Dual Power in Nepal

Maoists to declare autonomous states

Baburam Bhattarai

KATHMANDU, NOV 26 - The UCPN (Maoist) on Thursday decided to declare 13 ethnic and region-based autonomous provinces from Dec. 11-18.

Maoist Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, who heads the party’s United National People’s Movement, announced the decision on Thursday evening after a meeting of the party’s central office bearers and regional and ethnic fronts.

The Maoists are in the midst of their third phase protests since Nov. 22 demanding ‘restoration of civilian supremacy’ — correction of President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav’s move reinstating the then Army chief Rookmangud Katawal.

As per the third-phase protest schedule, Maoist regional and ethnic fronts will hold massive protests in their respective regions from Dec. 11-18.

While questions have been raised against the Maoists’ proposed autonomous states declaration, the international community is also apprehensive whether the announcement is a Maoist strategy to run a ‘parallel government’. However, the Maoists dismiss the apprehension and maintain that declaration of autonomous states is only ‘symbolic’. Bhattarai also said the declaration doesn’t breach the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and is in line with the spirit of the peace deal.

During its second phase of nationwide protests, the UCPN (Maoist) had withdrawn the programme of declaring autonomous states. However, in Dhankuta, Maoist activists led by Gopal Kirati had seized Dhankuta Municipality and declared the region an autonomous state. A day later, the Maoists said the move was ‘against party policy’.

The Maoists have warned they will be forced to launch stern protests if the government fails to address their demands by Dec. 22, when the third phase of protests officially concludes with a three-day general strike nationwide. The party has said it will continue to boycott public programmes attended by the president, the prime minister and other ministers, and demonstrate with black flags.

Regarding formation of a high-level political mechanism to find a way out of the ongoing deadlock, Bhattarai said, “Discussions are going on. We want an agreement through a package deal for which the other parties need to be flexible.”

AUTONOMY DECLARATION SCHEDULE:

Limbuwan	Dhankuta	Dec. 11
Kochila	Biratnagar	Dec. 11
Seti-Mahakali	Dipayal	Dec. 13
Tharuwan	Nepalgunj	Dec. 13
Kirat	Diktel	Dec. 14
Sherpa	Solu-Salleri	Dec. 14
Bheri-Karnali	Jumla	Dec. 15
Bhote-Lama	Simikot	Dec. 15
Newa	Kathmandu	Dec. 16
Tamsaling	Timle-Kavre	Dec. 16
Magarat	Palpa-Tansen	Dec. 17
Tamuwan	Pokhara	Dec. 17
Madhes	Janakpur	Dec. 18

From: http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2009/11/26/