Back to Headlines

Maoists agree to lift blockade in Nepal

     Kathmandu: Maoist rebels have agreed to lift their blockade across Nepal after an appeal by prime minister-designate Girija Prasad Koirala. The rebels said that they will wait to see what happens on Friday when parliament opens for the first time in four years. According to the Kathmandu Post, Maoist leader Prachanda announced the rebel move at the request of the man the opposition parties have nominated to be prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, who said people had suffered under the Maoist blockade. "We have withdrawn our call for a blockade in response to an appeal from the Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala... until the first meeting of the parliament," said a rebel statement. The Maoists accused the political parties of betraying a recent agreement between them following the climb-down by the king. Fear of Maoist reprisals has prevented fuel from entering the capital and kept motor traffic from entering or leaving many towns. Nepal has been paralysed by demonstrations and a nationwide strike as the opposition sought to force the king to reinstate democracy. The king assumed direct powers in February 2005, saying opposition parties were failing to tackle the Maoists. The capital is returning to normal after the crippling strike. Taxis are back on the streets, shops have reopened and mobile phone connections have been restored but there remains a high police presence. Communist Party (UML) leader Madhav Kumar Nepal told the BBC the formation of a new government would be "the first step towards a constituent assembly", which would be tasked with redrawing the constitution. The US has welcomed the king's announcement and said he should now consider assuming a "ceremonial role". More than 13,000 people have died in the Maoist insurgency. Violence has escalated since the rebels ended a truce in January.

Normalcy in Nepal, activists released

      Kathmandu: More than 300 pro-democracy activists and civil society leaders detained for defying curfew and prohibitory orders were released as the life limped back to normal in Kathmandu on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a demonstrator succumbed to his injuries taking the toll of people killed during the three-week long pro-democracy agitation to seventeen. Work at government offices and private businesses resumed. Markets re-opened, public buses, private vehicles plied on the streets and the schools reopened in the day. Nepali Congress central member Narahari Acharya, Communist Party of Nepal-UML central member Pradip Gyawali, Nepali Congress Kathmandu District President Tirtha Ram Dangol, President of Human Rights Organisation of Nepal Charan Prasai, Civil Society leader Devendra Raj Pandey and Mathur Prasad Shrestha were among those released. Nearly 5,000 people, including 200 children were injured during the royal government's crackdown against demonstrators demanding end to absolute monarchy and restoration of democracy. The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) on Tuesday chose former Nepalese Premier and veteran leader, Girija Prasad Koirala, as a consensus candidate to be next Prime Minister of Nepal and vowed to include Maoists in the political mainstream. Yielding to pressure from the pro-democracy movement, King Gyanendra had proclaimed he was reinstating the House of Representatives, which was dissolved on May 22, 2002. He said the lower house of parliament would reconvene on April 28. The Maoists, who are vowed to end the monarchy and establish a Communist republic have however, refused to suspend their rebellion and said they will continue the protests until the parties declare elections for an assembly to write a new Constitution. .