Triumphant Maoists call off another protest

Their morale boosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urging for a national government in Nepal, the former Maoist guerrillas Friday called off another protest that was deemed as going against the peace pact, in a renewed bid to woo the international community.

The former rebels, who agreed to call off a proposed blockade of the country's only international airport scheduled for Tuesday after 12 western governments expressed grave concern, have now also decided not to declare a restructuring of the country Monday.

The Maoists, who began fresh protests against the coalition government since last Sunday, had earlier planned to declare the division of Nepal into 13 autonomous states on that day.

Currently, Nepal is divided into 75 districts. However, after the abolition of monarchy and the end of the Maoists' decade-old insurgency, the major parties, including the former insurgents, agreed to restructure the world's only Hindu kingdom into a secular, federal republic with autonomous states.

But the exact nature of the restructuring and the number of states will be made clear only after a new constitution is promulgated in May 2010.

Nepal's ruling parties had condemned the Maoist bid to unveil a restructuring plan on their own, saying it went against the comprehensive peace accord the former guerrillas had signed three years ago to end their "People's War".

The Maoists, whose street protests have paralysed the government since Monday, agreed to call off their restructuring plan after Ban Ki-moon tabled a report on Nepal before the UN Security Council, saying a government of "national unity" was desirable in Nepal for "timely promulgation of the country's new constitution and for the successful integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel".

The recommendation dovetails with the Maoists' demand for the dissolution of the 22-party government headed by the communists and the formation of a new one under their leadership since they are the largest party in parliament.

Ban's report has discomfited the government, which Thursday condemned it as interference in Nepal's internal matters. The 22 ruling parties said only Nepalis and the country's political parties had the right to decide what sort of government the country should have and who should head it.

However, though Monday's protest has been called off, Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai, who is spearheading the new protests, said that the proposed blockade of Kathmandu valley Tuesday and the encircling of Singha Darbar later during the week would be enforced.

Singha Darbar is the heart of the government, the complex where the Prime Minister's Office and other key ministries are located.

sud/rd/dg

( 436 Words)

2009-11-06-13:44:58 (IANS)

Viewer's Comment

Comments Not Available

More Stories