KATHMANDU, May 20: Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) has decided to launch a series of protests against the Maoist attack on its General Secretary, Ishwar Pokharel, and other senior leaders in Ramechhap district three days ago. The UML is set to stage nationwide protests on May 24 against Maoist "unruly" activities. [break]
A central committee meeting of the party held on Wednesday concluded that the attack was planned to murder the UML leaders by pushing their vehicle down a cliff, into the Tamakoshi River. The Maoist cadres led by Maoist Ramechhap district assistant in-charge Rajan Dahal had rolled boulders down the steep hill, targeting the vehicle carrying the UML leaders.
A special resolution passed by the meeting announced that a rally would be held on June 6 to ´expose´ Maoist unruly activities in Manthali, district headquarters of Ramechhap. The rally will be addressed by UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.
Maoist cadres had started issuing threats against rival party cadres including UML cadres in Ramechhap district after the Maoists stepped down from the government on May 4.
JFK files: Release of assassination documents adds fuel to cons...
Among other things, the party announced that it will apprise the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal on Thursday about the attacks.
Likewise, the party plans to hold an all-party meeting Friday and inform local human rights organization about the attack.
A group of Maoist cadres attacked the vehicle carrying General Secretary Pokharel, politburo members Rabindra Shrestha and Pashupati Chaulagain and central members Keshav Devkota, Kamal Prakash Sunuwar and Kamala Subedi. Former parliamentarian Dev Shankar Poudel and youth leader Gyan Kumar Shrestha were also among those falling prey to the Maoist attack.
The meeting has demanded investigations into the incident, the arrest of Rajan Dahal and initiation of legal action against him. The party has also sought a public apology from the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) over the incident.
Meanwhile, the party has denounced attacks by Maoist cadres against UML cadre Netra Bahadur Khadka in Dhumpakhar VDC, Sindhupalchowk. Maoist cadres had targeted him with sharp weapons.
Likewise, the meeting denounced the Maoist attack against UML cadre Dilli Yonghang in Gopetar village, Panchthar district. He is currently undergoing treatment in Siliguri, India.
Maoists to suspend attackers
The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has decided to take action against its assistant district in-charge in Ramechhap District, Rajan Dahal, who was involved in attacking CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel and other senior leaders in Ramechhap, Sunday. A secretariat meeting of the party held Wednesday decided to suspend Dahal for an indefinite period, alleging that he was involved in the attack, in violation of the party´s set policy, according to party spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma. Sharma said
Dahal was suspended to facilitate investigations into the incident.
According to a secretariat member, action against Dahal was initiated after the secretariat received clear evidence about his involvement in the attack. "Even the UN agencies have clearly recommended action against him," said the member. "We have been informed frequently about Dahal´s violent activities."
