Prachanda speak triggers alarm in Nepal
KATHMANDU: With just 102 days left for Nepal to enforce a new constitution or be plunged into fresh chaos, the fears that the ruling communist party and its ally, the Maoists, will fail the task, intentionally or willy nilly, have been boosted with Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda claiming that the deadline can be extended yet again.
As the top leaders of the once guerrilla party gathered in Thabang, the inaccessible village in western Rolpa district which the Maoists had declared their red capital during their "People's War", Prachanda told the cheering crowds celebrating the 15th anniversary of the uprising Sunday that the constitution deadline – May 28 – could be extended by two months.
"The life of the constituent assembly (that is writing the new constitution) was extended due to public pressure last year," Prachanda said in his public address. "If the new constitution is not ready by May 28, people are still ready to give us two months' grace."
When the Maoists ended their 10-year insurrection and signed a peace accord with the ruling parties in 2006, both sides agreed to hold an election for a constituent assembly and to draft the new constitution by May 28, 2010. However, the deadline could not be met as the leaders of the three largest parties remained locked in a naked battle for power for three years, tossing the constitution to the winds. Finally on May 28, 2010, an unprecedented crisis was averted at the last moment as the parties hastily amended the interim constitution and extended the deadline by May 28, 2011.
Since the fall of Prachanda's government in 2009, there were growing fears that the statute would fail its date with destiny again as the power battle escalated, leading to the fall of the succeeding government of Madhav Kumar Nepal. Seven months of vacuum followed the fall with 16 rounds of vote failing to name a new government. Finally, though Prachanda exited the race to back of of failed elections till Prachanda exited the race and piggybacked controversial communist leader Jhala Nath Khanal to power on Feb 3 this year. Eleven days later, the puppet government is still floundering to form a full cabinet.
Fears are also mounting over the secret pact that Khanal signed with the Maoists to win their support. He agreed to hand them over the reins of the government by rotation and now, there are whispers that Khanal will step down before May 28, admitting his failure to ready the new constitution, and the Maoists will come to power.
Veteran politicians condemned Prachanda's remarks Monday. Former prime minister and chief of the Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa said it was foolhardy and irresponsible to talk of an extension while Chitra Bahadur KC, chairman of Rastriya Jana Morcha, said in was unthinkable.
Public fears have also been aggravated by Prachanda telling his cadre Sunday that if the other parties came in the way of the new constitution even during the two-month extension period, they should get ready for a "terrible people's revolt". From this week, the Maoists begin resuming "training" their cadre, a move that is intended to flex their muscles and exert more pressure on the fledgling government.
As the top leaders of the once guerrilla party gathered in Thabang, the inaccessible village in western Rolpa district which the Maoists had declared their red capital during their "People's War", Prachanda told the cheering crowds celebrating the 15th anniversary of the uprising Sunday that the constitution deadline – May 28 – could be extended by two months.
"The life of the constituent assembly (that is writing the new constitution) was extended due to public pressure last year," Prachanda said in his public address. "If the new constitution is not ready by May 28, people are still ready to give us two months' grace."
When the Maoists ended their 10-year insurrection and signed a peace accord with the ruling parties in 2006, both sides agreed to hold an election for a constituent assembly and to draft the new constitution by May 28, 2010. However, the deadline could not be met as the leaders of the three largest parties remained locked in a naked battle for power for three years, tossing the constitution to the winds. Finally on May 28, 2010, an unprecedented crisis was averted at the last moment as the parties hastily amended the interim constitution and extended the deadline by May 28, 2011.
Since the fall of Prachanda's government in 2009, there were growing fears that the statute would fail its date with destiny again as the power battle escalated, leading to the fall of the succeeding government of Madhav Kumar Nepal. Seven months of vacuum followed the fall with 16 rounds of vote failing to name a new government. Finally, though Prachanda exited the race to back of of failed elections till Prachanda exited the race and piggybacked controversial communist leader Jhala Nath Khanal to power on Feb 3 this year. Eleven days later, the puppet government is still floundering to form a full cabinet.
Fears are also mounting over the secret pact that Khanal signed with the Maoists to win their support. He agreed to hand them over the reins of the government by rotation and now, there are whispers that Khanal will step down before May 28, admitting his failure to ready the new constitution, and the Maoists will come to power.
Veteran politicians condemned Prachanda's remarks Monday. Former prime minister and chief of the Rastriya Janashakti Party Surya Bahadur Thapa said it was foolhardy and irresponsible to talk of an extension while Chitra Bahadur KC, chairman of Rastriya Jana Morcha, said in was unthinkable.
Public fears have also been aggravated by Prachanda telling his cadre Sunday that if the other parties came in the way of the new constitution even during the two-month extension period, they should get ready for a "terrible people's revolt". From this week, the Maoists begin resuming "training" their cadre, a move that is intended to flex their muscles and exert more pressure on the fledgling government.
The Times of India
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