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Unified CPN-Maoist marking 14th anniversary of people's war today

Prime Minister and Unified CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Thursday reiterated his commitment to work towards the establishment of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

In a message issued on the occasion of the 14th Anniversary of "People's War" the Maoists fought against the state, PM Dahal said that the main agenda of his party is to write an inclusive people's constitution and establish "sustainable peace" and called on all to unite to realise this.

He also said that the responsibility of writing a new constitution lay on the shoulders of his party because of the very reason that it had led over a decade long people's war.

The Maoist party is celebrating the 14th anniversary of "People's War" and 8th People's Liberation Army (PLA) Day today at the Pariwartan Smriti Brigade under the 4th Division of the Maoist PLA in Nawalparasi district.

Prime Minister Dahal inaugurated the anniversary function amid huge presence of party workers, media persons and local people.

Other senior Maoist leaders including Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Peace and Reconstruction Minister Janardhan Sharma, Tourism Minister Hisila Yami have arrived in the PLA Division to participate in the function. "Special functions" are to be organised to mark these two important events in the Maoist calendar.

The programme venue has been well-decorated to celebrate the function with fanfare and gusto, reports from Nawalparasi said. Organisers said that apart from speeches from top Maoist leaders the programme will showcase PLA parade, demonstrations, performances by cultural troupes and various other activities. Various programmes were organised by the party all through this week to mark the anniversary.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Vice-President Parmananda Jha including government ministers, government officials, top leaders of various political parties, security heads and foreign envoys were invited to attend the annual function. Among the important invitees, only a few foreign envoys are attending the programme, reports said.

However, Shital Niwas, the office of the president, has already said Dr Yadav will not attend the programme saying that it would not to proper for him to attend a political programme.

Fourteen years ago to this day the then CPN (Maoist) party renounced parliamentary politics and formally announced the start of an armed insurgency by putting forth various demands, including declaration of Nepal as a republic and holding Constituent Assembly elections. nepalnews.com ag Feb 12 09