The Hindu : International : Maoists firm on republic

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Wednesday, May 02, 2007
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International

Maoists firm on republic

Ameet Dhakal

— AFP

Nepal's Maoist Chairman Prachanda at a May Day rally in Kathmandu on Tuesday.

KATHMANDU: Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Prachanda has warned of a total movement if the Interim Legislature failed to declare Nepal a republic.

At a mass meeting held here on the occasion of the International Labour Day, Mr. Prachanda said, "If the legislature failed to declare Nepal a republican state, we will launch a total movement from streets, cantonment, Parliament and the Government."

A spirited Prachanda said, "Maoists will explode from the street; will explode from the cantonments; will explode from Parliament and from the Government."

If anyone has thought Maoists are easy to deal with, they are wrong, he said. "The basis of unity among the eight parties is over with the deferral of the Constituent Assembly Polls... only declaration of republic by Parliament will provide a new basis for such unity."

Mr. Prachanda's deputy, Babu Ram Bhattrai, said, "Now our movement has entered urban centres. We will lead an urban revolt to ensure the rights of the people and the working class."

Maoists criticised

Chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Ian Martin criticised the Maoists for refusing to begin verification process of their combatants. He said it was Maoist's obligation to allow verification process to proceed "unconditionally". The CPN (M) has stalled the verification process, due to begin on Tuesday, arguing that it was a part of the political process and it alone cannot proceed ahead.

They are linking the process to the progress on the political front and have said it cannot begin unless there was an agreement on the Constituent Assembly election and other political issues. They have also pointed to lack of progress in cantonment management behind their refusal for verification. Verification of the combatants is a key component of the peace process. It is only after verification it will be clear how many of the combatants will be integrated in the national army and how many of them will be rehabilitated in the society.

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