_________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ ---------- From: "Magnus Bernhardsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 15:59:19 +0200 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Peoples War] News from Nepal Govt halts action against Maoists KOL Report KATHMANDU, July 23 - Newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has directed all security agencies to halt any action against the Maoist insurgents who have escalated their six-year-old campaign indulging in bloody violence killing mass police personnel in the recent months. According to the state radio, the new PM has also once again urged for peace talks with the rebels. Earlier this afternoon, PM Deuba had issued his first ever press statement, since his appointment, appealing the Maoist leadership to stop all action from their side to create proper environment for negotiations. "I have just become the Prime Minister, under the circumstances the environment of trust has to be created," he had said. However, the Maoists have not issued any reaction to Deuba�s peace call so far. (sjs) Police death toll shoots up KOL Report KATHMANDU, July 23 - Two more policemen have succumbed to their injuries in the Police-Maoist encounter at a police post in western Bajura district, according to latest reports. The total police death toll has now reached 17 so far at the incident that took place after the rebels attacked the Pandusen Area Police Post late last night. Among those who died out of total 53 policemen stationed at the post includes three sub-inspectors. Other five policemen have been injured, police officials said. Meanwhile, the police death toll after the attack on Polaung police post in eastern Terathum district has reached seven. Two of the dead were members of the police rescue team that had been dispatched as reinforcements to the police post, officials said. According to police, the rebels also attacked upon the rescue squad that was returning from the site. More than 1,700 people have already been killed since the launch of the insurgency six years ago. (sjs) Deuba appeals Maoists to stop violence KOL Report KATHMANDU, July 23 - The newly appointed Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has appealed to the Maoist rebels to stop their violent campaign to allow negotiations to begin between the government and the rebels. Issuing a statement a day after being appointed the new prime minister of the country, Dueba said " I appeal to the Maoist leadership to stop all their actions to so that an environment for negotiations could be created." He further added, " I have just become the prime minister, under the circumstances environment of trust had to be be created." Prime Minister Dueba's statement follows news that the Maoist rebels had attacked yet another police post, this time in Bajhang district in western Nepal killing at least 15 policemen. There are indications that the rebels are in no mood to settle for a negotiated solution to their demands for the republican style government. Nearly 1,800 people have been killed since the launched of their offensive over five years ago. (rk) Opinion divided over the use of army KOL Report KATHMANDU, July 23 - Maoist insurgency certainly seems to be pushing the country in doldrums. But after the recent use of the Royal Nepal Army to bring parts of western Nepal into order, people are still divided over the army action, says the results of the Kantipur Online poll. Majority of those who took part in the Kantipur Online poll said they did not think it was right for the government to use the army to free 69 policemen abducted by the rebels from Holeri police post in Rolpa district. Of the total 3780 who participated, 53.33 per cent or 2016 people, said they did not support the use of army. This figure is however, only about 7 per cent higher than those saying they thought is was right for the army to be used to free the hostages, indicating a split in the public opinion. Only 17 respondents said they were undecided. (sjs/rk) Maoist escalate violence, kill at least 15 more policemen KOL Report KATHMANDU, July 23- In a sign that Maoist rebels are stepping up their violence in the absence of any credible resistance to their insurgency campaign, they have attacked a police post in western Bajura district killing at least 15 policemen. The latest Maoist action comes despite their earlier statement to start negotiations with the government to end their violent campaign after the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. According to the Chief District Officer of Bajura, Laxmi Sharan Ghimire, a large group of rebels attacked the Pandusen Area Police Post late Sunday night. He said the fighting began at around 11 p.m. and lasted until 2.30 a.m. Monday morning. At least 15 policemen, including three sub-inspectors are reported killed in the attack. One policeman was injured seriously and three others are missing. There were a total of 53 police stationed at the Pandusen post. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties on the rebel side. Police reinforcements have been rushed to the area. The latest Maoist attacks shows growing confidence of the rebels to attack several targets located at different places of the Kingdom in the absence of any action by the government. Political observers also say that the failure of the army to keep the rebels under siege at Nuwa Village in Rolpa district last week has added to their confidence that the government probably has no political will to use force to contain the rebel�s violent campaign. Over 60 policemen have been killed in rebel attack in July alone. On Sunday, rebels attacked a police post in eastern Terhathum district. Unconfirmed reports say several others are missing in that attack. (rk) Oppn greet Deuba with cautious ~~~ "Without a Peoples Army the people have nothing" Mao _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
