Nepal Maoists to resume Kangaroo courts

Kathmandu, Nov 22: The Maoists in Nepal are set to resume their feared 'Kangaroo Courts' as part of their plan to revive their parallel 'government' in an effort to step up pressure on the country's interim government that has failed to end the political stalemate with the former rebels. The Maoist leadership in Nepal's south-eastern industrial city of Biratnagar is resuming the operation of their 'Kangaroo Court' defying the landmark Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) they signed with the government last year in November which had specifically bared the former rebels from conducting such trials. The cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) said they decided to revive their parallel 'government' as tension between the party and the interim government had increased in recent days after the failure to implement their core demands for a new political and electoral system in the country. "We have resumed our activities through the parallel government to exert pressure on the government as the government has been dishonest," said Shushil, assistant in-charge of Maoists in Morang district. He was quoted as saying by the Kantipur Online today that they are ready to set up their Kangaroo court as differences between them and the coalition government had increased at the center. Maoist chief Prachanda last week demanded the review of all previous agreements between the rebels and the government and reconstitution of the interim set-up, amid a floundering peace process. The Maoist chairman threatened to form a parallel legislature and government if the country was not declared a Republic immediately. CPN-Maoist recently formed Kochila State Committee in the area comprising Morang, Sunsari and Jhapa districts as per their policy to set up the parallel government.

Bureau Report

Source: Zee News, November 22, 2007