Maoists, parties reach fresh pact for anti-King movement (Nepal)

Kathmandu, March. 19 (PTI): Joining forces against King Gyanendra, Nepal's seven political parties and Maoists today announced a new pact to launch fresh agitation next month against his autocratic rule and to find a political solution to the decade old armed conflict by holding Constituent Assembly polls.

In the agreement, the second since their 12-point agenda issued last November, they also agreed to form an interim government through a national political conference for restoration of democracy.

The seven-party alliance for restoration of democracy also urged the rebels to end the blockade of roads connecting Kathmandu to the rest of Nepal, which entered sixth day today. The Maoists and the alliance agreed to form an interim government by holding a national political conference of the agitating democratic forces and to establish full-fledged democracy through holding a constituent assembly election, the parties said in a joint statement.

The parties also released a schedule of protest programmes, which includes strikes and rallies from April 6. Nepali Congress central member Shekhar Koirala said the Maoists had assured to withdraw the three-week long economic blockade, which has added hardship to the general public. But a rebel statement is yet to come in this regard. <snip>

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200603191859.htm


Maoists withdraw blockade, Nepal opposition calls closure

By Sudeshna Sarkar, Kathmandu: Nepal's Maoists Sunday called off an indefinite blockade that entered its sixth day and withdrew an April 3 closure call even as seven opposition parties in return announced a four-day countrywide shutdown and non-cooperation movement from April 6.

The pact between the guerrillas and the opposition, sealed after a meeting in Kathmandu Sunday, resulted in both sides issuing separate statements to make public the new developments.

The opposition coalition reached the decision after prolonged parleys held at opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala's residence in Kathmandu, begun on Friday and spilling over into Sunday.

Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal said in a statement from underground that bowing to entreaties by civil society, rights organisations and parties, his underground party was withdrawing its protest programmes and would support the parties' peaceful protests in April. <snip>

http://www.newkerala.com/news2.php?action=fullnews&id=27969