Nepal Maoists seek support from other parties to topple govt.

March 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Mar 29 (ANI): The UCPN (Maoist) has intensified bilateral discussions with different parties in an attempt to get their support against the current coalition government.

Maoist leaders met Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) leaders this morning.

After the meeting Maoist leaders claimed that they received support from the MJF to find an alternative to the current coalition.

According to MJF joint coordinator Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta, his party would intensify the agitation against the government, as the current UML-led government is not competent to take the peace process to a logical end.

He informed that his party would also stage demonstrations across during which the party cadres will hoist back flags against the government.

The Maoist leaders also met UML leaders.

During the meeting, the UML leaders have put conditions to support a Maoist-led government. The conditions include transforming UCPN (Maoist) into a civilian party, end of para-military structure of the Young Communist League (YCL) and return of all the properties seized during the insurgency period among others.

UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said the two parties primarily dwelt on formation of a consensus government, leadership of the High Level Political Mechanism, peace process and constitution writing.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has continued his close-door meetings with smaller parties in the parliament, Nepalnews reported. (ANI)

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Khanal calls for ‘govt. of national unity’ in Nepal

May 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 15 (ANI): CPN (UML) Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal today stressed on the need of forming a national government forging consensus.

Speaking at a programme here, Khanal highlighted the need for consensus government at a time when other party leaders are busy in signature campaign for the formation of a new government under its own leadership.

He said there is no alternative but to move ahead with consensus for national goodwill.

Khanal’s remark has been publicised after the Madhesi Janadhikari Forum (MJF) decided to form a government under its own leadership.

MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said his party is finding difficulty to support the new government under UML leadership as the latter has failed to give clear assurances on Madhes issues.

In a statement, the MJF party said it would take initiatives to gather support and solidarity from other parties for the formation of a new government under its leadership.

The statement further said that it would support the party of coalition agreeing to implement eight-point -demand signed with the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on Madhes issues incase the party fails to garner much support for formation of the government.

Following the MJF decision, the attempt of the Nepali Congress and the UML alliance to form a new government is also facing uncertainty. (ANI)

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Prachanda says NC, UML are trying to buy CA members

May 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 9 (ANI): Nepal caretaker Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today accused the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) of trying to pay out tens of millions of rupees to the Constituent Assembly members of other parties in a to secure majority for forming a new government.

Addressing a programme here today, Prachanda said that the UML and the NC were trying to buy MPs at the behest of foreign power centres, and urged caution against such attempts.

He also said that his party is ready for big sacrifice in order to restore civilian supremacy in the country.

He described his resignation as a salvo against the foreign intervention and political betrayers and warned of strong protest movement against “brokers and betrayers”.

Nepalnews quoted him as saying that the ongoing attempts of other parties to form a new government exclusive of the Maoists are the outcome of defeated mentality.

Saying he did not resign due to any rush of adrenaline, he said, “If we Nepali people really want the independence of this country and want the institutionalisation of democratic rights, the culture of army supremacy should end and civilian supremacy should be established.”

Meanwhile, CPN (UML) leader KP Oli has claimed there is no alternative to his party leading the next coalition government.

Speaking at a function, Oli said that the past nine months reflected the failure of the Maoist to lead government.

He said his party is ready to go ahead for majority government if the Maoists do not show willingness for consensus government and warned to take strong measures if the Maoists continued to obstruct the parliament sessions.

He also blamed the Maoists for the instability in the country, claiming the government failed to respect the rule of law. (ANI)

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Prachanda says NC, UML are trying to buy CA members

May 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 9 (ANI): Nepal caretaker Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today accused the Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML) of trying to pay out tens of millions of rupees to the Constituent Assembly members of other parties in a to secure majority for forming a new government.

Addressing a programme here today, Prachanda said that the UML and the NC were trying to buy MPs at the behest of foreign power centres, and urged caution against such attempts.

He also said that his party is ready for big sacrifice in order to restore civilian supremacy in the country.

He described his resignation as a salvo against the foreign intervention and political betrayers and warned of strong protest movement against “brokers and betrayers”.

Nepalnews quoted him as saying that the ongoing attempts of other parties to form a new government exclusive of the Maoists are the outcome of defeated mentality.

Saying he did not resign due to any rush of adrenaline, he said, “If we Nepali people really want the independence of this country and want the institutionalisation of democratic rights, the culture of army supremacy should end and civilian supremacy should be established.”

Meanwhile, CPN (UML) leader KP Oli has claimed there is no alternative to his party leading the next coalition government.

Speaking at a function, Oli said that the past nine months reflected the failure of the Maoist to lead government.

He said his party is ready to go ahead for majority government if the Maoists do not show willingness for consensus government and warned to take strong measures if the Maoists continued to obstruct the parliament sessions.

He also blamed the Maoists for the instability in the country, claiming the government failed to respect the rule of law. (ANI)

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Nepal President consults CA chairman on procedure of appointing new PM

May 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 8 (ANI): Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav has discussed with Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang the procedure for appointing a new Prime Minister if the political parties do not come up with a consensus government by the Saturday deadline.

With Maoists firm on their demand for an apology from President Yadav for his move to retain Chief of Army Staff General Rookmangud Katawal, the possibility of a consensus government is dim.

Nemwang has suggested that the President forward the issue to parliament if the parties fail to come up with a consensual choice.

