KATHMANDU: Nepal’s ruling UCPN Maoist has asserted to provide security to all journalist based in north western district- Dailekh. A meeting of the party’s senior leaders held in the capital on Saturday decided to provide security to all Dailekh based journalist and urged them to return back home without harbouring any fear.

The party’s statement comes at a time when dozens of Dailekh based journalist have fled from their homes citing security threats from the activists of UCPN Maoist and CPN Maoist.

Confrontation between the both Maoist cadres and journalist had intensified in the district and across the nation following the both party’s denial to prosecute the murderes of Dailekh based journalist Dekendra Thapa.

Dekendra Thapa was murdered in the district during the armed insurgency by Maoist cadres and militias in 2004. Though some of the accused have confessed their crime and sought punishment for it, both Maoists parties and the Maoist Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai had ordered security agencies and the district attorney’s office for not prosecuting the accused.
However journalist and human rights bodies in the district and across the nation had taken to streets slamming the government for promoting impunity and guarding murders in the name of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).

The confrontation between journalist and the both Maosit party cadres escalated in the recent days, media reports had claimed that youth cadres of both parties from across the nation had poured in Dailekh to silence journalist.

Sensing threat to their lives more then two dozens journalist had left for Kathmandu on Wednesday night to save their life.

Various journalist and media bodies had urged the government for providing security to the journos. Reading out the party’s decision, spokesman Agni Sapkota ridiculed the journalists hinting that the journalist protests in Dailekh and across the nation were politicised and not neutral.

A state committee of the party on Saturday organised a press meet to announce its protest programs demanding the immediate release of its accused cadres and prosecuting the case by forming the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission (TRC).

The Bheri Karnali Zonal committee of the party on Saturday announced plans that it would launch a series of protest programs which include full zone shutdown, holding agitation, protest rallies, among others.

The party has claimed that prosecuting five of its cadres on charges of murdering journalist Dekendra during the the insurgency through existing laws and courts was against the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the Interim Constitution (IC).

Speakers at the announcement claimed that the detention of its five cadres was against the CPA and IC and accued that the Home affairs administration was acting under the influence of national and international power blocks to derail the peace process.

The party’s demand for the release of its cadres comes at a time when Nepal’s journalist, rights and social activists bodies are still on the road demanding the prosecution of Dekendra’s murderers.

See the Video of Late Journalist Dekendra Thapa that documenterain had recorded in 2003, a year before, Dekendra was buried alive by the CPN Maoist militia and cadres.

The apex court issued summons in response to a contempt case filed against the PM, his legal advisor and police chief for obstructing the interrogation of Maoist cadres accused of murdering Dailekh based journalist Dekendra Thapa.

The summons were issued in response to the case filed by the Democratic Lawyers Association. Attorney General Mukti Pradhana had issued written orders to Dailekh attorney office and administration office for not interrogating the Dekendra Thapa murder accused five Maoist cadres after receiving such orders from Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai.

The top cop Kuber Rana had also issued strict orders to his officers in Dailekh for not interrogating the accused and pressing any charges in the court.

The court has not given the privilege of appointing their representatives to defend the charges in the court and thus made it mandatory the trio to attend the summons in person.

If the apex court is not satisfied with their arguments, then it can slap them a fine unto Rs 10,000, or one year jail or both sentences.

In the contempt of court case, the petitioners have sought maximum penalty for the accused for misusing their authorities to save criminals.

Responding to case filed by the district attorney on Thursday, the court granted the remanded to the police authorities for interrogating five of the accused.

The court announced its verdict on the case following a stay order from the Supreme Court against the Attorney General’s directive to the district attorney for not prosecuting the accused.
However, the Supreme Court’s stay order on the AG’s directive enabled the police administration to seek this third judicial custody extension to investigate the Dekendra’s murder committed way back in 2004 under direct orders from the then Maoist’s local parallel government.

The hearing was conducted amid a dense security in and around the Dailekh district court as locals and journalist turned on street demanding stern sentences for the murder accused.
Nepal police had arrested the accused following direct accusations filed against them by Dekendra’s wife.

The Police has been pressing chargs of murders against CPN Maoist Bheri Karnali state member Jay Bahadur Shahi, Harilal Pun Magar, District Committee senior secretary Nirak Ghartimagar, district committee member Bir Bahadur KC.