Maoists not to return seized land

Maoist affiliated All Nepal Peasants Union has said it will not return the land seized from leaders and cadres of various political parties and the general public during the conflict until another arrangement is made for the farmers dependent on such land, Nagarik daily reported.

Peasants are farming in some 50,000 hectares of land across the country seized during the conflict; we have instructed them to do so, said Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the union and a Constituent Assembly member.

They will continue farming in the seized land until another arrangement is made for them, he added.

Unified CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had pledged before the parliament in December last year, when he was the Prime Minister, his party would return the seized land before April 19.

However, Shrestha does not agree that with that. "When was an agreement made with the government to return the seized land?" he questioned. "We are talking about natural and social principle," Shrestha said. "No one has the right to keep the land barren."

A committee was formed to monitor the commitments expressed by the Maoists. The report submitted by the committee before its term ended on July 22 had concluded land and property belonging to more than 30,000 families was still in control of the Maoists.

Although, Nepali Congress had raised the concern most vehemently when it was in opposition it is mum on the issue when it has gone to the government.

source: Nepal News