Kathmandu, April 28:

Some propose, others dispose.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today tabled a proposal for going for elections to a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution in today’s first meeting of the revived House of Representatives.

The Maoists, however, remained edgy and issued a warning from the Khula Manch they would not allow lawmakers to go home if the constituent assembly process didn’t materialise. They said that they would continue their movement nationwide. The Khula Manch mass meeting was organised by the Joint Democratic Front and chaired by Professor Ramman Shrestha.

President of the Federation of All Nepal Trade Unions Shalikram Jamarkattel said the King’s autocracy could be brought to an end only after the Maoists and the seven-party alliance reached the 12-point understanding in November last year and reinforced it in March.

“We had asked the parliamentary forces to forge a front against the monarchy and launch a movement to go for a constituent assembly soon after the royal massacre on June 1, 2001. But the parliamentary parties did not believe us, and it took more than two years to come to this stage,” he said. He said that the parliamentary parties reached an understanding with the Maoists only after the King took over power.

“The historical people’s movement could become successful due to our active participation after April 6,” Jamarkattel said, adding that it was the Maoists who took the initiative to reach a 12-point understanding with the parties.

President of the All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary) Lekhnath Neupane said the Maoists declared a unilateral ceasefire for three months so that the Parliament could announce an election to the constituent assembly for a democratic republic. “Constituent assembly will decide whether or not monarchy is required in Nepal,” he said.

He also asked the government to take action against those who tried to suppress the people’s peaceful movement. “Had the Mallik Commission been implemented after 1990, persons like Kamal Thapa and Tanka Dhakal would not have raised their ugly heads,” said Neupane.

Shanta Bhandari, coordinator of the Families of Disappeared People, and Krishna Rai, a member of the same committee, demanded that the government start locating missing persons and make public their status, declare a mutual ceasefire and hold talks with the Maoists to find a lasting solution to the conflict.

The House of Representatives has been revived and GP Koirala is in the Prime Minister’s seat, but the Maoists are not satisfied at the pace of developments. Today, they repeated their warning to the seven-party alliance, telling it to look sharp on the issue of constituent assembly.

In Pokhara, central coordinator of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Transport Workers’ Union, Jagat Simkhada, warned of an agitation against the seven parties if the Parliament failed to go for an unconditional constituent assembly.

Speaking at the meeting organised by the Loktantrik Nagarik Manch (Kaski) at Chipledhunga today, Simkhada accused the seven-party leaders of trying to deceive the people again by portraying the revival of the House as a victory. “We will be forced to take up arms again if the parties delay going for a constituent assembly,” Simkhada said.

Meanwhile, Maoists held an open demonstration in the district headquarters of Parvat. Over 20,000 people from VDCs of the district arrived at Kusma to press for a constituent assembly. In Sarlahi, the Maoists staged an open assembly at Ishworpur Bazaar.