Maoist Leaders Contradict Each Other On Changing Party Name
Hours after Finance Minister and Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai told journalists that his party is mulling to change its name, another senior Maoist leader, Mohan Baidya, said there are no plans to change the party name, and that Bhattarai would have to furnish clarification regarding his statement. Speaking at the Reporters Club Friday (October 17) Baidya, who represents a faction of hardliners in the Maoist party, claimed that the party is not going to shed its 'tag name' [Maoist] in near future. Baidya said Bhattarai would be asked to clarify his remarks during the next party meeting. “Those were Bhattarai's personal views,” he said, resenting Bhattarai's publicly statement "on an issue which has not been decided". Stating that there are clearly two lines in the Maoist party, Baidya however refuted speculation that the internal dispute might lead to a split, and claimed that party would be further consolidated and united. Meanwhile, talking to journalists in Nepalgunj today Prime Minister and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal revealed that he had proposed to change party's name two years back and that the issue is under discussion. Dahal also stressed the need to induct most Maoist combatants into Nepal Army and warned of “dire consequences” if obstacles were put in the process of army integration. Similarly, Baidya mentioned that some PLA personnel would be inducted into the national army while others will be taken into border security force or industrial security force. Since the peace agreement has clearly mentioned about the modalities of army integration, it would not matter even if some parties take to streets against the process, he added. While reiterating the party's line in favor of multi-party system, Baidya said the Maoists’ ultimate goal is to establish People's Republic. Compiled from reports
FM Justifies Maoist Version Of 'People's Republic'
Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai Friday defended the concept of 'people's republic' which his party, CPN (Maoist), has described as its ultimate political goal, raising a new political controversy. Bhattarai made it clear that his party wants to establish "a republic of the people" rather than people's republic and claimed that their concept of people's republic has been wrongly interpreted. He also said his party will have no 'tail-name' from now on, referring to the word 'Maoists' after the party's official name Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) which it shares with its coalition partner CPN (UML) and several other fringe left parties. "The phrase does not imply hard-line communist system," said he. "Since our party has become the main communist party of the country, there is no need to add a tag [Maoist] after the Communist Party of Nepal," he said while talking to journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport, Friday (Oct 17), from United States where he attended the joint board of governors meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) in Washington. In Washington DC when the editor of Washington Times asked if the time had come to change the name of CPN-M as Mao was becoming 'old' even in China, Dr. Bhattarai replied in affirmative, and, added, "We are discussing this within the party since past one year. The general convention will make a decision on that." Describing his US visit as 'fruitful', finance minister Bhattarai said the international donors were positive towards the programs and policies unveiled by the new government and have pledged necessary economic assistance. He also expressed hope that international community would provide additional assistance for economic transformation of Nepal and that his proposal for additional support during the joint meeting of the two international monetary agencies, in Washington, was taken positively by the donors. Finance Minister Bhattarai had left for Washington to attend the joint meeting of IMF and the World Bank on October 7 leading a three-member Nepali delegation. Nepalnews.com reports END
UNMIN Not Leaning Towards Any Party, Clarifies Martin
United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Thursday (Oct 16) clarified that the UN body is not inclined towards any party while the peace process is underway. UNMIN Chief Ian Martin made the remark while replying to the accusation made three days ago by Nepali Congress Acting President Sushil Koirala that UNMIN was backing the CPN-Maoist. Speaking at a press meet organized today in the capital, Martin said that UNMIN has not made any decisions regarding the integration of Maoist combatants. He added that the future of the Maoist fighters, who are cantoned at the UN-monitored cantonments, should be decided by the political parties themselves. Martin also informed that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon would visit Nepal during his visit to the Asian region due to start from October 29. According to Martin, Ban will come to Nepal after visiting the Philippines and India. UNMIN, the special political mission to support the peace process in Nepal, was established on 23rd January 2007. Compiled from reports
PM Dahal Says His Party Is Against Mao's Type Of People's Republic
