Kathmandu, June 14:

A meeting of the central secretariat of the CPN-Maoist today took seriously the series of attacks and murder of cadres of the Young Communist League (YCL) in various part of the country.

The meeting, chaired by party chairman Prachanda, was called after supporters of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum killed YCL’s central committee member Binod Pant “Jitendra” and Rupandehi district secretariat member Shesh Mani Lamichhane “Mani” in Rupandehi’s Marchawar yesterday.

Senior Maoist leader Mohan Baidhya, alias Kiran, told this daily that the meeting was held to work out a strategy to protect cadres of the Young Communist League from attacks of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum and other armed groups in the Tarai region.

He said no concrete decision was taken today as the meet will continue tomorrow.

The Maoist leaders also discussed the current political situation and reviewed the party’s overall work since it joined the interim government.

The meeting concluded that the party’s performance was “positive”, said Baidya.

He added that the second amendment to the interim constitution was also a “positive” move.

A Maoist source said US Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty has been flouting diplomatic norms as he is openly speaking against the party.

Asked what Prachanda would discuss in his meeting with former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, tomorrow, Baidya said he would make clear the party’s stance on the peace process, constituent assembly election and other political issues.

Killings flayed

KATHMANDU: The Campaign for Human Rights and Social Transformation Nepal (CAHURAST) on Thursday expressed concern about the killing of Maoist activists Binod Pant and Shashmani Lamichhane. Cadres of the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum (MJF) had allegedly killed Pant and Lamichhane in Rupandehi on Wednesday. Labelling the murder as “brutal”, the CAHURAST said in a statement, “This is a violation of the Geneva Convention and all other human rights conventions.”

The CAHURAST has demanded compensation for the families of Pant and Lamichhane. — HNS