Exactly three years after signing the Comprehensive Peace Accord, the largest political party of the country, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Saturday announced a month-long, third round of agitation to begin from Sunday.
“Our ultimatum is over and our central committee meeting decided to go ahead with the third-round of agitation,” Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” told reporters on Saturday, a day after their ultimatum to the CPN-UML-led government was over. The party has been chiefly demanding “correction” of President Ram Baran Yadav’s step to reinstate the then Army Chief General Rookmangud Katawal, removed by the Maoists in May. They say the President made an “unconstitutional move” and that it needs to be discussed in Parliament.
“We held a lot of discussions with political parties but there could be no consensus on the President’s move,” said Mr. Dahal, adding, “The government did not seem to be serious on the issue.” The CPN-UML-led government has maintained that the President’s move cannot be discussed in the House. The ruling parties had proposed a common resolution so that such steps of the President would never repeat, but the Maoists had rejected it.
Meanwhile the month-long protest programmes include a nationwide strike on December 20, 21 and 22. Transportation, educational institutions, industries, and offices would be shut down on these days. As in the first round of agitation, the Maoists would be boycotting programmes attended by the President, Prime Minister, and Ministers and that they would be shown black flags. The party has warned of an indefinite strike if the government did not fulfil their demands within a month’s time.
Budget to be passed
The Maoists however agreed to resume the parliamentary proceedings for three days to let the budget passed. A meeting on Sunday would decide the dates on which the House can function.
The Maoists have been blocking Parliament since the first week of August. As the country is facing financial difficulties, political parties have been requesting them to resume the House proceedings to pass the budget.
