DIFFERENCES HEIGHTEN ON WEAPONS HANDOVER BY MAOISTS

UPDATE DIFFERENCES MOUNT ON MAOIST ARMS HANDOVER ISSUE

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Sept. Maoist faction of First Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya came out on the streets in and outside the Valley Friday protesting ‘a suicidal’ party decision to handover keys and containers with their weapons to a special committee on integration and resettlement of former PLA fighters
An emergency meeting of the party standing committee meeting to discuss the issue couldn’t be held Friday.
Baidya and supporters boycotted the meeting.
The committee met informally with factions of Chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai participating.
General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa called for the postponement of Friday’s meeting until Saturday morning
A meeting has been called at eight in the morning again Saturday.
Pachanda, in an appeal, Friday said the party had taken an unanimous decision for key handover denying a Baidya claim the decision was unilateral.
Secretary CP Gajurel even threatened the Baidya camp won’t join the Bhattarai government after backing the second party vice-chairman against Prachanda for leadership of government on behalf of the party.
The Maoist chief said he was taken aback by the
charge.
Prackanda asked people and supporters not to be led astray by the Biadya charge.
Intra-party differences on final handover of Maoist weapons will directly impact national politics and completion of the peace process.
The challenge for Prachanda and now Dr. Bhattarai us how to complete a commitment on which the Maoist boss says there was unanimous agreement.
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