Koirala ‘rejects’ Maoist demands for pre-election republic and PR-based election system
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has 'rejected' the two main demands of the CPN (Maoist) – immediate announcement of republic and proportional representation-based election system for the November 22 polls.
During his meeting with CPN (Unity Centre) general secretary, Prakash, in Baluwatar Monday morning, Koirala said he was ready to fulfil 20 other Maoist demands, but these two demands were not possible to meet at the moment.
Nepal FM, a Kathmandu-based independent radio station, quoted the semi-underground communist leader that the Prime Minister, however, expressed readiness to pull Nepal Army guards from the Royal Palace and make public the whereabouts of disappeared people.
Koirala reiterated that republic is an issue to be decided by the constituent assembly.
Prakash is intermediating between the Maoists and the top leaders of seven other ruling parties. He has held series of meetings with key eight-party leaders in an attempt to forge consensus on the Maoist demands, who have threatened to quit the government from Tuesday if the demands are not met by then.
Prakash also held discussion with Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel and Nepali Congress leader Dr Shekhar Koirala and is scheduled to meet UML general secretary Madhav Nepal and Maoist chairman Prachanda later today.
Earlier in the morning, during his interaction with the newly elected office-bearers of the Nepali Congress-affiliated Nepal Press Union, PM Koirala reiterated his stand against declaring republic from the Interim Parliament.
He said declaration of republic before the constituent assembly polls would not get legitimacy and popular mandate and added that he hoped the Maoists would not quit the government and launch street protests. nepalnews.com mk/ia Sept 17 07
Related News
