| Username |
Post |
| 13-thum |
Posted
on 19-Feb-02 04:47 PM
…the Achham incident could have been averted
By Arjun Bhandari
KATHMANDU, Feb. 18 Kathmandu Post
The biggest and the loodiest Maoist attack in Achham on Sunday morning could have been averted had the government paid heed to the continuous caution from the authorities in the district.
A senior-level opposition leader from the district told The Kathmandu Post on Monday that the Chief District Officer, Mohan Singh Khatri, who died in Sunday’s attack along with 141 others, had indicated of a possible attack from the Maoists.
Khatri had briefed an all-party meeting held in Mangalsen nine days ago that the rebels might launch massive attacks in Mangalsen and the airport in Sanfebagar, he said. The airport was the only airport in the neighbouring districts of Achham that was safe till Sunday night. Two other airports located in Bajura and Bajhang districts have already been shut down for security reasons.
Late Khatri had even written several letters to the Home Ministry cautioning the government of the concentration of the rebels coming from the neighbouring districts of Dailekh and Kalikot. "We are going to be killed soon and PM Deuba will have to mourn our deaths," the opposition leader, who did not want to be named, quoted deceased Khatri as saying.
Even the army and district intelligence officials had also informed their seniors about the impending attacks more than two weeks ago, security sources said.
The leader too had personally asked the PM to send reinforcements in the district, as the movement of the Maoists was increasing since two days prior to the attack. "But it did not materialise," he said. The police personnel in Sanfebagar had earlier warned that the rebels could attack them.
The leader also accused the government of not taking the warning seriously. "It can be taken either as the government’s sheer negligence or it lacks the capacity to handle the situation."
About three weeks ago, a delegation led by Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Bahadur Bista had demanded reinforcement of security personnel in the district with the PM, as the situation was "very vulnerable" there. Bista had demanded that the PM increase about 100 to 150 security personnel in the district. "It seemed the government paid no attention towards our warning," the lawmaker told The Kathmandu Post on Monday.
The death toll on Sunday morning’s Maoist attack in Mangalsen and Sanfebagar has now reached 142, most of them policemen, soldiers and some government officials. The Maoists also destroyed almost all the major government offices and looted about Rs. 20 million from a local bank in the biggest attack since the Maoists launched the "People’s War" six years ago.
Even the 125-year-old palace built by the Ranas in the district has been reduced to a cinder, MP Bista said. "This historic palace was still on fire till Monday morning."
Although details of the casualties on the Maoist side is sketchy even after two days, locals told The Kathmandu Post on telephone that 13 more bodies of the rebels were recovered around the battle site on Monday. They also said that the forces of the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) have already reached the area and are launching a massive search operation.
Situated at 1,326 metres above the sea level almost in the middle of a sloppy hill, the district headquarters is strategically vulnerable. Above the bazaar is a thick pine and rhododendron forest that leads towards the south east of the district headquarters. Security experts believe that hundreds of armed rebels, who came from the neighbouring districts of Kalikot and Dailekh, stormed into the bazaar from the hilltop, making the battle difficult for the security forces. Locals said that the militants discharged heavy ammunition and mortars against a contingent of Royal Nepal Army (RNA), with 59 personnel.
As one-third of the district already under the Maoists’ control, the people there had expected this untoward incident.
Asked about the impact of the Achham incident on the RNA personnel, a retired RNA official, requesting anonymity, said, "a single battle can never win a war." He said that all the political parties abiding by the Constitution should extend their moral support to the security forces. But he was quick to add that "There is a problem in the Singh Durbar (Prime Minister’s Office), not in Mangalsen."
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| 13-thum |
Posted
on 19-Feb-02 04:55 PM
The killer of the army, police, civil servant and innocent civilians are SHER BAHADUR DEUBA, who did not do anything to avoid the incident even when there were enough information as long as three weeks ago.
What could be the reason? One apparent reason is that he wanted to renew the state of emmergency at any cost. The emmergency is proving to be the only life saving issue for Deuba government.
We can imagine the state of mid of those security forces who are fighting in Maoist Effected (Controlled?) Area which happens to be almost three fourth of Nepal.
13-thum
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| mms |
Posted
on 19-Feb-02 09:53 PM
Agreed. Priminister is equally to be blamed for the Killing of innocent Nepalese people.
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| uks |
Posted
on 20-Feb-02 12:00 AM
II think it's essential to look from PM and concerned authorities eyes as well. I am sure there are many CDOs asking for more security personnel. The government is not able to fulfull everyones demand for obvious reason. The main thing to look at is did he give some convincing reasoning as to why more Army personnel should have been deployed in Achham than say Rolpa. In retrospect, we know that the government should have heeded to the advise of the CDO of Achham. However, we should not blame entirely on government..........
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| HahooGuru |
Posted
on 20-Feb-02 12:14 AM
Another BullShit Corrupt Politician, Bhim Rawal, is happy when army did not
talk to his rival corrupt i.e. Khum Bahadur Khadka:
"None of the army officer turned up to meet the Home Minister during his visit to both the battle sites," said Bhim Bahadur Rawal.
(cool down yourself and try to read, Bhim Rawal. He seems to be
happy with the note he made. F___ You. The way, your boss
at AMALE is now making hue and cries while Achham is burning
for their private gains, shame on you. You are one of them who promoted
corruptions with the help your F___ing boss, Makune, in China Airline
scandal, how you were protected, give real scene of gangs
running Nepali Parliament. You F~~~ing politicians brought this situation
and now you are happy for Army not talking to Khume. For me Khume
and you F____ing Rawal are equally corrupts and reponsbile for this
mess.)
You Bastart Rawal, shut, your mouth.
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| 13-thum |
Posted
on 20-Feb-02 01:48 AM
Haho Ji, Cool down! Relax!
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| krishna |
Posted
on 21-Feb-02 02:21 PM
Terathum,
while one might well find fault with hmg and deuba for not doing more to prevent and, that failing, minimize the loss of life in achham, it is doubtful that sher b. pulled any triggers, threw any explosive, or engaged in any OVERT ACT(S) OF COMMISSION that resulted DIRECTLY in any of the deaths there. now, if nepal is a democracy, then the people--yes, the nepali people--are the government; if the nepali people are the government, then it is their COLLECTIVE responsibility, ultimately, for what happened. so, yes, the achham incident could have been averted, but nepali people individually and collectively, through innumerable acts of omission and commission, made sure that what happened did.
************
I shouted out, "Who killed the praharis?" when after all it was you and me.
(adapted from "Sympathy for the Devil," by The Rolling Stones)
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| bhasu |
Posted
on 21-Feb-02 02:34 PM
Yes it could've been averted. Don't blame the victims. Blame the terrorists!
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