Civic society for protest programmes to pressurise govt, Maoists

Lalitpur, October 29:

Participants at a programme today pointed out the need of organising frequent public awareness programmes to create pressure on the government and the Maoists to make the peace talks a success.

Speaking at the interaction held between members of the Nepalbhasha Manka Khala Yala (NMKY) and Civic Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP), participants expressed concern on the stalled peace talks and the possibility of “regressive conspiracies.”

Prof Dr Jivraj Pokhrel of the CMDP said that both the political parties and the Maoists seem to be sceptical on resolving the problems through talks. He said they are only buying time to come up with their conclusions, which, “most probably, will hurt the people’s sentiments.”

“We have to do something at all levels to make the government and the leaders of the CPN-Maoist understand that the people’s demand is not compromising on monarchy,” he said. He said both the parties in dialogue would realise how urgent a solution is only if continuous protest programmes are held. Suresh Pradhan, the chairman of NMKY, said the civic society also has to make certain things clear on its vision on state restructuring, the status of the interim constitution and many more issues, to see people joining their hands for a common agenda.

“And, since the civic movement has taken a momentum in the country’s political scenario, it is now time to give it an institutional framework by organising frequent and significant programmes,” he said.

Julum Chitrakar, former NMKY chairman, said small-scale mass meetings at every nook and corner should be held in the city of Patan to raise awareness among the people on the need of the resolution of problems through talks.