Hon’ble Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai
Government of Nepal
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu 5 February 2012
Subject: The labeling of ‘people’s enemy’ by Maoist mouthpiece
Honourable Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai:
‘Lalrakshak’, the monthly magazine published by the UCPN-Maoist affiliated ‘Voice of Revolutionary Youth’, in its Vol 4, 15 Magh-14 Falgun 2068 issue has in its cover page and cover feature picked out the three undersigned citizens and declared, "These are the people’s enemies". We are bringing this serious matter before you as the country’s prime minister.
Beyond the fact that the cover feature of 'Lalrakshak' is filled with false accusations and imaginary reportage, you as the prime minister are in a better position to judge what kind of consequence can result when a Maoist publication declares anyone to be a 'people’s enemy'.
We all know that during the 'people’s war' period, under the declared policy of the CPN (Maoist), those designated 'people’s enemies' by its leaders and activists had to suffer 'physical action ('bhautik karbahi'), including murder (‘safaya’). The Maoist party has yet to make a public declaration abandoning violence, even though it has been nearly six years since it came above ground, signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and became the largest party in the Constituent Assembly and Legislature-Parliament through elections. Nor has the party announced the abandonment of its policy of 'eliminating' individuals it considers to be 'people’s enemies'.
In the meantime, Maoist office-bearers and cadres who acknowledge with pride having 'eliminated' the 'enemies of the people' continue to walk about freely in society. These office-bearers and cadres maintain to this day that their involvement in the killings of such 'enemies' were appropriate and in line with the decisions of the party.
Mr. Prime Minister, the recent decision by your government to legitimise decisions taken by the party’s 'people’s government' also suggest that the UCPN (Maoist) has not abandoned the institutions, policies and procedures of the conflict era. Further, the party’s senior-most leadership seems committed to maintaining the wartime mentality among the youth members, including through the continuous call to ‘revolt’ even when the Maoists are leading the government.
The latest issue of 'Lalrakshak' comes at a time when the topmost Maoist leaders have been attacking the undersigned citizens in public meetings, training programmes for party members, as well as through the press and electronic media. The fact that a publication which goes to thousands of party members has specifically identified us as 'the people’s enemies' is obviously an invitation to violence and intimidation. We would like to state clearly that if any kind of physical attack takes place against us as a result of this instigation, the leaders of the UCPN (Maoist) shall be held responsible and may not evade accountability by claiming that the action “was not sanctioned by party policy”.
It is important for the Maoist leadership to understand that we, the undersigned, will not step back an inch from expressing our views freely. We will not be cowed by the accusations made by 'Lalrakshak' and its brazen attempt to instigate the party fold. It is our understanding that the accusatory cover feature of the publication is part of a larger attempt to frighten and silence independent citizens all over the country, including journalists, rights activists and intellectuals. We also believe, firmly, that such a plan will never succeed.
The Nepali public is clear that stability and prosperity can only come through free debate allowed by an open, democratic society, and it is this general conviction which was behind the success of the People’s Movement of April 2006. If the Maoist party continues to make use of the press, television and radio to present fantasy and falsity in the garb of "investigative"
reportage, such as the 'Lalrakshak' coverage, this is bound to be counter-productive for the party itself. Further, we see such a tendentious campaign negatively affecting the peace process and constitution-writing at a sensitive moment.
Mr. Prime Minister, we three seek to serve society in our different sectors as free and unfettered citizens. Each one of us consider it our duty to enter into discussion and debate with those who may disagree with our positions. The attempt to instigate violence against persons who hold a differing position, in our view, can only push our society unto the road to autocracy. No proud citizen can be subdued by such campaigns of criminal intent.
Sir, you are prime minister not of your party but of the people and country as a whole. We approach you with two demands, also because it is your party’s publication which has launched such a dangerous attack on us citizens.
1) We seek your public reaction to the coverage by 'Lalrakshak' that involves us.
2) We seek appropriate action against the magazine and its editor for having engaged in threat-mongering.
Respectfully, we await word on action that you intend to take on the matter.
Signed/-
Kul Chandra Gautam, Maharajganj, Kathmandu
Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Bagdol, Lalitpur
Kanak Mani Dixit, Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur
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