Nepal's ultra-leftist rebels suspended a blockade of the capital
Wednesday after the country's incoming prime minister assured them
elections would be held for an assembly to frame a new
constitution.
The rebels said they had lifted the blockade on Kathmandu and
major towns until parliament meets for the first time in four years
Friday, but they reiterated their key demand a new constitution and
a review of the role of the monarchy.
"We have withdrawn our call for a blockade in response to an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," ultra-leftist leader
Prachanda said in a statement.
"We want to make it clear that if the first meeting of the
parliament does not take a positive decision on the declaration of
an unconditional constituent assembly, we will be compelled to
reimpose the blockade."
Koirala is set to become Nepal's next prime minister after King
Gyanendra handed over power to the country's main political parties
in response to weeks of protests.
The veteran politician, four times prime minister and leader of
the biggest party, had earlier appealed to the rebels to end their
blockade.
"The constituent assembly is the main agenda of the new
parliament," Koirala said in a statement Wednesday.
Life slowly returned to normal in Kathmandu after weeks of
protests and a huge victory celebration on Tuesday after King
Gyanendra reconvened the dissolved parliament.
Streets were crowded with tourists and shoppers and public
transport was working.
"I am relieved, there is no trouble now, it is peaceful," said Raju
Shahi, who had taken his taxi out of the garage for the first time
in 17 days on Tuesday.
Political parties said their first priority would be to bring
the rebels back into the mainstream and called for a ceasefire with
the rebels who control vast swathes of the countryside.
Arjun Narsingh, a senior Nepalese Congress leader, said there
must be a ceasefire, the rebels have to be involved in talks and
elections should be called for a constituent assembly.
Analysts warned there were plenty of pitfalls ahead.
The rebels' demand for an unconditional constituent assembly is
generally interpreted to mean it should have the power to strip the
king of his title and establish a republic.
But an assembly on those terms is not something the king would
be happy with, and could use the Supreme Court, dominated by royal
appointees, to block.
It was also not clear if the rebels would agree to lay down
their weapons before elections to the special assembly, something
parliament is expected to demand.
On Tuesday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets
of the capital waving party flags.
The rebels, however, called the deal between the king and the
political parties a "sham" and said the parties had committed a
"historic mistake."
(China Daily April 27, 2006)
