KATHMANDU, Sept 7: The efforts of the government and rights activists to persuade Nanda Lal and Ganga Maya Adhikari of Phujel VDC-7, Gorkha district to break their fast-unto-death could not succeed Saturday after the agitating couple demanded that the main culprits in the murder of their son be arrested first.
The Adhikari couple has maintained that they would end their strike only after the two other main culprits were arrested to ensure that the government was fully committed to taking action against the guilty in the murder of Krishna Prasad Adhikari back in 2004.[break]
Rights activists helped a government talks team in efforts to persuade the fasting couple by preparing a commitment paper in which the government side agreed to commit itself to expedite investigations into the murder despite Maoist pressure, provide treatment to the Adhikari couple even after they break their fast, guarantee their security and provide reparations for property seized by the Maoists since the past several years.
The talks on Saturday were held in the wake of police arresting one of the 11 accused in the murder late Friday evening from Bagbazaar, Kathmandu. “Our efforts have not succeeded yet as the agitating couple maintained that the two main culprits behind the murder were yet to be arrested,” said rights activist Dinesh Tripathi, who has been actively involved in the cause of the Adhikari couple.
The rights activists and the government talks team were busy trying to persuade the Adhikari couple to break their strike as Republica went to press at 11:50 pm, Saturday.
Then CPN-Maoist cadres murdered Krishna Adhikari in Ratnanagar, Chitwan on June 6, 2004. Though the victim’s family filed a report over the murder at Chitwan District Police Office on June 12, 2006 specifying the names of 11 individuals involved, police acted on the case only after the Adhikari couple started their fast-unto-death in Kathmandu.
Concerned over their deteriorating condition as the fast entered its 47th day on Saturday, rights activists facilitated the government’s efforts to persuade the agitating couple to end their fast.
Senior CPN-UML leader K P Sharma Oli, who reached Bir Hospital Saturday afternoon to express solidarity with the Adhikari couple’s demand, also urged the government to meet their demand.
Police arrested Ram Prasad Adhikari, who is among those involved in the murder, from Bagbazaar, Kathmandu, prompting the UCPN (Maoist) to take a sudden decision to enforce a general strike in Kathmandu, Chitwan and Gorkha districts on Saturday. The strike was enforced after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leader Baburam Bhattarai, who were in Dhangadhi in connection with a party function, reportedly directed local level cadres to enforce the strike.
The arrested Adhikari, who was later taken to Chitwan, will be produced before Chitwan District Court on Sunday, according to police in Chitwan.
A government team comprising Home Secretary Nabin Kumar Ghimire, Health Secretary Prabin Mishra, Additional Health Secretary Dr Tirtha Raj Burlakoti, Secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office Raju Man Singh Malla and Krishna Hari Banskota and chief of Metropolitan Police Range Office Kathmandu Subodh Ghimire, among others, is involved in the talks with the kin of the agitating couple.
The Adhikari couple has been kept at the Intensive Care Unit at Bir Hospital after their health worsened. The couple had insisted that they would end their fast only after all those involved in the murder of their son were arrested. “Their health condition is stable, but critical,” Director of Bir Hospital Dr Bulanda Thapa, who is also coordinator of a nine-member medical team involved in their treatment, told Republica.
The sudden general strike called earlier in the day by the UCPN (Maoist) over the arrest of Ram Prasad Adhikari, was largely ignored by the public in Kathmandu Valley, forcing the Maoists to withdraw the strike from noon. Irate locals including women who were out to visit their relatives for the Teej festival, had engaged in sporadic clashes with Maoist activists in various places including Kalanki.
Public vehicles stayed off the roads till late afternoon. While the agitating Maoist cadres vandalized two taxis at Putalisadak and Ratnapark, police arrested two of the cadres in connection with the strike. The arrested were released later in the afternoon, according to police.
Maoists threaten protest if arrested man not released.
The UCPN (Maoist) has threatened to take to the streets if the arrested Adhikari is not released.
Addressing a press meet at party headquarters, Paris Danda Saturday, UCPN (Maoist) Spokesman Agni Sapkota insisted that issues of this kind should be dealt with by the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
While demanding Adhikari’s unconditional release without delay, Sapkota alleged that the arrest was a conspiracy to foil the November election. “It appears the government is trying to vitiate the election environment by reviving issues from the past,” he said.
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