The terrorists are busy not only in Sajha but also in Nepal's South... Where did that terrorist SHARMENDRA BHAGAT, the Madhesi warlord go??????? Bastard come here and all Nepalis (including Madhesis) will beat the sh*t out of you!!!!!!! Maoists Busy in Nepal's South By John Child in Kathmandu Peace talks in Nepal are still stalled over the issue of decommissioning Maoist arms. The resulting lull in the capitol this week was deceptive: In Nepal's south the Maoists have been busy. Nepal's southern plains, the Terai region, contrast sharply with the rest of this mountainous country. Lying a few hundred feet above sea level, the region was sparsely populated until the 1950s, when a DDT spraying program brought mosquito-borne malaria under control. The resulting influx of "pahadis," people from Nepal's mid-hills, to the fertile region caused ethnic tensions with the indigenous "madheshi" people, which the Maoists exploited when they moved into the area in force five years ago. Last week the Maoists declared open war against a Maoist splinter group, the Janatantrik Terai Liberation Front. In 2004 the group split from the main Maoist body to pursue a campaign of ethnic cleansing against pahadis living in the region. Antagonism between the group and the Maoist Madheshi National Liberation Front has spawned a series of abductions and gun battles over the past two years. The violence intensified earlier this month when the JTTF killed two Maoists who they said were spying on them. Locals claimed the dispute had been personal, and joined with Maoists to avenge the attack, killing at least one JTTF activist. While the JTTF has substantial support among the indigenous madheshi population, the killing of the two Maoists, who were also madheshis, has exposed rifts in the group. The Maoists have apparently decided this is the time to try to settle their old grudge with the separatists, despite the ongoing peace process with the government. Maoists have also stepped up their collection of money throughout the Terai. Once labeled "donations," the collection efforts are now termed a tax. Earlier demands for teachers and government officials to contribute ten percent of their salaries have escalated: the "request" is now for 50 percent. Many of those targeted have reportedly left their posts to avoid the demands. Reports continued to surface this week of Maoist activities that the government says are violations of the ceasefire code of conduct agreed in May. In the central Terai district of Chitwan, uniformed Maoists continue to patrol villages and hold indoctrination programs. Media reports say that Maoist "trainers" in groups of five move from village to village, demand food and shelter, and conduct programs about party policies. The Maoists deny this is a ceasefire violation, since, they say, the natural "barracks" for the people's army is with the people. The dispute points up one of the many deep difficulties of managing Maoist arms - how to monitor a dispersed force - at the same time as increasing violence demonstrates why rapid agreement on the issue is so important for Nepal.