Return of banda

The banda (general strike) has made a comeback, perhaps with a vengeance. This month we have already braved three days of banda and luckily averted another one last week when the Maoists called off a transport strike at the eleventh hour. Yet one more day of banda will paralyze life across the country on Tuesday. This newspaper had hoped that the Maoists would call off their strike on the third day as they have already made their point with two days of the continuous strike. We were pinning our hopes on the Maoists because we also thought they would realize the toll the banda was taking on the national economy and on the confidence of the people in the current peace process. But the Maoists appeared bent on showing their strength-- perhaps they wanted to drive home the point that they can bring the country to its knees if they so wish.



The first day of the banda wasn´t peaceful as promised by the Maoist leadership. Maoist cadres resorted to violence and went on a rampage -- they attacked vehicles, vandalized shops and clashed with police in several places. Maoist cadres, once again, exposed their cruelty in front of rolling cameras when they brutally attacked a police official. As soon as DSP Dilip Chaudhary tipped over a motorbike and fell to the ground the Maoists attacked him with batons and bricks, leaving him unconscious. We wonder what the Maoist leadership thinks as they watch such a brutal scene involving their cadres on television! It may help the Maoist party sustain its fearsome reputation but it certainly bodes ill for their future. But we also want to emphasize that the government was wrong in trying to use force to clear the road, apparently for the motorcade of the prime minister. There was always an alternative route available, which the prime minister eventually used. So there was no need to provoke the Maoists.



The three days of banda are not going to yield the Maoists anything. And they must realize the limitation of strikes in pressuring the government. To think that the tactic which the parties, including the Maoists, used to force Gyanendra concede power to the people will work against this government as well is to underestimate the strength and legitimacy of an elected government. At the same time, to think that power will not slip away from their hands no matter how many strikes the Maoists call and to refuse to seek a compromise with them is dishonesty on the part of the ruling coalition. Both the Maoists and the government must sit in dialogue and find common ground to end the stalemate.

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