Janamorcha Nepal threatens to walk out of govt

Kathmandu, September 14 :

Jhala Nath Khanal, a standing committee member of the CPN-UML, which is one of the major partners of the SPA government, today accused Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of running the administration as if it was his majority government.

“The peace process has hit a roadblock due to the lack of collective decision-making in the government. It is Koirala’s weakness that has he failed to develop coalition culture even after Jana Andolan,” said Khanal at the Reporters’ Club.

He said had there been proper communication among the SPA partners and the Maoists, the issue of “ferrying arms” would not have taken an ugly turn. He asked the government to take initiative to hold talks with the Maoist leadership on interim statute and arms management.

Lilamani Pokharel, vice president of the Janamorcha Nepal, held the PM responsible for slackening of the peace process. He threatened that his party might pull out of the government if peace process did not proceed according to expectations. “The way the government is functioning, it appears that the US Ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty is ruling the country and the PM is acting as his adviser,” Pokharel said.

NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said the government had spent more than 80 per cent time on non-issues and only about 20 per cent of its time on peace process. One of the best ways to create an environment of confidence on peace process between the government and the Maoist was to implement what had already been agreed between the government and the Maoists, KC said.

“The SPA will iron out differences on interim statute and arms management within a couple of days and conduct summit meet with the Maoists,” KC added. Pampha Bhusal, a Maoist central committee member, accused the government of diverting the peace process towards next phase of war.

“The PM falls ill when it comes to dealing with political issues but becomes active when it comes to offer insignia to military generals,” she said. Bhusal warned that her party would wage Jana Andolan III, if peace process did not move ahead.