Thaindian News

Kathmandu, April 26 (IANS) Ahead of a show of might announced by Nepal’s Maoist parties in the capital on May Day, the ruling parties Monday urged the former guerrillas to call off the protests, saying they were against the peace pact that helped the banned party return to mainstream politics four years ago.
Amidst reports that the former rebels were bringing in cadre in the capital by the truck-load as well as primitive weapons like batons, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal held a crisis meeting with 10 ruling parties Monday, ending in the appeal.

In a joint statement, the parties said they were concerned at the Maoists giving their cadre paramilitary training as well as staging marches with weapons in preparation for a rally in the capital May 1. They also said the former rebels were spreading terror and mounting an extortion drive.

“We ask the Maoists to immediately stop such lawless and disorderly conduct and call off the protests,” the ruling parties said.

While there was no visible reaction from India, there is growing western concern, especially at the Maoist threat of an indefinite general strike from May 2 if the prime minister does not step down.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert O. Blake, Jr, is in Kathmandu prior to attending the 16th SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) Summit in Bhutan.

Blake met Nepal Monday and will also hold talks with the Maoists and other political leaders, government officials and business leaders to discuss the peace process and the constitution drafting process.

The ambassadors of the European Union states Monday met Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda to express concern at public fears of violence and anarchy after May 1.

The Maoists, however, claim their rally will be peaceful. They have counter-accused the government of trying to suppress it and have warned of stiff resistance.

The government has put security agencies, including the army, on high alert.

On Monday, in a controversial move, it also recalled nearly 200 policemen deployed for the security of top Maoist leaders, to police headquarters.

Though the police spokesman described the gesture as a “routine briefing”, the media has begun to speculate that the government is withdrawing the security cover for Maoists ahead of May Day.

The new turmoil comes after Nepal’s ruling parties admitted they would not be able to unveil a new constitution by May 28.

The inability is likely to lead to President’s rule and emergency in Nepal unless the Maoists relent.