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal today repeated his party's commitment to multi-party political system, saying that the ‘People's Republic’ that the Maoist leaders are talking about is not similar to the system introduced by Chinese leader Mao about 70 years ago in China. Speaking to journalists at the tea reception organized by the CPN (UML) Wednesday (Oct 15), Dahal said his party is not against competitive politics, human rights and democracy. Our effort is to ensure more active involvement of people in the state activities and empowering them to have their say in national agenda, he added. He informed that a political committee would soon be formed to determine the future of Maoist combatants. Despite objections from other parties, including those within the coalition, Maoists have been insisting group a blanket merger between PLA and Nepal Army. Stating that completing peace process, writing a new constitution and starting economic revolution in the country are major duties for his cabinet, PM Dahal said efforts are being made to bring Nepali Congress into the government. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress (NC) president Girija Prasad Koirala has ruled out the possibility of his party joining the Maoist-led government. “Nepali Congress has not made up its mind to join the government. We will remain in the opposition and play a constructive role,” Koirala told reporters during a tea reception organized by CPN (UML) at its central office in Balkhu, Kathmandu, on Wednesday. Koirala added that although his party would play strong opposition role in the Constituent Assembly it would not resort to street protests or disruptive activities. Koirala has reiterated his party’s stand against the proposed integration of Maoist army into Nepal Army. "The army should be kept away from politics. Nepal Army is a national army,” said he, "It is not linked with any political party." He also said the NC would cooperate in expediting the constitution-making process, adding that new constitution must be ready within one-and-half-year time. Compiled from reports
People Receive Tika From President, Ex-King
Hundreds of people thronged at President's residence in Dhapasi, Thursday (Oct 9) to receive tika from him on the occasion of Bada Dashain. President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav had announced to offer tika to anyone interested. Vice president Parmananda Jha, deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam and other officials, along with common people received tika from the president. "This festival provides an occasion for national unity. It helps bind all of us in single string. I am feeling very happy," President Yadav told reporters after offering Tika to people. Meanwhile, ex-King Gyanendra and ex-Queen Komal also offered tika to interested people on Thursday. Hundreds of people including former Home Minister Kamal Thapa reached his residence at Nirmal Niwas in the evening to receive tika. The ex-royal couple started offering tika from 4 pm and there was a long queue of people. The crowd even resulted in a traffic jam in the street outside. Some people even chanted pro-monarchy slogans. In the past, there used to be official function on Bada Dashain when the Kings and the Queens used to offer tika to ministers, officials and common people. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda,' on the other hand, spent Thursday meeting with his families and colleagues. As communists, Maoist leaders refrain from engaging in religious festivities like Dashain. Compiled from report
President, PM Extend Best Wishes On Dashain
President Dr. Rambaran Yadav has issued a statement extending best wishes on the occasion of Bada Dashain, Thursday (Oct 9). "I pray for the happiness, peace and prosperity of all Nepalese living in Nepal or elsewhere," he has said. In his message, president has said that on this great occasion, his heart goes out to the people affected by flood this year. He has also stated that Nepal faces the challenge of taking the peace process to happy conclusion. "All Nepalese need to increase goodwill among various ethnic groups and communities to strengthen unity," he has said. "We also need to write a new democratic constitution within the time stipulated by the interim constitution." "The future of Nepal and Nepalese will be bright only if we can fulfill these tasks." Likewise, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has also extended similar best wishes on the occasion of "first Bada Dashain being observed after the establishment of federal democratic republic in the country." He has recalled the need to promote the culture and traditions of all communities in the country to strengthen national unity. "I believe that this festival will inspire us to fulfill the great task of social transformation," he has stated. Compiled from reports
Probe Commission On Lukla Crash To Starts Work
The five-member commission formed by the government to probe the Lukla air tragedy in which 18 people, mostly foreign nationals – 12 German and two Australians -, died, has started its investigation. The probe commission headed by acting co-attorney general Puspa Raj Koirala and which includes Ranjit Singh Baral, Subas Baral, Upendra Lal Shrestha and Nagendra Ghimire as members will start investigating the cause(s) that led to the terrible accident that shook Nepal's tourism industry on the eve of the Dashain festivals, which is also a peak tourist season. The exact cause of incident is not known yet, but Yeti Airlines in its statement, has quoted an eyewitness as stating that it was foggy at the time the accident took place. Ranjit Singh Baral, member of the probe team, told a local radio station that the commission will begin its investigation by first going through the postmortem report of the victims who died in the air tragedy. Meanwhile, forensic experts from Germany and Australia have also come to help in identifying the dead bodies. Twelve German nationals, two Australians and two Nepali passengers died in the accident along with co-pilot Bikash Panta and air hostess Sunita Shrestha. A Yeti Airlines Twin Otter had crashed on final approach at the Tenzing-Hillary airport, Lukla, killing 18 people, mostly foreign nationals, Wednesday (Oct 8) morning. Only one crew member, the pilot – Surendra Kunwar, survived the tragic accident. He is undergoing treatment at TU Teaching Hospital. Compiled from reports
