PM Nepal asks Maoists to withdraw threatened indefinite strike; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 May: In a rare nation-wide address to the nation Saturday, beleaguered Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal asked Maoists to withdraw a threatened indefinite nation-wide strike from Sunday.
He asked Maoists in the 15-minute address broadcast live by radio and television from his official residence to adopt a policy of ‘national understanding and cooperation’.
He never used the work resignation in his address in which he defended the government and his contribution to the peace process and constitution drafting and said government has ‘responsibility’.
He reminded Maoists, instead, of a constitutional provision for government through parliamentary process and said the government has the support of 22 parties with a majority in parliament.
Nepal said Maoists treated his 11-month-oldgovernment like an ’enemy’ and claimed his government has achieved impressive results despite immense hurdles and difficulties and non-cooperation.
Nepal said the government was committed to the peace process and constitution drafting as Chairman Prachanda charged Saturday in a public address the ruling coalition wasn’t.
“There’s no alternative to understanding,” Nepal said.
“The result of a strike will be unfortunate for all”, he said and reminded government officials and security agencies have responsibility to maintain peace.
In an uncompromising address, he said confrontation should be avoided adding he was ready for ‘maximum flexibility and opendiscussion’.
Meanwhile, Prachanda said Nepal started ’roaring’ and convened a meeting of the national security council after returning from Thimpu where he received the support of the Indian government from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He said Nepal was like an ‘inflated balloon which will burst any molment’.
Government has deployed the Nepal Army and police to confront any violence during the strike.
He didn’t ask security forces to disobey government orders but instead asked them to ‘understand the voice of history’.
The Maoist chairman said an indefinite strike from Sunday will continue until all demands, including the resignation of Nepal, are met; Maoists have pushed a national government under their leadership.
The Maoist chief called the ruling coalition unnatural.
He mentioned India by called by name saying it was supporting the Nepal government and asked New Delhi not to think it had the ‘command of Nepal Army’.
He told thousands of supporters at a peaceful May Day rally in the capital the government can’t continue with foreign support.
Prachanda told the international community Maoists are committed to the peace process, constitution drafting and multi-party democracy.
Maoists said they will relax the strike for 90 minutes from 6.30 in the evening every day for people to purchase essential supplies.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala lest support to the government and told a May rally in Lalptpur government won’t resign under duress.
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UNMIN mandate to be extended

Kathmandu, 1 May: UNMIN mandate which ends 15 May is to be extended again.
The government decision came after intensive lobbying for the continued UN presence in Nepal from western countries.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal conveyed the government decision at a meeting with UNMIN Chief Karen Landgrin Saturday, his press aide said.
The government decision came amid statements from ministers the mandate won’t be extended and dissatisfaction of the government with its work; Maoists are the only party happy with UNMIN and want continued UN presence even as it complains of foreign interference in Nepal.
Government was considering limiting the mandate to only monitoring activities and weapons of Maoists and not Nepal Army.
UNMIN is a front of western donors which are funding its activities in Nepal.
UNMIN presence hasn’t helped the process and its continued presence won’t be effective with government criticism it is a front of Maoists.
The image of impartiality has been lost with the charges.
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