Creating furore

19th-Jan-2012
At a time when the Maoists have been refusing to return property seized illegally during the insurgency, the government has created further furore by deciding to legalise land transactions carried out by the Maoists’ ‘people’s government’. This is an attempt by Prime Minister Bhattarai to legalise the decisions taken by the Maoist parallel government, which he led during the height of the Maoist insurgency. According to media reports, the parallel Maoist government registered more than 4,000 property transactions in Rukum district alone. These transactions have not been recognized by the state as of yet. The records of such transactions have been forwarded by all-party committees in these districts to the Ministry of Land Reforms. However, both the CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress (NC) have disowned the process and opposed the Cabinet’s recent decision to legalise these transactions.

The move has spoilt the environment for peace talks and constitution drafting process. Lawmakers of both the parties said the peace process could even derail if the government failed to revoke its decision and warned that talks with the UCPN-Maoist would be meaningless if the latter did not implement the past agreements, especially the one signed on November 1. The Maoist move has generated intense suspicion among the opposition parties like the NC and the UML. The opposition parties claim the move violates the Interim Constitution and legitimises the illegal acts of the Maoist party during insurgency. It is natural for the opposition to fear that the Maoists could insist on legalising the decisions of their kangaroo courts as well.

The government tried to defend it saying it was trying to “protect” the rights of the people who paid taxes to the Maoist parallel government for property transactions during the conflict era. It said it was merely encouraging individuals to settle their transactions officially through the concerned land revenue offices and that it was an attempt to bring the transactions under the state’s legal framework. These transactions were carried out after paying taxes to the Maoist party, which was then trying to run a parallel government in several districts including Rukum, Rolpa, Kalikot and Salyan. Instead, the cabinet decision puts additional burden on the government’s exchequer. Firstly, it will waive the taxes for the said property transaction and, secondly, require the government to pay the extra amount to the owners as per the present going rate for the land. It means that the Maoist party will not need to handover the “taxes” it levied for the transactions to the government.

During the last two decades, the Maoist party has diverted public resources meant for the country’s development to its party cadres and sympathizers. It continues to do so several years after a formal end of the so-called People’s War. If these resources had been used for the country’s development, including hydro-power, the country would have benefitted immensely. Unfortunately, the country continues to waste billions on the Maoist party, ignoring investment in productive sectors that generate employment and provide infrastructural support for business and economy.

Absolutely irritating

It seems that people will never get rid of the bandh syndrome, after all. There is always the temptation among some individuals, groups or political parties to call a bandh at the slightest pretext. And that is how the squatters’ total closure exhortation came along. Of course, it was a further jolt from the blue for the people, on top of the fuel shortage, 14-hour daily load-shedding, water scarcity, and a host of other woes. The people or group who call the bandh may have their own pressing needs and demands, but it is the majority of public who have to undergo unnecessary difficulties and obstacles to get their daily tasks accomplished.

This is what can be called as taking the law into your hand. And, it is fear that makes the people who suffer remain mute. The latest bandh was definitely replete with violence and vandalising of vehicles and assault on innocent people by the bandh supporters, yet the way the people came out openly in the Kathmandu Valley to defy it is worth praising. One wonders when the stakeholders concerned sit over the negotiating table for solution.

Editorial...Himal.