Maoists announce a third “people’s movement” against the government
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) – Nepal’s Maoists have launched their third “people’s movement” pledging to continue their street demonstrations against the government.
Speaking at a workers’ demonstration in the village of Palung, south-west of Kathmandu, former Prime Minister Prachanda said that his Maoist party will launch a third Jana Andolan or People's movement. The first one was launched in 1990 at the start of the civil war; the second in 2006 which led to the fall of the monarchy and the birth of the country’s first democratic government.
Prachanda’s announcement came at a time when tensions in the country are very high.
Last Thursday the government reinstated General Rookmangud Katawal as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Nepalese Army. The general had been the cause of tensions between then Prime Minister Prachanda and President Rambaran Yadav. When Prachanda unilaterally dismissed him in early May the president rescinded the order and the prime minister resigned.
The current national unity government led by the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML) took power as a result of the institutional crisis.
Contacted by AsiaNews, Baburam Bhattarai, a historic Maoist leader, said that since “the government overruled our decision; there is no way to continue dialogue. Now we will focus on agitation.”
In fact sit-ins and protests are already taking place in various cities of the country against the CPN-UML which Prachanda has described as the “black sheep” of Communist parties.
Bhattari, who called the “current government is a puppet in the hands of President Yadav”, vowed that “street demonstrations and parliamentary action will re-establish civilian rule in the country.”
Prachanda used the same terms to announce his party’s third “people’s movement.”
The goal of such action is to forge ties with “nationalist, patriotic and democratic forces” to completely sweep away “reactionaries, opportunist and traitors.”
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02/04/2009
04/05/2009
