COLOMBO, Nov 10 ? The Maoist conflict in distant Nepal has North-east connections, with the ultra left rebel group reportedly forging links with the outlawed ULFA. While the development has sent alarm bells ringing in Nepal, the links could also bring Maoist insurgency to the doorstep of the trouble-torn North-east. The common interest between the two outfits was suspected to be sourcing weapons and ammunition and sharing of camps for shelter and training.
According to a leading journalist of Nepal, Yubaraj Ghimrie, editor of Samay weekly, refugee problem in Bhutan and presence of sizeable Nepali population in the Himalayan Kingdom as well as in Assam brought the two closer and forge a tactical alliance.
In 2002, ULFA, NDFB and KLO helped in floating of a Nepali militant outfit on the lines of the GNLF to fight the Bhutanese forces. The Nepali refugee problem in Bhutan is yet to be resolved.
Meanwhile, Sri Ghimrie said that Maoists in Nepal have important members belonging to Nepali community from Assam. The number though small is reported to be regularly travelling to Nepal to attend important meetings of the outfit. The Maoist guerrillas have already set up offices in Bihar.
A prime concern for the international community is that success of armed insurgency and ?capture of power? by Maoist might have its impact spilled beyond the boundary of Nepal and terrorism in neighbouring countries would triumph, the journalist said.
India and Nepal shares nearly 1800 km of open border and the country was being considered safe heaven for the rebels. But India turned the pressure on Maoist forcing its members to flee back to Nepal. Besides India also increased its supply of military equipments enhanced training facilities. In an unprecedented move UK, USA and China also increased supply of support to security forces in Nepal, Sri Ghimrie said.
But uneasy calm prevailed in the Kingdom after the civil society pressurised both the Nepal Government and guerrillas to start meaningful dialogue. The move worked and Maoist guerrillas and Army observed ?no-first attack policy during the Dashain festival for 10 days till October 28. Efforts are now on to prolong the peace period and bring the Government and rebels to the negotiating table. The Maoist have said they are willing to sit for talks provided they are held under international mediation, preferably the United Nations.
The Nepal Government and Maoists have sat for two rounds of talks in the past but ended in failure. About 10,000 people including women and children have been killed since the outbreak of violence in Nepal.
The Maoists are mainly insisting that the Royal Nepal Army should be placed under Parliament instead of the King. That, according to the rebels, would neutralise any possible takeover of power by the King in future. Ironically Nepal?s Constitution does not take a different view on the issue except that 204-year-old tradition of the army being directly led by the King has an over riding impact.
But the editor of the Samay Weekly said that there was no sight of end to the problem. While Nepal Government charged the Maoist of using the ceasefire period to consolidate their strength, the guerrillas blame that the Government was not at all serious about their political demands.