Jun 21, 2011

Security Risks in Nepal

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara outlined some of the major security risks in Nepal all of which were internal political in nature. These are summarized as below.

Key Challenges - current political trend, unification of armed outfits and the activities of ethnic and religious groups.

Political Trends - Tendency to interpret the agreement signed by the parties on their own and the competition between them to achieve political benefits could lead to non completion of the laid down agenda of completion of peace process by 28 August 2011. Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jay Krishna Goit has been instigating Madhes-based parties to launch a stir against the government. Ethnic and Madhesi outfits could disrupt normal life if the parties fail to meet the deadline.

Activities of Armed Groups - Armed groups operating in the Tarai and eastern Hills as Akhil Tarai Mukti Morcha led by Jay Krishna Goit has been trying to unify. Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (Pawan, Bhagat, Rajanpratap) groups--had recently formed the Jantantrik Madhesi Mukti Morcha. He said the Janatantrik Tarai Madhes Mukti Party led by Bhagat Singh has been targeting local political leaders and civil servants in the southern plains. These outfits were being supported by the CPN (Maoist) led by Matrika Yadav.

Polarisation of Ethnic Communities - Polarisation of Madhesi forces, the ethnic, regional and religious activities, alliance of different indigenous, Janajati, Madhesi, Dalit and republican fronts and the Tharuhat Autonomous State Council announcing they would not pay taxes if the constitution is not promulgated within the stipulated time were worrisome. People belonging to major caste groups--Chhetri and Brahmin--could also hold organised protests for the sake of their ethnic and communal rights,

Type of Activities. Potential risk of arson, bomb blasts, extortion and other illicit activities, disrupting religious harmony. Bombs at government offices and public places, murder of civil servants, obstruction of highways, maneuverings of former royalists, the agitation of political parties and formation of military wings by some armed Madhes groups could be visualised.

Political protection to those involved in illegal activities and the failure to upgrade the police force have hindered the government's efforts to contain criminal activities,  The supply and misuse of small arms, cross border crimes, negative impact of strikes and activities of organised criminal groups are other challenges

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Lokatantrik) lawmaker Ram Janam Chaudhary said Mahara's claim was baseless. “He has tried to blame the Madhesi Morcha for the deteriorating and law and order situation. We will register our serious objection to the allegation in the next meeting,”

[As outlined by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and reported in Kantipur Online on 21 June 2011]