Top Maoist leader urges Maoists to quit government and start street politics for people’s republic

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 Feb: Top Maoist leader and party Spokesman CP Gajurel Friday asked Maoists to quit government and launch street protests to gain a people’s republic in strategic Nepal between India and China.
Continuing in government after five months will make the party even more unpopular, he argued.
Gajurel said it will be better to quit instead of facing daily criticism telling reporters in Sindhili the party had become unpopular after joining government.
The politburo member said the party will have difficulties in facing parliament and therefore should quit government.
He revealed the party is preparing a third people’s movement.
He called coalition partner CPN-UML an opportunistic party which will soon be sent to the museum.
Nepali Congress has called for a ‘broad democratic front’ against Maoists.
The main opposition has collected the support of 17 parties so far; they have a majority in the 601-member parliament.
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Army Chief summoned before parliamentary committee

Kathmandu, 13 Feb: Parliamentary national interest committee has summoned Friday Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal for a hearing.
Integration of Maoist PLA in Nepal Army and recruitment of 2,000 personnel to fill in army vacancies will be discussed.
Defence ministry under Maoists ordered a halt to recruitment overruled by the army.
Top Maoist leaders, including Prime Minister Prachanda, charged “national and international reactionaries’ are attempting to eliminate the Maoists with the help of the army.
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Top Obama administration official tough US attitude towards Nepal’s Maoists

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 Feb: A top Obama administration official, on his first Nepal visit, confirmed Thursday a tough attitude towards the Maoist led government indicating Maoists won’t be immediately taken off the US terrorist list.
US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher argued Washington was dealing with ‘Nepal Government’ and not a Maoist –led administration.
USA has maintained direct links with Maoists after they swept constituent assembly elections in April 2008 to draft a new constitution.
‘We started to review to take them [Maoists] off the list. But I don’t have a timetable and I have not set an end dare to that. That will happen when we think they have done the necessary things to disassociate themselves to reject terrorism in word and deed.
“We don’t yet have normal relationship with the Maoist party as they are in the list.
“The more they act within the political system and abandon harsh practices of terrorism and violence, it will be easier for us to finish this review,” Boucher told reporters before flying for New Delhi at the end of a two-day visit.
Maoists shot dead two Nepali security officials with the US embassy and bombed the American Cultural center during the 10-year people’s war before joining the political mainstream in April 2006.
US withdrew the Peace Crops from Nepal during the war saying there was no security for its volunteers.
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German, UN officials attend controversial Maoist PLA parade

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 Feb: Germany’s GTZ and UN officials Thursday attended a controversial military parade of the Maoist PLA even as they are supposed to be in 28 UNMIN-administered camps and cantonments without uniform.
Other embassies rejected invitations to attend the 14th anniversary of the launch of the people’s war and the eighth anniversary year of the founding of the PLA.
Political parties also boycotted the function.
PM Prachanda and Maoist government ministers didn’t obey an instruction of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav not to attend.
Dr Yadav rejected an invitation of the Maoists to be present at a military installation of Maoists in west Nepal.
PM Prachanda inspected a parade by Maoist combatants.
“I am not here today as your supreme commander but as the prime minister,” Prachanda told the combatants as he attempted to justify his presence.
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NSP withdraws support for govt.

Kathmandu, 13 Feb: NSP has withdrawn its support for the Maoist-led government, Annapurna Post reports.
A national working committee which started Wednesday took the decision Thursday.
The decision to withdraw support was taken after government promulgated ordinances by promulgating parliament.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“”Workers are pressing me to contest the party chairmanship but Maoists are conspiring to defeat me.”

(CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, 13 Feb.)
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