Country facing threats to its very existence: Koirala

Former prime minister and president of Nepali Congress, Girija Prasad Koirala, has said the country is facing grave threats to its very existence.

He, however, did not elaborate from where such a threat emanated.

Addressing a function organised by his party in Kathmandu to greet journalists and professionals Sunday morning on the occasion of the Deepavali festival, Koirala said there were threats that the country could turn into a failed state because of the royal move early this year.

In the royal proclamation on February 1, this year, King Gyanendra said his move had become urgent in order to save the country from sliding further down.

Koirala—who is also the seniormost leader of the seven-party opposition alliance—said there was now need to turn the peaceful agitation being launched by opposition parties into a mass movement. “It is not necessary to raise flags of our parties. Now, we should transform this agitation into a mass movement in which farmers, businessmen, youth, women and professionals would take part,”” he added.

The octogenarian leader said he would not compromise with any one on the question of democracy. “I have fought for democracy all my life and will continue it till my last breath,” he declared.

Koirala also criticized the government for failing to reciprocate the three-month-long unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists. He said the opposition parties were holding negotiations with the Maoists but that they did not have any authority. “Once the (dissolved) parliament is reinstated, it will hold negotiations with the Maoists in order to bring them into mainstream,” he added.

He said the parties were ready to go even for the constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution.

Reinstatement of the House of Representatives – that was dissolved more than three years ago-- is one of the main demands of the seven party opposition alliance.

But, analysts say, by announcing fresh elections for the parliament by mid-April 2007, King Gyanendra may have forced the parties to re-formulate their priorities. The opposition parties say they will not take part in any elected conducted by what they call an “unconstitutional government.”

Earlier, addressing the brief function, president of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Bishnu Nisthuri, alleged the government of trying to gag the media by introducing new media ordinance “in order to perpetuate an autocratic rule.” He said media persons would continue their fight until democracy and press freedom were restored in the country.

NC spokesman, Krishna Sitaula, welcomed the media persons and professionals and said the opposition alliance was extending its full support in their fight against repressive laws being introduced by the government. nepalnews.com by Oct 30 05