Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 13:

The seven agitating political parties have unveiled a series of protest programmes to be launched nationwide to demand the restoration of Parliament, beginning May 15. They have also issued a code of conduct to achieve the goal of “common agreement and commitment” that was made public on May 8.

Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress (Democratic), Janamorcha Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party, Nepal Sadbhavana Party and United Left Front have forged an alliance to resolve the constitutional crisis and the Maoist insurgency through peaceful agitation. According to a press statement, youth, students, women, workers and various professional organisations will launch a joint protest programme on May 15. They will distribute pamphlets and handbills highlighting the common agreement and commitment arrived at by the alliance.

Protest programmes will also be organised nationwide on May 15. In the capital, a joint rally led by alliance leaders, sitting members of the National Assembly and former lawmakers will be taken out from Ason the same day.

The alliance will take out another rally against dictatorship at New Baneshwor and in other parts of the country on May 25.

The rally at New Baneshwor will be addressed by central level leaders. The statement said the parties in the alliance could also launch separate protest programmes, in coordination with the others.

In its code of conduct, the alliance has decided the joint movement would remain peaceful until the goal of the common agreement and commitment is achieved. The joint movement will be launched under a collective leadership of the alliance. It has also been agreed upon that other political parties, all sections of civil society and professional organisations can take part in the movement.

The movement will be launched according to the decision of the all-party central joint movement committee which has the authority to make requisite changes in protest programmes. Joint movement committees will also be formed in all districts.

The code stipulates that the allies will not criticise one another from separate or at joint forums. All differences will be sorted out by the all-party central joint movement committee.

The seven-party alliance will also carry out periodic reviews of the joint movement, according to the code of conduct.