Nepal

Maoists to return occupied land

Article published on the 2008-11-12 Latest update 2008-11-12 15:30 TU

Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda.
(Photo: Reuters)

Former Maoist rebels who now control Nepal’s government pledged Tuesday night to return land occupied during their ten-year guerrilla war, or compensate owners for their losses.

Ceding to pressure from the opposition Nepali Congress to keep his promises, Nepal’s Prime Minister and Maoist leader Prachanda declared that all confiscated land would be returned, or their owners compensated, by mid-December.

The Maoists' guerrilla war forced thousands of people to flee their homes and led to the deaths of more than 13,000 people. It concluded with a 2006 peace deal that brought the Maoists into government.

Following an election, the National Assembly abolished the monarchy and proclaimed a republic, but the Maoists now face parliamentary challenges from opposition parties.

The amount of land involved remains unknown for the time being, as is the cost of compensation, which will come from the taxpayer.         

“In many places, the Maoists have left the land, but due to fear of their cadres [leading members], their rightful owners have not come to claim it,” correspondent CK Lal in Kathmandu told RFI.

One of the Maoists’ major electoral promises, the redistribution of land to poor farmers, remains on the backburner till the land compensation issue is dealt with, as the Nepali Congress has stated that its support is conditional on compensation.