Govt directs security bodies to remain on high alert

KANTIPUR REPORT

Since the Maoists have started breaching the peace accord, we have directed the security bodies to remain on high alert

KATHMANDU, NOV 03 - Concluding that the Maoists have breached the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), the government on Tuesday has directed the security bodies to remain on high alert in the wake of the beginning of second-phase of Maost agitation.

The Cabinet directed the chiefs of the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and National Investigation Department to remain on high alert after the major opposition Unified CPN (Maoist) seized the Dhankuta Municipality in eastern Nepal on Monday, and announced the nomination of its office bearers as per the “people’s constitution.”

“Since the Maoists have started breaching the peace accord, we have directed the security bodies to remain on high alert,” Minister for Information and Communications Shanker Pokhrel told reporters. According to him, the cabinet has decided to remind the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), which is monitoring the ongoing peace process in the country, about the violation of the CPA from the Maoist side.

The army chief, the IGPs of two police forces, the top spy and the home secretary were also summoned at the cabinet meeting today.

All state ministers and assistant ministers were also asked to take part in the cabinet meeting, which is generally attended by the cabinet ministers only.

However, Defense Minister Bidya Bhandari did not take part in today's Cabinet meeting.

According to the Minister for Industries, the government is attempting to forge an agreement though the Maoists have violated the peace accord.

The Maoists started the second phase of protest against the government on Sunday, demanding House debate on the president's move, which forced them to step down from the government last year. They staged torch rally across the country on Sunday evening and gheraoed the local bodies on Monday.