Prachanda says Maoists will take part in CA; Dr. Bhattarai wants 22-points addressed first
Contradictions continue to mar the statements by senior Maoist leaders.
Even as party chairman Prachanda, on Saturday, told reporters that his party will take part in Constituent Assembly (CA) elections and would not step down from the government, his deputy Dr. Baburam Bhattarai said the election will not take place if republic is not announced.
"We have never said we will not take part in the election. The issues we have raised are being discussed with other parties. We hope a positive resolution will come soon. But we have not posed these issues as conditions for election," said Prachanda, talking to reporters at a programme organised by Speaker Subas Nemwang.
Speaking at a separate programme organised by National Human Rights Concern Centre, Dr. Bhattarai said that CA election cannot take place before their 22-point 'frameworks' are addressed and republic is announced.
"A CA election cannot take place under monarchy. This has never happened in history nor will happen in future. If it does take place, it will not be progressive – it will be like parliamentary election or National Panchayat election. If we want to hold real CA election, we must first declare republic," Dr. Bhattarai said.
Dr. Bhattarai added that going for the election without fulfilling the 22-point issues will be tantamount "to betraying the revolution and sacrifices made by thousands of martyrs."
"We cannot betray the revolution and the martyrs," he said. Dr. Bhattarai accused that while Girijababu (PM GP Koirala) had assured them of republic when signing the 12-point agreement (in November of 2005 in New Delhi), they were later betrayed when the parties "bowed down before feudalism on April 23 (of 2006)."
He, however, added, "Even though we have adopted flexibility in reaching agreements in other things, we have protected our backbone that is the People's Liberation Army and weapons."
Meanwhile, Prachanda has said that it is not appropriate to lump them as a partner of eight party alliance. He told reporters that they will be a partner of eight party alliance in true sense only after integration of their army. nepalnews.com sd Sep 01 07
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