YCL rises against mother party in west

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

DHANGADHI: When the Maoist party formed Young Communist League, it had thought of some particular duties for it, but now with their activities in the far west region, which have cropped up of late, the party might be forced to realise whether it gave birth to a Frankenstein’s monster!

YCL members in the west have risen against their mother party, and today they padlocked nine Maoist district offices in the Far Western Region. At a press meet at Dhangadi today, YCL Seti-Mahakali Coordinator Min Bahadur Kunwar and Tharuwan State Committee Secretary Lalit Thapa told mediapersons that they have padlocked the party offices in all nine districts of the region as part of their protests.

YCL is protesting against the facilities now being provided to Maoist fighters, as they say they are ‘the real combatants’, and are equally entitled to what the others (PLA fighters) are getting. They have also put forth their five-point demand. YCL members said central leaders of the party would be barred from visiting the Far Western Region unless their demands were met. Warning that they would take all the vehicles used by Maoist PLA under their control, they have announced a bandh in the far west on February 13.

“We fought under PLA for long. The party later detached us from PLA and now has betrayed us. The party has welshed on its promises,” said Thapa. “The party must give us the status of PLA fighters.” A team headed by Thapa today obstructed the Masuriya-Talbandh road section and cut off electricity supply to Maoist cantonment in Talband since 3pm. Police resumed traffic along the road at 7pm.

In a press statement distributed today, YCL members have demanded certificates recognising them as PLA, rehabilitation to injured YCL members and integration of YCL members into the Nepali Army.

YCL Kailali in-charge Narendra Timalsina, however, said they would hold talks with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice-chairman and PM Baburam Bhattarai, but only if they ‘come to far west region’.

Meanwhile, some disqualified PLA fighters extended their solidarity to YCL today and claimed that their contribution to the party during decade-long war should be duly recognised. YCL cadres and disqualified fighters also obstructed a vehicle of Maoist standing committee member Lilamani Pokharel and central member Hari Bhakta Kandel.

When contacted, YCL Central Chairman Ganeshman Pun refused to own up to the protests launched by local YCL leaders. “Their struggle is not official,” he told The Himalayan Times. “We will discuss the issues later,” said Pun, adding that their protest was ‘blown out of proportion by the media’.