 Ex-rebels withdraw plans to form govt
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-07-23 07:30 Nepal's former rebels yesterday withdrew plans to form the country's new government - pushing the Himalayan nation into fresh political turmoil. The ex-rebels, formally known as the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said they could not lead a new government after their candidate for president was defeated on Monday. "After our candidate was defeated in the president election we have lost the moral grounds to lead the new government," Maoist leader Prachanda told reporters. He said the party will act as the opposition even though it emerged as the largest political party in the April election. Since then, the political parties have not been able to agree on a new coalition government. Ramraja Singh lost the vote for president on Monday to Ram Baran Yadav, who was backed by the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and Madhesi People's Rights Forum - the second, third and fourth largest parties. An alliance of the three parties formed just before the election managed to defeat the Maoists' candidate. The Maoists' announcement yesterday further delays the formation of a new government in Nepal. The other political parties said they have not even thought about forming the new government. "We have not even discussed the possibility of forming the new government. Our alliance with the two other parties was for the president election," said Bimalendra Nidhi of the Nepali Congress. The assembly dissolved the country's centuries-old monarchy in May and is supposed to rewrite the constitution and govern the nation. Maoists gave up their armed revolt in April 2006 to join the peace process after 10 years of insurgency that left more than 13,000 people killed. They joined parliament and the government later. Agencies (China Daily 07/23/2008 page12) |
