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VOL. 27, NO. 6, September 21, 2007 (Ashwin 04 2064 B.S.) |
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MAOISTS QUIT THE GOVT
Polls Uncertain
By walking out of the government and announcing protests to foil the election plan, the Maoists have thrown cold water over CA prospects
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
Although they quit the government demanding immediate declaration of republic, the Maoist move has thrown cold water over the prospects of holding the Constituent Assembly (CA) election on November 22 – which was widely expected to formally usher in republic in the country.
In a clear indication of their opposition to the November election, the Maoists have also unveiled a series of protest plans coinciding with election schedule. "The election schedule and the code of ethics are no longer acceptable to us. We reject this hypocritical drama of election and our programs will foil such plans," said Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, senior Maoist leader, addressing a mass meet in the capital on Tuesday (September 18).
The mass meet, which was not attended by Prachanda, was held immediately after four ministers representing the Maoists in the current government tendered their resignation to the prime minister.
Less than six months after they joined the interim government, the Maoists pulled out. They had joined the government on April 1, 2006.
"Our efforts to declare republic from the parliament has failed. Now we will declare republic from the streets. Therefore, we have decided to come in the midst of the people," said Dr. Bhattarai.
Dr. Bhattarai also unveiled the schedule of protest programs, which began on September 18. In the first phase of their agitation, they have announced holding door-to-door public awareness campaign between September 19 and 21. From September 22 till 29, they will intensify rallies and campaigns. And between September 29 and October 3, the Maoists have stated that they will 'expose' the corrupt people and those named as guilty in the report by Rayamajhi Commission. On September 30, the Maoists have vowed to gherao all the District Administration Offices across the country. They have also announced general strike from October 4 till 6. This strike coincides with EC's schedule whereby nominations of candidates will have to be filed on October 5.
"These are merely trailers of the movie that will come afterwards," Dr. Bhattarai threatened.
Earlier, efforts to reach consensus among eight parties to address the Maoists' 22-point demands failed and the four Maoist Ministers – Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung, Hisila Yami and Khadga Bishwokarma – resigned jointly.
The consensus failed to emerge after the Maoists stuck to their demand for immediate republic declaration by the parliament. Other party leaders had proposed a compromise formula whereby they would pass a commitment motion from the parliament to go for republic and also express public commitment, jointly, towards federal republic but in vain. Nepali Congress leaders even urged Maoists to wait for a week since they were planning to formally adopt republican line through their Mahasamiti meeting.
"They decided to quit the government despite our hard efforts," said Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel. "It now appears that they might have planned all along to quit the government anyhow," he said.
Their quitting the government could throw the peace process, interim constitution and the election out of gear.
The uncertainty over CA election has deepened sharply as the Maoists are now speaking against it clearly. This has come in addition to the continuing situation of insecurity and turmoil in Terai.
The unrest in Kapilbastu this week has also pointed at the still vulnerable security situation in Terai. Following the killing of one Mohit Khan, leader of Democratic Madhesi Front and a former leader of anti-Maoist resistance group, on Sunday (September 16) morning in Birpur area, violence had erupted in Kapilbastu and Rupandehi districts. In the ensuing violence that took a communal color, a total of five persons have already died including Khan.
