Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal seems to be cracking his whip. On Saturday he ordered Nepal Army to present Major Niranjan Basnet before Kavre District Court. Republica reports that Basnet, one of the four accused in the Maina Sunuwar case, was arrested upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport after his dismissal from a UN peace-keeping mission in Chad. However, The Himalayan Times reports that he was not arrested, simply detained:
Refuting the arrest claim, NA, however, maintained that Major Niranjan Basnet was merely recalled from the peace mission. Brigadier General and NA spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri said, “The news of his arrest was an unfounded rumour. He returned to Nepal as per our directives. Basnet is with us.”
“Miliatry police was at TIA just to ensure his security,” added Brig Gen Chhetri.
Either way, Nepal is reported to have instructed the army to hand Basnet over to civilian police. Basnet was acquitted by a military court in 2005.
In Rukum, police arrested up to 11 Maoist cadres in connection with the brutal assault on journalist Tika Bista. Prime Minister Nepal had visited Bista in the hospital and promised that the government would take strong action against the perpetrators. The Himalayan Times reports:
Udayraj Upreti, officiating head of DPO [District Police Office] said those arrested were the members of YCL [Young Communist League] and ANNISU-R [All Nepal National Independent Student Union- Revolutionary].
Maoists are facing even more opposition from ethnic groups over their plan to declare federal autonomous states. On Friday, Libuwan objected to the declaration of Kochila state, in what they said was Limbuwan land. Now, a Tharu body is adding its voice to the opposition saying the Maoist plan does not consider the concerns of indigenous communities. Nepalnews reports:
The Maoist party as well as the CA [Constituent Assembly] committees are working towards declaring 'Terai-Madhesh state' against the will of Tharus, who have been demanding a 'Tharuhat state'. The TKS general secretary also said that only the CA can decide on the federal states.
In the east, the tussle over the territories of new federal states has intensified. Morang, for example, is being claimed by six different groups, reports Nagarik:
Whose Morang?
| Claimed by | State |
| Madhesi Janadhikar Forum | Madhesh Pradesh |
| Tharu Kalyankari Sabha | Thauhat or Tarai Pradesh |
| Khumbuwan Rastriya Morcha | Khumbuwan |
| Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parishad | Limbuwan |
| Maoist party | Kochila |
| Birat Chhetriya Samaj | Birat |
The Maoists plan to announce two more federal states - Tharuwan and Seti-Mahakali - today. The government has said that the declaration of federal states undermines the CA, and has asked the Maoists to withdraw their announcement.
The Maoists are standing their ground, going as far as to say that a people's revolt may be in the offing if the government does not find a way to end the political deadlock soon. Nepalnews reports:
[Maoist leader CP Gajurel] said possible political confrontation and conflict can be avoided only if other parties agree to his party's demand for 'civilian supremacy' and accused Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) of plotting to dissolve the Constituent Assembly with support from India and the United States.Gajurel said the recent Kailali incident was carried out as directly ordered by home minister Bhim Rawal and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
(Posted by Indu Nepal)