ID :
58957
Tue, 05/05/2009 - 11:09
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/58957
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Nepal PM Prachanda resigns
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, May 4 (PTI) Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda
resigned today after his Maoist government's decision to sack
the army chief was scuttled by the President, deepening the
political crisis and raising the spectre of renewed rebel
unrest in the country.
"I have resigned from the post of prime minister from
today for the protection of democracy and peace," 54-year-old
Prachanda, who had taken the reins of the country eight months
ago, said in a televised address to the nation.
The announcement came after Nepal's President Ram Baran
Yadav directed Army Chief General Rukmangad Katawal to
continue in office, saying his dismissal by the cabinet does
not "meet the constitutional requirements and due process."
The Maoist regime accused Katawal of defying the
government's orders by reinstating eight Generals retired by
the Maoist administration.
"The move by the President is an attack on this infant
democracy and the peace process," Prachanda said, accusing him
of taking an "unconstitutional and undemocratic decision."
"The interim constitution does not give any right to the
president to act as a parallel power," said Prachanda, whose
government was reduced to a minority after key ally Communist
Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) announced
withdrawal of support due to differences over the removal of
Katawal.
The political crisis, which follows months of tussle
between the premier and the army chief over the induction of
former Maoist rebels into the army, is threatening the fragile
peace process in the country that witnessed a decade-long
insurgency waged by the Maoists before they returned to
mainstream in 2006 after singing a peace deal.
While announcing the resignation, Prachanda accused
"national and international reactionary forces" of hatching a
"conspiracy" against his government and the nascent republic
which abolished its 240-year-old monarchy in May last year.
"I will quit the government rather than remain in power
by bowing down to the foreign elements and reactionary
forces," said Prachanda, whose government was sworn in in
August last year after the Maoists emerged as the single
largest party in the Constituent Assembly elections.
In an oblique reference to India, he said his party is
ready to maintain "cordial relations" with the neighbouring
countries but will "not accept any intervention".
Prachanda accused "reactionary forces" of obstructing the
Maoist government in its efforts to introduce various reform
programmes. He admitted that the government could not perform
upto the expectations of people "due to various obstacles put
by regressive forces and ongoing shutdowns and agitations".
He also said he is committed to democracy, human rights
and press freedom and asserted his party's commitment to the
the peace process.
Earlier, another top Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara
had said the Madhesi-origin President's move is tantamount to
a "constitutional coup" which has put the "peace process in
peril". "We have decided to fight against the (President's)
move in the court, streets and Parliament," senior Maoist
leader Bahadur Rayamajhi had said.
It is being speculated here that CPN-UML may try to form
a government under its leadership as Nepali Congress, the
second largest party in Parliament, has already given a green
signal. Party's general secretary Jhalanath Khanal and former
general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal are the two possible
names doing the rounds for the top post.
Currently, the Maoist strength in the 601-member
Constituent Assembly is 238. The NC has 112 seats, UML 108,
Madhesi People's Rights Forum 53, Terai Madhes Democratic
Party 21 and Sadbhavana Party nine seats. A minimum of 301
seats are required to form a government.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former school-teacher who had come
to be known as 'Prachanda' (the fierce one) while fighting a
guerrilla warfare from jungles of Nepal in the 1990s, had been
facing a series of hiccups in running the administration since
taking over, the latest being the tiff with the army chief.
The collapse of his government raises the spectre of
renewed Maoist unrest in the country which is yet to draft a
new constitution despite the formation of the Constituent
Assembly in April last year.
President Yadav has urged all political parties to find a
way out of the present crisis through Parliament. He also said
that his move to block the sacking of army chief was in
accordance with the constitution.
Former Nepalese premier and opposition Nepali Congress
president Girija Prasad Koirala said the peace process will
have to be taken to its logical conclusion. He also said the
Maoist party can be a constituent in a CPN (UML)-led
government.
"What is wrong if Maoists be part of the coming
government which will be led by UML. I do not see why we
cannot have that," he said.
