Biratnagar, August 25 :

In-charge of the eastern command of the CPN-Maoist, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, said today that the decisive role of the UN on arms management of the Maoists would not be acceptable to the Maoists.

The issue of arms management is being raised to render the Maoists powerless, Badal said. Speaking at a press meet organised by the Morang chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists in Biratnagar today, Badal, however, said the decision on arms management should be made only after striking a political agreement between the seven political parties and the Maoists.

It will be unrealistic to advocate arms management as a precondition for drafting an interim constitution and forming an interim government, he said. Both the armies — the state and the Maoist armies — will remain under the government formed after the promulgation of an interim statute, he said. “We are expecting only financial service from the UN and its expertise on the matter.”

Stating that Nepalis are themselves capable of deciding their fate, Badal said: “We will not accept anyone’s interference. The political process itself will decide the issue of arms management.”

He said management of arms would not be possible unless the political process progressed.

The government-Maoist peace process has become promising after the signing of the five-point agreement, Badal said, adding: “We are optimistic. We won’t ruin the peace talks.”

“However, the Maoists will launch another revolution if any conspiracy is hatched to retain the ceremonial king,” he said, adding: “PM GP Koirala has the right to have an individual opinion on the monarchy, we have no objection to it.” He said the political parties still have differences over the issue of the provision of a ceremonial king.

“A republic will be established in Nepal once the ‘last hurdle’ is crossed,” he said, adding the 10-year war launched by the Maoists and 19 days of the Jana Andolan had brought about the present changes. The present transitional phase will not last long, he said.

Admitting that Maoists’ activities in some places are in violation of the code of conduct, Badal said such mistakes and shortcomings would be rectified.