Kathmandu, August 7, 2006

Dr Baburam Bhattarai, the second-in-command of the Maoist leadership, today strongly criticised Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for proposing to give space to the King and said the peace process has stalled after it arrived at a “critical juncture” due to the PM’s “adamant stance.”

“Who authorised Koirala to give space to the King?” he questioned while addressing the 40th annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

He said that the only space the monarchy could have in the future could be either the “Aryaghat or a museum”. Dr Bhattarai said that on Thursday (August 3), the Maoist and the government talks teams prepared drafts on a package on political and arms management for about 20 times and Maoist supremo Prachanda finally put his signature to it and sent it back to PM Koirala.

But Koirala refused to approve it on Friday after he “received a phone call from an invisible place”. The PM, he said, sent his emissaries to Prachanda on Friday (August 4) and both discussed for three hours and worked out a package on political issues and arms management.

“But Koirala again refused to agree on the package after receiving a call from the same invisible place,” he said, adding: “What is that force which prevented the PM from agreeing on it? The peace process cannot move ahead in this way.”

Peace process hasn’t failed, says Sitaula

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula today insisted that “we are in touch with all invoved and that the letter reflecting common stance on the issues invoved will be given the UN very soon.”

The claim from Home Minister, who is also convenor of the government talk team, comes at a time when the peace process has hit the roadblock in the form of disagreement on arms management.

“It is misleading to say peace process has failed. In fact, we are very close to coming to an understanding over resumption of the efforts,” Sitaula told reporters.

He conceded that “it has all got to do with some problem in the eight-point deal.”

Commenting on what PM GP Koirala said yesterday, Sitaula said “what Girijababu (Koirala) has said should be construed as holding good until the election to constituent assembly is held.” “We all know that the NC has left it to the constituent assembly to decide the fate of monarchy.

Hence, what Girijababu said should not be construed to mean that we are for something else,” Sitaula said. Reacting on what Dr Baburam Bhattarai said earlier in the day in response to what the PM had said, Sitaula said talks are “near to successful culmination.”

Asked about what the government was considering vis-a-vis Chief of Army Staff Pyar Jung Thapa who is running out of his term, the minister said “everything will be decided as guided along by rule.”