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Maoists call off strike, Prachanda gives government two days time to respond | Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda on Saturday called of his party's indefinite general strike, but warned the government of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal that it had two days time to respond to his demands. Prachanda said his party would not engage in talks
with the ruling parties, but would wait for their reaction to issues raised by
his party concerning the new Constitution, the peace process and a national unity
government before the party decides its next move. A Nepal News report quoted
Prachanda, as saying at a mass meeting of Maoists in Khula Manch: "The ball is
now in their (government's) court. How we strike depends on the move they make."
Prachanda said the Maoists would carry out protests including picketing of the
Singha Durbar before declaring a stronger stir. "Our peaceful and disciplined
general strike was just a trailer. They (parties) will see the entire film if
they don't decide now," he said, adding that the Maoist leadership decided to
call off the bandh not because of any pressure neither the party was backpedaling
from its protest movement. "It was not because of the peace rally or any other
pressure that we decided to stop the general strike. In fact, we had been discussing
for some days about changing the nature of protest and we only arrived at a decision
Friday evening," he clarified, adding that the agitations, which the party describes
as 3rd Janandolan, would not end until the goals are achieved. He also accused
the government of trying to instigate violence in the Maoist demonstrations. During
his fiery speech, Dahal also vented anger at the media and 'Kathmandu elites'
for not responding positively to the Maoist protest movement. He also insisted
that the government-sanctioned 'vigilantes' hijacked yesterday's peace rally organised
by the professional groups. Prime Minister Nepal welcomed the decision that came
after six days. In a statement,Nepal said the decision would play a positive role
for discussion, consensus and cooperation among the political forces. He said,
the parties have no alternative to consensus and cooperation to ensure that peace
process concludes and a new constitution is written. He urged the Maoists to seek
solution of all problems through consensus, constitutional principles and democratic
values. The European Union and the United States also welcomed the Maoist decision
to postpone the indefinite general strike. In their statements, the ambassadors
of Norway, Switzerland the United States of America as well as the Heads of the
mission of the European Union expressed hope that this will prove to be a decisive
step in the pursuit of a solution to the protracted political deadlock. |
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