KATHMANDU, Nov 7: Discharged Maoist combatants took control of the CPN (Maoist Center) party head office at Parisdanda for hours on Monday. They staged sit-ins inside the party office demanding livelihood packages for them.

Over 300 discharged Maoist combatants entered into the Maoist party office demanding that the party, which is also heading the government, should lobby for their demands. 

“The Maoist party used us during the insurgency, but the party did nothing for our livelihood and education when the United Nations Mission to Nepal discharged us due to underage or other reasons ,” said chairman of the Discharged Maoist Combatants Lenin Bista.

According to Bista, 4009 discharged combatants have united through their organization to seek justice and their rights. 

In their seven-point demand, the discharged former Maoist combatants have also sought equal status as the voluntarily-retired Maoist combatants from the party. Stating that their child rights were violated from both the Maoists and the state sides, they have also demanded justice based on international laws. Likewise, the discharged combatants have asked for social and financial packages from the government for their livelihood and education. “We will not leave the party head office until the party or the government addresses our demands,” said Bista. 

However, CPN (Maoist Center) Spokesperson Pampha Bhusal said that the party can do nothing to address their demands as the issue of providing financial package to them is sub judice in the court. “The government has already decided to release Rs 200,000 each for the discharged combatants following pressure from our party. But the court ordered not to release the money until the final verdict,” Bhusal said. “As the issue is sub judice in the court, our party can't do anything for them now.” 

Over half a dozen staff at the Maoist party office were locked inside the party office until late evening on Monday.

Narayan Prasad Chimoriya, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Metropolitan Police Circle Office Tinkune, said that the police are providing security to the party office of the ruling Maoists.

Photos: Deepak Kharel

 
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