Maoist ‘kangaroo courts’ to resume

CPN-Maoist on Tuesday decided to reactivate its 'kangaroo courts' across the country.

A meeting of the Revolutionary People's Council (RPC) took the decision in this regard.

"As the common people have failed to receive justice from the current state mechanism and action has not been taken against the corrupt and criminals, we have decided to reactivate such a mechanism to provide justice to the people," said Dr Baburam Bhattarai, coordinator of the council.

He further said that after such a mechanism is set up, people would start taking action against the corrupt and criminals across the country. "It's not exactly the people's court, but it is a mechanism that provides justice to people," Dr Bhattarai said.

The Maoists had dissolved all Kangaroo courts following intense pressure from national and international bodies in the past.

In a meeting of the council, Maoist Chairman Prachanda said, "The network of RPC should be reactivated and expanded from the center to municipalities and villages across the country to prepare for the people's movement."

A Maoist source said Prachanda told the meeting that a strong people's movement is required to give a progressive outlet to the country at a time when politics is fast polarizing. "A broad alliance of nationalists, republicans and left forces is required for the movement," the source quoted Prachanda as saying during the meeting.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of the council's coordinator Dr Bhattarai, decided to form such networks of the council under the leadership of ethnic groups, which hold majority in the concerned districts and villages.

Dr Bhattarai, during the meeting, said a strong people's movement would be launched if the government failed to address the Maoists' 22-point 'pre-conditions' for the CA poll.

He urged all members of the council to get ready for such a movement.

Meanwhile, Maoist Chief Prachanda, speaking at a meeting of his student wing - All Nepal National Independent Students' Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), asked all students to be prepared for the people's movement.

A Maoist source said Prachanda told student leaders to launch a movement to ensure free and fair CA poll.

"The Constituent Assembly is not possible until the government addresses the 22-point pre-requisites," the source quoted Prachanda as saying during the meeting.