Nepali rebels out again

The Maoists People's Liberation Army has left the cantonments in search of food and shelter. The government says that the Maoists have not provided the detail of the expenditure of the money ( Rs 500 m) that it has released to them so far. It has been reported in media and often reiterated by America that the Maoists may be spending the money to buy 'crumppy arms' to lock them in the pretext of arms management and keep the new and advance weapons with themselves.

Another doubt raised by many people is the timing of the PLA to move out of the camps when the Madhesi Andolan or Terai movement has started again. A three-day Terai bandh has been called by an armed group which had split away from the Maoists party. The Madhesi movement has been seen as a potential threat to the Maoists power-base in the region. The so-called people's party failed to grasp the sentiments of Madhesi people on time, so did the government. Coincidently, the news of PLA  leaving the camps has come after King Gyanendra's Democracy Day message in which he has tried to defend his Feb 1 takeover.

It is clear that the intention of the rebels isn't just limited to find works for the PLA to feed themselves. There might be a political motif behind the decision to pull out the Maoists forces from the 'captivity' of the cantonments. Yet, the other seven political parties ruling the country seem careless and shortsighted as ever.