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Maoists in a spot over businessman’s killing

KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) finds itself in an increasingly awkward position and faces backlash over the death of a businessman who was abducted and later killed in a Peoples’ Liberation Army (PLA) cantonment in Chitwan a week ago.

Ram Hari Shrestha (35) was abducted and killed in the PLA’s Shaktikhor Cantonment in Chitwan, said Shrestha’s family members. His body was thrown in the Narayani River, they added. As the family members, local residents and various student organisations resorted to protests, Maoists’ chief Prachanda, on May 18, issued a statement saying Shrestha was killed by “selfish” individuals who had infiltrated the party. He, however, said the Maoists and PLA had no hand in the killing.

The United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which monitors Maoists’ armies in seven cantonments across the country, issued a rebuttal to Mr. Prachanda’s claim. Its statement said: “PLA commanders have acknowledged to UNMIN that members of the Maoist Army had committed the crime.” The UNMIN also said the Maoists breached their commitment and asked the leadership “to fully cooperate with the police to ensure that all those responsible for ordering or carrying out the abduction or killing are apprehended and punished in accordance with the law.”

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal has already begun investigating the incident. A Struggle Committee formed by locals has announced a general strike in Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday. Various student organisations and rights groups have supported the strike. The committee also demanded formation of a high-level probe commission to investigate into the incident—something that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has already promised to do.

As facts emerged, it became clear that Shaktikhor Cantonment’s PLA chief Kali Bahadur Kham, alias ‘Bivid’, ordered Shrestha’s abduction.

Mr. Kham’s family was Shrestha’s tenant in Koteshwor, Kathamndu. Shrestha was abducted to “investigate” a theft at Mr. Kham’s apartment a while back.

Shrestha’s family said after the abduction, Mr. Kham had warned them against informing the police. Since Shrestha’s family members support the Maoists and had a good rapport with the top Maoist leadership, they met Mr. Prachanda on May 14 and sought his help. “Prachanda had assured us [that] Bivid would bring my husband safe and sound to my house the next day,” said Ramila Shrestha, Shrestha’s wife. Instead, Mr. Kham informed the family on May 16 that Shrestha died due to beating during the course of the investigation. In a statement, Mr. Kham said those who killed Shrestha were absconding.

The timing of this incident could not have been worse for the Maoists. Having emerged as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly election, they are slated to lead the next collation government. But major political parties have set various preconditions to extend their support.

They have questioned the Maoists’ democratic credentials and commitment to rule of law and human rights.

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