No power sharing: Prachanda

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 May: Maoist Chairman Prachanda Thursday rejected a proposal for power sharing with Girija Prasad Koirala as Nepal’s first ‘ceremonial president’.
Instead, Prachanda suggested Koirala should ‘play the role of a chief coordinator’ of 22 to 25 parties in parliament[assembly].
The Maoist said this in an interview with Naya Patrika when asked what could be ‘an honourable position’ for Koirala in post-election Nepal.
Prachanda called Korala a ‘tower figure’ without whose ‘ activitism , patronage and honourable presence drafting a new constitution won’t be easy’.
“There shouldn’t be a parallel power center in the country now. Leadership should be clear with power sharing. People’s mandate won’t be honoured with a parallel power center,” Prachanda said in reply to a question whether he was ready to accept Koirala as a ceremonial president.
“My proposal is he should be a personality acceptable to all,’ the Maoist chief added.
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Details of Prachanda, Powell meet

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 May: Chairman Prachanda quoting US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell said there’s wont be any immediate change in US policy towards Maoists.
‘She said even though the US cannot immediately change its present policy towards Maoists, she said she will try to expedite it while in Washington.
“I got a feeling from her US won’t objection have any with a Maoist-led government. She gave the feeling even with a delay in a change of US attitude towards us, it will continue to continue its help to us,” Prachanda said.
“She hoped we will implement out commitments so far,” the Maoist chief added.
Powell showed Prachanda a copy of the news release later released by the embassy.
Maoist foreign affairs chief CP Gajurel also gave details of the encounter in an interview with Kathmandu Today.
Gajurel doesn’t expect USA to immediately lift the terrorist tag on Maoists.
“I can’t believe USA which still hasn’t lifted the terrorist tag on the African National Congress of South Africa will lift the tag on us.”
The exclusive Powell, Prachanda meeting was at the initiative of Powell and didn’t come about all of a sudden, Gajurel revealed.
“India, China, European countries and UNMIN were against it. America was isolated. Just before the election, Ambassador Powell said everyone should accept the people’s verdict. The big international pressure on USA worked,” Gajurel said.
He revealed plans are afoot for Prachanda to visit India as prime minister.
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Maoist-affiliated organization still on Indian terror list

Kathmandu, 8 May: All Indian Nepali Unity Society (ABNUC) registered in India is still on the terrorist list of the Indian government although Nepal’s Maoists are off it, Mahima reports.
All its activities are still banned in India.
Three dozen Maoists are still languishing in Indian jails.
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