Govt. won’t bow down to Maoists; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 30 April: Prime Minister Madhab Kumar Nepal said
Friday government will adopt a defensive position to confront any violence during Saturday’s Maoist mass mobilization of cadres against the government.
He said government had no alternative and predicted the outpouring of Maoists on the streets could be violent and invited the main opposition for talks.
The premier told this to reporters after returning home from Bhutan where he attended the 16th SAARC summit.
He said government can’t stay silent to the possible outbreak of violence.
and added Maoists were attempting to impose authoritarian with threats and guns.
Nepal claimed Thursday he had the full support of India and the international community as Maoists charged his regime for being a puppet of India.
He said this after a meeting with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Thimpu.
Meanwhile, a hastily called cabinet Friday decided the government won’t surrender amid threats.
Government sources said Nepal consulted cabinet colleagues on demands for his resignation by Maoists.
Maoists Friday took out a motorcycle rally Friday ahead of Saturday’s mass mobilization of thousands of activists for anti- governments and pressure to form a national government under its leadership.
A Maoist meeting of central leaders decided Friday Chairman Prachanda will lead such a government.
The party took the decision as the prime minister said he was ready to step down but not to make way for Prachanda, according to .
Spokesman CP Gajurel.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood Thursday evening discussed Saturday’s mass mobilization with the Maoist chairman.
“The ambassador urged Dahal to exercise maximum restraint to avoid a confrontation,” The Kathmandu Post quoted an Indian embassy official as saying.
Businesses in the inner city closed down Friday protesting Maoist extortions.
Nnnn

KP Oli returns

Kathmandu, 30 April: UML leader KP Oli returned home Friday after discussions with Indian leaders and officials in New Delhi where he had gone Wednesday.
He held discussions with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee who was the anchor for Nepal for the Indian government during movement to topple monarchy and declaration of a republic.
The game-plan has run into rough weather after Maoists emerged victorious in the April 2008 constituent assembly elections.
nnnn


Military team arrives for joint exercise

Kathmandu, 30 April: A US military team flew in Thursday night for a joint military exercise with Nepal Army at the Mountain Warfare Training School in Mustang,
US soldiers will train Nepali counterparts on skills to help people during floods while US soldiers will be trained in high altitude rescue.
nnnn