Here is another news about maoists in direct confrontation with the government and we still want to belioeve that they are in "agreement" with the SPAs?? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Govt. Maoists invite tender bid for operating steamer Though the government and the Maoists are holding dialogue for peaceful settlement of the Maoist insurgency, the Maoists are still continuing their intimidations and other activities. In an incident, the government and Maoists have separately invited tenders for the operation of a steamer at Kothiyaghat in the Karnali river, a newspaper report said on Monday. While no one sent sealed tenders called by the Bardiya district development committee for the operation of the steamer, two bids were filed for the contract call issued by the Maoists, reports The Himalayan Times daily. The steamer provides transportation to some 100,000 people from 11 VDCs of Rajapur area. “We have been exploring options as to what can be done now. The DDC may operate the steamer,” a DDC official said. It is learnt that the Maoists had issued warnings against filing the tenders by the DDC. We warn all not to respond to the tender bid issued by old government. We will dismiss the contract and initiate action as per the policy of the peoples’ government against anyone who ignores this notice and gets the contract from the old government, a letter by chief of the Tharuwan Autonomous Republic Nepal, Area Peoples’ Council, Bhawara, Shiv Tharu, said. The government and the Maoists signed a 25-point code of conduct to be implemented during the period of ceasefire, which prohibits such acts. Meanwhile, contractors here have accused the Maoists of awarding the contract to operate the steamer to one Bhojelal Chaudhary on the condition to pay Rs 3,101 every day. nepalnews.com pb May 29 06 http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/may/may29/news04.php