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Expect a belligerent movement now, say parties
KATHMANDU, NOV 11 - The five political parties are billed to come to any concrete decision on the nature and timetable of the tenth phase of the agitation on November 14, pending a complete review of the past protest programmes and possible chances of any correction in the constitutional process.
This was decided at the meeting attended by senior leaders of the five political parties, including the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML. The parties have not yet decided to welcome other smaller parties in their fold pending declaration by them that they back the demands raised by the five parties.
Sources said the NC attracted strident criticism from fringe parties for having led the agitation to disastrous phase in early September, saying that it has received positive signals on the issue of correcting the derailed constitutional process by King Gyanendra.
The movement, which was picking up momentum in the run up to the September 4, lost the steam when NC President Girija Prasad Koirala publicly said that the he had received positive signals on the issue of the restoration of the constitutional process before soft-peddling on the agitation.
But NC President Koirala defended himself saying that the setback seems to be paying off since the continued royal stubbornness on the issue of restoring the political process has "exposed him in the international arena."
Koirala also suggested that the upcoming phase should be along somewhat belligerent line, with parties taking the movement down to the village level in a defiant tone.
CPN-UML leader Subhas Nemwang also said the movement will go down to the village level in groups of 30-40 people so that they can present a challenge to rebels who are still amok in the countryside.
Meanwhile, the NC ruled out any chances of the party led by Sher Bahadur Deuba joining the agitation since the party said, " the partners in the agitation must share the 18-point agenda. "It may be recalled that NC (Democratic) does not share the view that the title of "His Majesty" be restricted to King, Queen and Crown Prince as part of the reforms, among others.
Sources who took part in the meeting held at the office of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi) said it was CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal who suggested that the movement would benefit if it had the participation of NC (Democratic) and other fringe parties.
However, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) leader Prem Suwal said nothing can be said about the participation of the other parties until and unless they express unqualified support to the demand stressed by the five parties.
"In fact they (parties other than five in the field) will have to either back the demand concerning all-party government or the restoration of the House of Representatives."
NC leader Krishna Sitaula billed the upcoming movement as a bid to create definite public opinion against the terrorist activities perpetrated by the rebels as well as by the state. He also said that although the decision will be reached at the top level by November 14, the task team will take some time to finalise the schedule.Posted on: 2003-11-10 11:02
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