» 07/28/2011 11:49 NEPAL Government blackmailed by the Maoists, Prime Minister mulls resignation by Kalpit Parajuli The Maoist party wants entire cabinet reshuffled, otherwise government will collapse. The opposition rises up and pushes the Prime Minister to resign five months after his election. Doubts about the future of the country, since 2009 in the grip of the political stalemate and economic.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - The Communist Premier Khanal is preparing to resign just five months after his election. The decision is not official yet, but comes after the Maoists demands for the entire government to be replaced. Strengthened by their numbers in parliament the former guerillas are blackmailing the premier, threatening to remove their support for the government if the new appointments are rejected.
According to the opposition parties Khanal is now being held hostage by the Maoists. Ram Chandra Poudel, Nepali Congress leader and former prime ministerial candidate, said the government has already failed in its mandate and it is right that Khanal resign now. "A month after the deadline for writing the Constitution and conclusion of the peace process with the Maoists – he states – a cabinet reshuffle is an unnecessary operation."
Elected through a secret deal with the Maoist party, Khanal in recent months has not been able to form a coalition able to meet the UN terms for writing the new Constitution and the conclusion of the peace process. The two points are essential to lead the country toward democracy after centuries of monarchic rule and over 10 years of civil war. On May 28 the parties agreed to a three-month extension of UN terms. By 31 August, the government must submit a first draft of the constitution and guidelines for the reintegration of Maoist guerrillas into society, otherwise the resignation of the entire Executive.
Prakash Jwala, political advisor to the Prime Minister, said, however, he is still confident in a rethinking of the Maoist party. "The Maoists - he says - know the problems that plague the country and the people and I hope they will back track." Jwala stresses that the government may only change a few ministers and then concentrate on the main problems of the country. According to the political parties it is wrong to demand Khanal’s resignation at such a delicate moment. In fact, no one has the power or numbers needed to lead the country alone. "If this government fails – he says – anyone who comes after us will suffer the exact same fate."
In 2006, the UN and the interim government drew up a peace process that involves writing the first democratic constitution of Nepal and the Maoist militia reintegration into society. In 2008, led by their leader Prachanda, the Maoists won the elections. But in May 2009, the Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda resigned over disagreements with the President and the Chief of Staff. So far, the Maoists are still the largest party in Nepal and exploit their power by preventing the work of the government with strikes and protests, bringing the country to political and economic impasse.
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