공지사항
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- '노란봉투'캠페인/국제연대..
- no chr.!
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IHT, NYT wrote this 4.27..
Nepalese Maoists make an overture
The second in command of the Maoist rebels in Nepal said Thursday that his organization would agree to sequester its troops only if the Royal Nepalese Army would agree to do the same during a referendum for a new constitution.
The Maoist forces, known as the People's Liberation Army, had already, on Wednesday, announced a three- month unilateral cease-fire designed to, as they put it, enable a new government keep their promise to hold an "unconditional" referendum on the country's constitution, including giving Nepalese citizens the right to choose whether they want to have a monarchy at all.
"For free and fair elections, let both the PLA and RNA be kept aside," Baburam Bhattarai, second in command of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said in a telephone interview Thursday, referring to both armed outfits by their initials. "Let an international supervisory body keep an eye on both."
The Maoists have said nothing about disarming their troops, whose strength is impossible to verify before the constitutional vote. But the constitutional referendum, the only means by which Nepalese can decide on the fate of the monarchy, has emerged as their key demand for the new government.
The leaders of Nepal's seven largest political parties have said they will hew to their promise to back such an election once an interim government is formed.
The first step comes Friday, when the elected Parliament is scheduled to be reinstated, following the retreat of King Gyanendra, who announced this week that he would surrender his absolute control of the state. The king's announcement came on the heels of nearly three weeks of pro-democracy protests that ground the capital, Katmandu, to a halt.
The Maoist forces, known as the People's Liberation Army, had already, on Wednesday, announced a three- month unilateral cease-fire designed to, as they put it, enable a new government keep their promise to hold an "unconditional" referendum on the country's constitution, including giving Nepalese citizens the right to choose whether they want to have a monarchy at all.
"For free and fair elections, let both the PLA and RNA be kept aside," Baburam Bhattarai, second in command of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said in a telephone interview Thursday, referring to both armed outfits by their initials. "Let an international supervisory body keep an eye on both."
The Maoists have said nothing about disarming their troops, whose strength is impossible to verify before the constitutional vote. But the constitutional referendum, the only means by which Nepalese can decide on the fate of the monarchy, has emerged as their key demand for the new government.
The leaders of Nepal's seven largest political parties have said they will hew to their promise to back such an election once an interim government is formed.
The first step comes Friday, when the elected Parliament is scheduled to be reinstated, following the retreat of King Gyanendra, who announced this week that he would surrender his absolute control of the state. The king's announcement came on the heels of nearly three weeks of pro-democracy protests that ground the capital, Katmandu, to a halt.
The Maoists and the political parties poised to take control of the government face a test of credibility in the days ahead. Toward that end, the Maoists declared a three-month cease-fire. The parties are expected to reciprocate, once a new government is formed.
Whether the Royal Nepalese Army, officially under the command of the king, will obey remains a mystery. Whether the Maoists will actually accept the verdict of a popular vote, as they have promised, remains a mystery as well, all the more perilous if they insist on holding onto their weapons.
There were victory celebrations on the streets of Katmandu on Thursday, as tens of thousands of revelers poured out to mark the restoration of democratic rule.
Yet behind the scenes much remained on a razor's edge not least on the question of disarmament.
The Maoists are plainly eager to exercise maximum leverage in the new political landscape of Nepal, even as the political parties forming the new government realize that to enjoy popular credibility, and more importantly bring peace to this scarred country, is to usher the Maoists into the political mainstream.
The Maoist war, over 10 years, has cost 13,000 lives.
The seven-party alliance has promised to announce steps toward a constitutional referendum when the Parliament, dissolved nearly four years ago, takes power once more on Friday.
Jhala Nath Khanal, a senior member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) said in an interview Thursday that the Alliance "will indeed insist the Maoists to put down arms." That would not, he added, mean complete disarmament.
"The Maoists will be decommissioned, not necessarily disarmed," while elections for a new constitution are under way, said Khanal, who was instrumental in crafting an accord last autumn between the Maoists and the political parties, adding that the same would be asked of the Royal Nepalese Army.
Speaking to a victory rally in the capital, the general secretary of Khanal's party, Madhav Kumar Nepal, promised to re-christen the Royal Nepalese Army as the Nepali National Army. He was feted with applause. The would-be prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, however, was absent from the rally, citing health concerns.
Ian Martin, the representative in Nepal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Thursday for the Maoists to demonstrate their commitment to human rights by releasing civilians in their custody, see to it that its cadres "do not pressure or intimidate civilians from different political parties" and "end actions" against the families of security force personnel.
The U.S. Embassy in Katmandu, among the most vocal critics of the rebels, on Thursday welcomed the notion of a vote on a new constitution, but pressed for the Maoists to disarm.
Whether the Royal Nepalese Army, officially under the command of the king, will obey remains a mystery. Whether the Maoists will actually accept the verdict of a popular vote, as they have promised, remains a mystery as well, all the more perilous if they insist on holding onto their weapons.
There were victory celebrations on the streets of Katmandu on Thursday, as tens of thousands of revelers poured out to mark the restoration of democratic rule.
Yet behind the scenes much remained on a razor's edge not least on the question of disarmament.
The Maoists are plainly eager to exercise maximum leverage in the new political landscape of Nepal, even as the political parties forming the new government realize that to enjoy popular credibility, and more importantly bring peace to this scarred country, is to usher the Maoists into the political mainstream.
The Maoist war, over 10 years, has cost 13,000 lives.
The seven-party alliance has promised to announce steps toward a constitutional referendum when the Parliament, dissolved nearly four years ago, takes power once more on Friday.
Jhala Nath Khanal, a senior member of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) said in an interview Thursday that the Alliance "will indeed insist the Maoists to put down arms." That would not, he added, mean complete disarmament.
"The Maoists will be decommissioned, not necessarily disarmed," while elections for a new constitution are under way, said Khanal, who was instrumental in crafting an accord last autumn between the Maoists and the political parties, adding that the same would be asked of the Royal Nepalese Army.
Speaking to a victory rally in the capital, the general secretary of Khanal's party, Madhav Kumar Nepal, promised to re-christen the Royal Nepalese Army as the Nepali National Army. He was feted with applause. The would-be prime minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, however, was absent from the rally, citing health concerns.
Ian Martin, the representative in Nepal of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Thursday for the Maoists to demonstrate their commitment to human rights by releasing civilians in their custody, see to it that its cadres "do not pressure or intimidate civilians from different political parties" and "end actions" against the families of security force personnel.
The U.S. Embassy in Katmandu, among the most vocal critics of the rebels, on Thursday welcomed the notion of a vote on a new constitution, but pressed for the Maoists to disarm.
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