Maoists want cases dropped
KATHMANDU, Nov 6 - The Maoists have sought the judiciary's commitment that it will not proceed with cases filed during conflict time against its cadres as a precondition for releasing two court staffers of Rukum district.
President of Maoist-affiliated government employees' organization, Rukma Lamichhane, communicated the intention behind the abduction of Sashi Ram Bista and Khadga Bahadur Khadka, employees of Rukum District Court, to the Supreme Court administration and representative of apex court employees' organization on Tuesday.
"They sought the judiciary's commitment that it would not go ahead with cases against their cadres in return for the release of Bista and Khadka," Hemanta Rawal, co-spokesperson of the Supreme Court, told the Post.
Lamichhane met Rawal at the apex court to convey the Maoist condition for the release of abducted court employees Tuesday afternoon. Bista and Khadka were abducted in the weekend while they were on duty to serve a court subpoena in a murder case involving what Maoists called a "martyr family".
Similarly, Lamichhane also conveyed a similar message to Binod Adhikari, chairman of Nepal Judiciary Employees Concern Committee, in a telephonic conversation Tuesday when I questioned the abduction.
"If they want to get their cases withdrawn why don't they send Prachanda to meet the Chief Justice and continue to make helpless court employees suffer through abduction," Adhikari said.
A few hours after the Maoists revealed their intention, they released Bista and Khadka in Rukum district on the same condition that Lamichhane conveyed to the apex court in Kathmandu.
"They have been released this evening on the condition that initiatives will be taken at the center to withdraw cases against Maoist cadres, and that the court would not proceed with cases till the center decides on them," Ravi Raj Kafle, chief district officer of Rukum told the Post over phone from Rukum.
In Kathmandu, Lamichhane said he met the official of the Supreme Court administration to try to understand the root cause behind the abduction instead of disseminating news of the abduction unilaterally.
"The court sent them (the abducted staffs) with bad intention, violating the commitment in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," Lamichhane said.
In the meantime, Nepal Judiciary Employees' Concern Committee in Kathmandu District Court did not work for two hours Wednesday to protest the abduction.
President of Maoist-affiliated government employees' organization, Rukma Lamichhane, communicated the intention behind the abduction of Sashi Ram Bista and Khadga Bahadur Khadka, employees of Rukum District Court, to the Supreme Court administration and representative of apex court employees' organization on Tuesday.
"They sought the judiciary's commitment that it would not go ahead with cases against their cadres in return for the release of Bista and Khadka," Hemanta Rawal, co-spokesperson of the Supreme Court, told the Post.
Lamichhane met Rawal at the apex court to convey the Maoist condition for the release of abducted court employees Tuesday afternoon. Bista and Khadka were abducted in the weekend while they were on duty to serve a court subpoena in a murder case involving what Maoists called a "martyr family".
Similarly, Lamichhane also conveyed a similar message to Binod Adhikari, chairman of Nepal Judiciary Employees Concern Committee, in a telephonic conversation Tuesday when I questioned the abduction.
"If they want to get their cases withdrawn why don't they send Prachanda to meet the Chief Justice and continue to make helpless court employees suffer through abduction," Adhikari said.
A few hours after the Maoists revealed their intention, they released Bista and Khadka in Rukum district on the same condition that Lamichhane conveyed to the apex court in Kathmandu.
"They have been released this evening on the condition that initiatives will be taken at the center to withdraw cases against Maoist cadres, and that the court would not proceed with cases till the center decides on them," Ravi Raj Kafle, chief district officer of Rukum told the Post over phone from Rukum.
In Kathmandu, Lamichhane said he met the official of the Supreme Court administration to try to understand the root cause behind the abduction instead of disseminating news of the abduction unilaterally.
"The court sent them (the abducted staffs) with bad intention, violating the commitment in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement," Lamichhane said.
In the meantime, Nepal Judiciary Employees' Concern Committee in Kathmandu District Court did not work for two hours Wednesday to protest the abduction.
Source: The Kathmandu Post, November 6, 2007
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