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The people’s war in Nepal forges ahead amidst
increasing fascist attacks by the newly installed Koirala government. The
ousting of the K.P.Bhattaray government has paved the way for even more ruthless
attacks on the revolutionary forces. Koirala, an obedient puppet of the
imperialists and Indian expansionists, seeks to drown the movement in an ocean
of blood.
But the revolutionary forces led by the Communist
Party of Nepal (Maoist) have struck back; specifically, in its campaign of March
14 and the All-Nepal Armed Shut-down of April 6.
The CPN(M)’s March 14th nationwide simultaneous
attacks on Land Registration Offices, Agricultural Development Banks,
Electricity Boards, selected landlords and police forces, was in retaliation to
the burning of Khara village by the police forces in mid-February. In that
brutal police attack more than 200 houses of Khara village were set ablaze.
In this March 14 campaign, Maoist guerrillas
attacked Land Registration Offices from Mwechi in the east to the Mahakali zone
in the west. Land Registration offices of Ilam, Dhankuta and Bhairawa were
raided; while the Agricultural Development Banks of Sayuja, Gorkha, Butawal,
Dharan, Chitawan and Mahendranagar were seized. Also, the Maoist guerrillas
launched simultaneous attacks on an Area Police Post, a Nepal Bank Ltd. branch
office, and on the Tiny Development Bank. The Area Police Post housed a force of
45 police commandos. In the half hour gun battle at midnight two policemen were
killed, six injured, while the rest surrendered. The guerrillas seized 47
weapons, grenades, communication sets and ammunition. In the series of raids the
guerrillas confiscated Rs. 60 lakhs and burnt land registration certificates and
millions of rupees worth of bond papers.
After the March 14 campaign, entire Nepal braced
itself for the April 6 bandh. April 6th is the historical day of Chaitra 24 when
the mass upsurge took place in Nepal, in its capital city, Kathmandu, in 1990,
resulting in the collapse of the monarchy. In the build-up to the ‘Armed
shut-down’ the Koirala government unleashed fascist terror, while the CPN(M)
retaliated with a significant counter-offensive.
On the eve of the bandh the reactionary regime
stepped up its arrest, torture, killing and disappearances of comrades. Four
Maoists were killed in Kalikot district in a false encounter. Also six were
killed in Surkhet (west Nepal) and six more in different districts. Then, on
March 27, in Simruk village of Rolpa district mass graves were discovered. Four
comrades were dug up including the young Shirjana Pun (aged 14) and Sita Pun
(aged 18). These two comrades had been arrested two months earlier, and were the
victims of mass rape by the police night after night and were finally killed.
But the revolutionary forces led by the CPN(M)
have hit back. A month earlier they had attacked the Rukum airport. In February,
a helicopter which was used to ferry the genocidal forces of the enemy was hit
in west Nepal and another was set ablaze at Jiri airport in February. In March
the Maoists attacked the Gulmi post, killed three policemen and seized weapons
and ammunition. Also in Surkhet district (west Nepal) seven policemen were
killed and eight seriously injured in a landmine blast.
On March 27, around one thousand peasants led by
the ANPO (All Nepal Peasants Organisation) gheraoed the house of landlord
Kashinath Raut in Bara district (eastern Nepal) and seized over 100 quintals of
rice and distributed it to the poor peasants. They also raided his house and
seized a 12 bore gun and other weapons.
On March 29 the Maoist guerrillas raided the house
of forest state minister Mohamad Aftab Alam. They seized a 12 bore gun, a
pistol, ammunition, Rs. 5 lakhs in cash, 350 gms gold, 800 gms silver and a pair
of cameras. During the action they addressed a gathering of 1200 people and
burnt debt deeds worth millions of rupees. On departing they dynamited the
house. Later, the minister came to his village by helicopter and unleashed a
reign of terror on the masses, arresting 60 people.
On March 30, Maoist guerrillas raided the Harmi
police post in Gorkha district (central Nepal). This post was captured after a 2
hour 15 minute gun battle. A policeman was killed and two seriously wounded. Six
others were injured while the rest surrendered. The Maoists destroyed all the
documents and papers and seized ten rifles, one shot gun, one wireless set, one
revolver and over 500 rounds of ammunition. They finally dynamited the police
post and hoisted the red flag outside. In a handwritten pamphlet left at the
site, the party stated that this action was in retaliation against the brutal
murder of their beloved leaders, Com. Suresh Wagle, Com. Bhimsen Pokhrel, Com.
Ms Indra Thapa, Com. Ms Gita Ghimre, Com. Krishna Pradad Dhakal and other
martyrs.
On April 4 the Maoists ambushed and killed nine
policemen at Taksera of Rukum district and four more in Pjuthan district.
Finally, the April 6, 2000, the Nepal bandh was a
resounding success. All educational institutions, enterprises, offices,
industrial plants throughout the country remained closed in response to the
call.
In the four years since the launching of the
people’s war in Nepal, the CPN(M) have built several people’s elected committees
in the main zone, and over 3 million people have been exercising revolutionary
political power.
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