Army on the streets of Kathmandu
Kathmandu (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The army is patrolling the streets of Kathmandu in the wake of violent clashes between the police and Maoist demonstrators. It’s the latest chapter in the current crisis in Nepal after the resignation of Premier Pushpa Kamal Dahal, better known by his wartime name Prachanda.
Yesterday the premiers supporters marched on the streets, where they took control of the traffic and clashed head on with police: police responded with tear gas and charged them bamboo batons.
The decision to employ the army was made by the government of national unity formed after the prime ministers clash with the President Ram Baran Yadav. Dahal had fired the chief general of the Nepal Army Rookmangud Katawal in a unilateral move which the President later reversed. The casus belli between the two top civilian leaders was provoked by the General’s opposition to the integration of former Maoist rebels among the ranks of the army.
Tensions were heightened after a local TV broadcast images dating to 2008 of an address by Prachanda to his supporters and Maoist rebels announcing that they had taken full control of the nation. The video predates the first ever democratic elections in Nepal’s history, in which the Maoists came to government. In the eyes of the opposition and the coalition partners of Prachanda’s government these images reveal the Maoists totalitarian and anti-democratic aims.
The international community is alarmed by the developments in Nepal. Commentators believe the government of national unity will be short lived because of its frail alliances. President Yadav has entrusted leadership to the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), the second biggest party in the country, which is set to substitute the Maoists Unified Communist Party of Nepal that counts for 40% of parliament.
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