Maoists want discussion on Prez move

POKHARA: UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' today said the party's agitation would continue until the government created an environment for the discussion of the president's step to reinstate CoAS Rookmangud Katawal in parliament.

He said the protest could also take the form of a third people's movement. Speaking at a press conference organised by Tamuwan Rajya Samiti in Pokhara, the Maoist supremo said the protest programmes would be carried out both in the parliament and on the street for one-and-a-half months.

Claiming the protest to be peaceful, he charged the government with planning to quell the agitation. Prachanda accused the ruling coalition of hatching conspiracies for not allowing the discussion on the president's move in the House. He said the row would also hit the constitution-drafting process but added the party's action was for establishing civilian supremacy rather than toppling the government.

Leaving door for consensus open, Prachanda said, "Political consensus is a must to achieve the twin goals of ending the peace process logically and drafting the constitution in the stipulated time." He accused Nepali Congress and CPN-UML of not working for consensus. Stating that the UCPN-M would be flexible for forging a consensus among the parties, he said his party would not be an obstruction in the fulfilment of the twin goals.

He said former PM Surya Bahadur Thapa and other rulers of the Panchayat regime were active to contain the Maoist movement. He said the prime minister could not take his own decision as he was directed by others. Claiming that the People's Liberation Army of the Maoists was now an government entity, he said it was the duty of the Army Integration Special Committee to adjust the combatants.