HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

He says his move aims to facilitate consensus, save parliamentary system and end terrorism
Koirala resigns as Prime Minister

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 19: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala announced his resignation today stating that he would rather prefer to give priority to new initiatives and roles in solving the challenges besetting nation than remaining in the post.

"Preferring new initiatives and roles to solve the existing problem posed before the country to the continuation as Prime Minister, I have decided to resign," said Prime Minister Koirala. The Prime Minister announced his resignation in an address to the nation broadcast through Nepal Television and Radio Nepal this evening.

After making the announcement, Koirala went to the Royal Palace to submit his resignation to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev who later accepted it. The new Prime Minister is likely to be announced by Monday next week.

Before quitting the post he held for 16 months marked with bitter infighting within his Nepali Congress party, Koirala made it public that his latest tenure has been marred by internecine NC wrangling and outside pressures.

The Prime Minister said, "I have the challenge to save the Nepali Congress from aimless and endless conflicts."

In his statement the Prime Minister said he still feels it is his responsibility to channelise the energy wasted by the oppositions - by disrupting the parliamentary proceedings - towards a national consensus and to wipe out the terrorism from the country.

Koirala said that the country is passing through extremely challenging time as the 12- year-long democracy, earned through the hard way by Nepalese people, has been weakened because of difference among all political parties, their adamancy in overlooking the parliamentary system and process, and the lack of political culture to solve issues of national interests through consensus and joint efforts.

"On the other hand, our parliamentary system has been tormented by those extremists and proponents of violence and terror who are attempting to destroy our constitutional framework," he said.

Koirala said: "I feel the only way out of these two attacks is to encourage in building a widespread consensus and joint efforts among the political parties, civil society, and all Nepalese."

Koirala said he had tried to forge a national consensus among all the political parties through his 14-point basic programme proposed before the House. The 14- point programme had reflected all the problems and painful experiences faced by all the prime ministers, ruling parties and the oppositions during the last 12 years.

His appeal was not to save his chair for him but safety measure for the future prime ministers and the prime ministerial system. It was also aimed for safeguarding the parliamentary system against regression, violence and anarchy of the ultra-Left.

The Prime Minister warned that if all the responsible political parties do not commit themselves honestly to his 14-point programme the democratic movement and its achievements could face a severe blow.

The mindless violence and terror perpetrated by the Maoists are not only against the present constitution and the democratic set up but also a preplanned conspiracy against the country’s national security.

This terrorism, nurtured both from within and outside the country, targeted at the innocent people and security personnel is as much condemnable as it is fatal to our nationalism and national unity, he said.

Koirala said the primary issue of the national polity should be to wipe out the terrorism by the mobilisation of all the security apparatus of the country and bringing together all the responsible political parties and people.

The Prime Minister praised the role of the police despite their limited means and resources to fight against the menace of terrorism.

Meanwhile, he said he believed the Royal Nepalese Army mobilised under the Integrated Security and Development Programme would succeed in ending the Maoists’ violence and insurgency.

Koirala said that his major political issue is to forge a broad national unity and to mobilise people’s power against terrorism. He said he would put all his efforts on this issue not matter what role he might play in future.

"The campaign started during his16-month tenure has reached a definite phase and this campaign must be pushed ahead to achieve a concrete result," he emphasized.

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