(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has condemned an extortion demand from the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN, Maoist). Despite the party’s public commitment against extortion, their “donation” collection spree continues unabated, especially in publication houses. According to “The Kathmandu Post” daily, two activists of the underground CPN came to the Kantipur Publication’s office on Monday 3 September […]
(CEHURDES/IFEX) – CEHURDES has condemned an extortion demand from the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN, Maoist). Despite the party’s public commitment against extortion, their “donation” collection spree continues unabated, especially in publication houses.
According to “The Kathmandu Post” daily, two activists of the underground CPN came to the Kantipur Publication’s office on Monday 3 September 2001 and handed over an appeal to Publications’ Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya and Director Binod Raj Gyawali, demanding a donation of Rs.400,000 (approx. US$5,341) for “counterstruggle.” Although the letter was addressed to one Namaste Group, which also has its office in Koteswar, Kathmandu, the two rebels said that it was intended for the publication, “The Kathmandu Post” reported.
The CPN has been leading a rebel war in Nepal since February 1996, with a long-term strategy to abolish the Constitutional Monarchy and establish a republican state. However, on 23 July the Maoists stopped all their rebellious activities, right after the appointment of the new prime minister, following his call for dialogue to resolve the problem peacefully. The first phase of the dialogue was held on 30 August in Kathmandu and the second phase is supposed to be held within two weeks of the first phase, most likely on 10 September. The Maoists have made a public commitment to stop all military actions while the dialogue continues. The government has already stopped all actions against the Maoist rebels.
