Itahari, September 16 :

The Maoists have halted the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the hilly district of Bhojpur.

According to the NGOs, the Maoists disrupted the NGOs’ development programmes from August 9 in the northern area of the district, saying that the organisations did not give the donations demanded of them.

The NGOs’ programmes including Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), rural development organisation and GTZ have been affected.

The RRN was empowering people through social mobilisation and cooperatives in the northern part of the district, said Lekhnath Kharel of RRN (Bhojpur).

The Maoists are insisting that if fund is not submitted to the party, they will not allow the launch of any programme, said Kharel.

NGOs’ programmes were disrupted in a dozen VDCs in the northern part of the district due to the Maoists’ obstruction, said the representative of INSEC in Bhojpur, Gyanedra Khadka, adding that the Maoists’ area no-1 group disrupted the programmes of NGOs in Kimalung, Khartamchha, Khatamma, Dovane, Kulung, Kudakkaule, Chaukidanda and Nepaldanda VDCs. The Maoists are insisting that the NGOs cough up a certain percentage of the fund for development programmes and submit levy regularly to the party.

Maoist district secretary (Bhojpur) Bishal said the party had to take action as the NGOs launched the programmes without consulting the party.

“The programmes were disrupted not because of us, but because the NGOs launched their programmes without reaching an agreement with us,” said Bishal, adding that the problem could be solved through discussion. “No obstruction will be created if levy is submitted regularly,” said Bishal.

On March 20 the Maoists issued a warning, banning NGOs in Sankhuwasabha district. So far, they have not withdrawn the ban.