Nepal Maoists Accuse Koirala of Towing US Line

As reported by Asian News International; August 25, 2006

Kathmandu, Nepal -- Maoists in Nepal have accused Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala of not taking his own decisions and following the dictates of the US.

During talks with Government leaders, Koirala said that until the Maoists give up their weapons, they would not be given the status of a political party in Nepal.

"This is not the voice of Girija Prasad Koirala, it is the voice of America. We have been noticing that America is not removing us from the list of terrorists," said Krishna Bahadur, an organizer of the Maoists in Varta Toli.

"We are observing that Girija Prasad Koirala is not ready to look forward. The major agenda of Nepal is to establish and maintain democracy in the country but he (Koirala) is focusing on the agenda. If they don't see us like a political party and find our weapons a hindrance, then it means that he is moving against democracy. We took up arms to fight for democracy and till the time, Nepal remains undemocratic we will keep fighting in the form of a political force," Bahadur added.

The Maoist verbal backlash comes almost four months after King Gyanendra failed to suppress a popular movement against his rule and had to give way to a seven party Alliance (SPA) Government led by Girija Prasad Koirala.

Once Koirala was in power, negotiations began with the rebel Maoists to convince them to rejoin the social mainstream. An agreement was reached in June between two sides, which included plans for arms surrender management under the auspices of the United Nations.