Maoists defer declaration of autonomous regions in Nepal
Kathmandu: The Maoists have deferred plans
to declare "autonomous" regions in Nepal in a bid to woo the
international community as the UN Secretary General echoed the
former rebels' demand for a national unity government to end
the political crisis.
Maoist chairman Prachanda said that the party had
postponed its earlier programme to declare 'Autonomous
Republican State' which was seen as a violation of Nepal's
peace pact, as UN chief's Ban Ki-moon's recently published
report adviced Nepal to form a national unity government to
move the peace process forward.
However, Ban's suggestion for the establishment of a
national unity government was angrily rejected by the 22-party
alliance, who accused the UN chief of political interference.
The ruling alliance here said the people of the
country possess the right and authority to decide what type of
administration they want.
"It is up to the Nepalese people and the political
parties to decide what kind of government to form, how to form
it and under whose leadership to form it," the alliance said
in a statement after its meeting yesterday.
Prachanda told his supporters yesterday that there was
no alternative to a national government in the country, so one
cannot condemn the UN's opinion.
The Maoist chief was quoted as saying in the media
today that the programme to declare 'Autonomous Republican
State' was mere "publicity", and therefore it has been
postponed. He said the political deadlock would end with the
formation of a unity government.
Bureau Report