, Vice President of the World Bank for South Asia, stated that "development has become a hostage to political crisis due to the 'triangular conflict' in Nepal." He added that things will not change unless the monarchy, parliamentary parties and Maoists come to a compromise. The NDF meeting concluded on May 6 with a "tentative commitment" from the international donors to provide US $ 560 million to Nepal for the next year. "We have received an 'indicative' commitment of 560 million dollars," Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani told a press meet in Kathmandu after the NDF meeting.Nepal News, May 7, 2004.
16 persons killed and 200 wounded in bomb blast at Karachi mosque: At least 15 Shia worshippers and a suspected suicide bomber were killed and over 200 persons sustained injuries when a powerful bomb exploded at Hyderi Mosque, situated within the premises of the seminary Sindh Madrasa-tul-Islam, in the Mithadar area of Karachi on May 7, 2004. The explosion, which occurred during the Friday prayers, is reported to have subsequently triggered unrest in the city, as hundreds of youths set ablaze cars, a petrol pump and a Government office. A senior police official, Manzoor Mughal, was quoted as saying that "As no crater was found in the mosque, it means it was a suicide blast." However, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. Meanwhile, the Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Sunni militants might be behind the bombing. Jang; Daily Times, May 8, 2004. Car bomb attack kills three Chinese engineers in Gwadar: Three Chinese engineers working on a sea-port project were killed and eleven persons, including nine Chinese nationals, sustained injuries in a car bomb attack near Gwadar, about 500 kilometers west of Karachi, near the border with Iran on May 3, 2004. The attack reportedly occurred early in the morning as a bus carrying at least 12 Chinese workers was proceeding to the Gwadar port. According to Sattar Lasi, the chief of police in Gwadar, "A car was parked near the port and it exploded as the bus reached the port.'' Police suspect that it could either be the work of Islamist terrorists or hard-line Baluchi nationalists, who are against the Gwadar project. The engineers were working on a sea-port project in Gwadar which is partly aided by China. This is the first major attack on foreign workers since a suicide bomber killed 11 French engineers outside the Sheraton Hotel in Karachi on May 8, 2002. Dawn, May 4, 2004. Suspected terrorists detained in Turkey were trained in Pakistan: A group of suspected terrorists arrested in Turkey on suspicion of planning an attack on a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting were trained in Pakistan and were planning to carry out a suicide mission against US President George W. Bush. Turkish press reports said on May 4, 2004, that the suspects were allegedly in possession of Turkish-subtitled video cassettes attributed to Osama bin Laden calling for a Jehad against America. They were allegedly planning to bomb the NATO Summit scheduled for June 28 and 29 in Istanbul where Bush and other world leaders will attend, according to police sources quoted by the papers. The suspects were arrested during raids by Turkish police in the northwestern city of Bursa, though no dates were disclosed. The Hurriyet and Vatan newspapers said that several suspects underwent physical and psychological training in Pakistan to prepare them to carry out a suicide attack. Dawn, May 5, 2004.
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