“I informed the President about our statutory provisions and tradition of appointing a Prime Minister. There is no other way except taking the issue to the parliament, Nepalnews quoted Nemwang, as saying.

Meanwhile, the politburo meeting of the Maoists has stressed that the party should organise more protest programmes to exert pressure on President Yadav to correct his ‘unconstitutional’ move to reinstate the Army chief.

Most of the politburo members were of unanimous that the party should intensify protests from the parliament and launch a struggle from the streets until ‘civilian supremacy’ is upheld through the sacking of the Army chief.

Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said the meeting discussed the protest strategy the party should adopt against the President’s move including formation of a new government.

The meeting also delved into important issues like army integration, Constitution writing and proper conclusion of the peace process.

The 45-member politburo meeting will continue today. (ANI)

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Agiatated Maoists threaten protests on streets and in parliament of Nepal

May 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, May 5 (ANI): Agitated maoists on Tuesday vowed to protest in streets and the parliament after Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) stepped down as prime minister on Monday and created a major political crisis in the Himalayan country.

Hundreds of Maoist supporters took to Kathmandu streets on Tuesday, as President Ram Baran Yadav set a Saturday deadline for forming a new consensus government, a directive strongly rejected by the former rebels.

Protesters alleged that President Yadav, who belongs to main opposition Nepali Congress party, was exceeding his power.

“There is a question of controversy over the role of the President exceeding the limit of his control on the issue of sacking the army chief,” said Harihar Lamichanne, a resident of Kathmandu.

Prachanda had occupied the position of Prime Minister of Nepal after winning election last year.

But he resigned on Monday after his decision to sack Army Chief Rookmangud Katawal was not backed by his allies and the President vetoed it, triggering a political deadlock.

Relations between the army and the government were strained earlier this year when the military resisted integrating the former guerrillas, saying they are politically indoctrinated.

Prachanda argued that the integration of the rebels was stipulated by a peace agreement.

“Reiterating my commitment once again towards safeguarding the federal democracy and nation I hereby appeal to civil society and politicians to commit more forcefully to nation building and to maintaining the supremacy of civil society,” said Prachanda, former prime minister of Nepal.

Prachanda’s Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist won elections last year after ending a 10-year insurgency under a 2006 accord.

The first act of the newly elected parliament last year was to bolish the 240-year-old monarchy

Prachanda’s resignation leaves the country without a functioning government and will delay the process of drafting a Constitution for the nascent republic. (ANI)

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Abbas rejects Fayyad’s resignation, PM stays on

April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s government, which resigned last month, will stay on until the formation of a new government, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said on Thursday.

He told Reuters that Abbas had rejected the resignation of Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and asked him to stay on until Abbas’s Fatah Faction and Hamas Islamists, now negotiating a new interim government in Cairo, reach a deal.

“This government will stay on to avoid having a constitutional vacuum, Malki said.

“We hope that the dialogue (in Cairo) will be crowned by an agreement on a national consensus government.”

Former World Bank economist Fayyad tendered his resignation on March 7, effective March 31, in order to help rival Palestinian factions reach an agreement.

Officials made clear on Monday that he would be staying on in the post until the Cairo talks were completed and on Wednesday Fayyyad confirmed he was not leaving yet.

Fatah and Hamas, which drove out Abbas forces in a brief civil war in 2007 culminating in seizure of Gaza Strip, on Wednesday began a third round of talks in Cairo aimed at forging

a possible unity government deal.

“We’ll decide on the way forward after the current round of talks (in Cairo) and after consultations with our Arab brothers,” Abbas was quoted as saying on Palestine television. Fayyad’s government had submitted its resignation to “facilitate the national dialogue”, Abbas added.

Chances of reaching a deal between Fatah and Hamas are slim, which could mean that Fayyad, whom Abbas appointed immediately after Hamas took control of Gaza in June 2007, stays on longer.

Diplomats say Fayyad — who says he won’t reconsider resignation — has grown increasingly frustrated both by a lack of progress in peace talks with Israel and by opposition within Abbas’s secular Fatah faction to his control over the Palestinian Authority’s purse strings.

Hamas won a 2006 Palestinian election but its government was shunned by Western powers for refusing to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by interim peace deals with the Jewish state.

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UML Chairperson’s first priority is Nepal unity

February 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Feb 25 (ANI): Newly elected Chairperson of the CPN (UML) Jhala Nath Khanal today said that his first priority is to form a Government with national unity.

Speaking to mediapersons in Butwal, Khanal said his first responsibility would be to form a consensus Government by involving Nepali Congress in the coalition Government.

He also expressed commitments to avoid the party from being influenced by the hardcore leftists and rightists.

Mentioning that the Maoists Government have been continuously making controversial decisions in an unilateral manner, Khanal said the modus operandi of the government will witness a significant change in coming days.

He said that the government should make decisions only after consultations with all the parties in the coalition.

“The party will move forward with broad restructuring of its ideological, organisational and working procedure,” he added.

He also expressed commitment that the political document endorsed by the convention will be brought into practice and added that the party will play an effective role in the national politics with its own independent identity.

The Eighth National Convention of CPN-UML has elected General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal as party chairperson by a margin of over 15 per cent. Khanal polled 913 votes against rival Khadga Prasad Oli’s 796. Khanal will lead the party for next five years.

Out of 1,820 delegates, 1,793 took part in the election to the new leadership that comprises a huge 115-member central committee, Kantipur reported. (ANI)

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