In a related development, the local administration has
banned demonstrations in areas surrounding the army
headquarters and the Presidential Office at Maharajgunj to
maintain law and order in view of demonstrations by various
student and youth groups, including pro-Maoist Young Communist
League (YCL). PTI
Kathmandu, May 4 (PTI) Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda
resigned today after his Maoist government's decision to sack
the army chief was scuttled by the President, deepening the
political crisis and raising the spectre of renewed rebel
unrest in the country.
"I have resigned from the post of prime minister from
today for the protection of democracy and peace," 54-year-old
Prachanda, who had taken the reins of the country eight months
ago, said in a televised address to the nation.
The announcement came after Nepal's President Ram Baran
Yadav directed Army Chief General Rukmangad Katawal to
continue in office, saying his dismissal by the cabinet does
not "meet the constitutional requirements and due process."
The Maoist regime accused Katawal of defying the
government's orders by reinstating eight Generals retired by
the Maoist administration.
"The move by the President is an attack on this infant
democracy and the peace process," Prachanda said, accusing him
of taking an "unconstitutional and undemocratic decision."
"The interim constitution does not give any right to the
president to act as a parallel power," said Prachanda, whose
government was reduced to a minority after key ally Communist
Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) announced
withdrawal of support due to differences over the removal of
Katawal.
The political crisis, which follows months of tussle
between the premier and the army chief over the induction of
former Maoist rebels into the army, is threatening the fragile
peace process in the country that witnessed a decade-long
insurgency waged by the Maoists before they returned to
mainstream in 2006 after singing a peace deal.
While announcing the resignation, Prachanda accused
"national and international reactionary forces" of hatching a
"conspiracy" against his government and the nascent republic
which abolished its 240-year-old monarchy in May last year.
"I will quit the government rather than remain in power
by bowing down to the foreign elements and reactionary
forces," said Prachanda, whose government was sworn in in
August last year after the Maoists emerged as the single
largest party in the Constituent Assembly elections.
In an oblique reference to India, he said his party is
ready to maintain "cordial relations" with the neighbouring
countries but will "not accept any intervention".
Prachanda accused "reactionary forces" of obstructing the
Maoist government in its efforts to introduce various reform
programmes. He admitted that the government could not perform
upto the expectations of people "due to various obstacles put
by regressive forces and ongoing shutdowns and agitations".
He also said he is committed to democracy, human rights
and press freedom and asserted his party's commitment to the
the peace process.
Earlier, another top Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara
had said the Madhesi-origin President's move is tantamount to
a "constitutional coup" which has put the "peace process in
peril". "We have decided to fight against the (President's)
move in the court, streets and Parliament," senior Maoist
leader Bahadur Rayamajhi had said.
It is being speculated here that CPN-UML may try to form
a government under its leadership as Nepali Congress, the
second largest party in Parliament, has already given a green
signal. Party's general secretary Jhalanath Khanal and former
general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal are the two possible
names doing the rounds for the top post.
Currently, the Maoist strength in the 601-member
Constituent Assembly is 238. The NC has 112 seats, UML 108,
Madhesi People's Rights Forum 53, Terai Madhes Democratic
Party 21 and Sadbhavana Party nine seats. A minimum of 301
seats are required to form a government.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former school-teacher who had come
to be known as 'Prachanda' (the fierce one) while fighting a
guerrilla warfare from jungles of Nepal in the 1990s, had been
facing a series of hiccups in running the administration since
taking over, the latest being the tiff with the army chief.
The collapse of his government raises the spectre of
renewed Maoist unrest in the country which is yet to draft a
new constitution despite the formation of the Constituent
Assembly in April last year.
President Yadav has urged all political parties to find a
way out of the present crisis through Parliament. He also said
that his move to block the sacking of army chief was in
accordance with the constitution.
Former Nepalese premier and opposition Nepali Congress
president Girija Prasad Koirala said the peace process will
have to be taken to its logical conclusion. He also said the
Maoist party can be a constituent in a CPN (UML)-led
government.
"What is wrong if Maoists be part of the coming
government which will be led by UML. I do not see why we
cannot have that," he said.
In a related development, the local administration has
banned demonstrations in areas surrounding the army
headquarters and the Presidential Office at Maharajgunj to
maintain law and order in view of demonstrations by various
student and youth groups, including pro-Maoist Young Communist
League (YCL). PTI
