CPN-M central committee member and Spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara addressing the mass meeting at Khulamanch (Open Air Theatre), Friday, June 02 06. nepalnews.com

Allaying fears of possible violence, a major mass meeting organised by the CPN-Maoist at the Open Air Theatre at Tundikhel in the capital on Friday has concluded peacefully.

An estimated 200,000 cadres and supporters of the Maoists as well as people from various walks of life took part in the meeting. The organizers, however, claimed that as many as 800,000 people took part in the Friday’s mass meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Maoist leaders said they were committed toward restoring peace in the county through negotiations. Deputy commander of the Maoist ‘People’s Liberation Army,’ Comrade Prabhaker alias Janardan Sharma said he had brought with him the message of Maoist supremo, Prachanda, that their party was ready to move towards peace provided people were allowed to choose their own destiny. “We are not tired and don’t want to give up war to share power. We want to attain our goal through as little bloodshed as possible,” he said.

Maoist spokesman and coordinator of the rebel negotiating team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, referred to the royalists as regressive and mainstream political parties as status quoits. “We are the real progressive and revolutionary force in the country,” he claimed. He also warned that the king had retreated by only one step and could stage a comeback if the people did not maintain vigilance.

While the party spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara was delivering his 1 hours and 15 minutes long speech, many of the people who came long way from villages were hanging on in the grassy ground behind the big masses with hunger.

Some of them told Nepalnews that they have not eaten since early morning since they arrived in the capital. No money in hands to buy some snacks, there were no one to take care of them.

The volunteers too had a hard day of work before them. Many of them were deployed since early morning and had no chance to go out for lunch. “I had eaten food at 6 a.m. Till now I am not been given permission to go for lunch. If I leave, they may take action against me,” a visibly angry volunteer said at 4:15 p.m. He became ready to talk to us when we offered a piece of cucumber to him.

Mikes were fixed as far as Tindhara Pathshala—only a few hundred meters away from the Narayanhiti royal palace. People were sitting in groups of 300 and 400 around mikes to listen to the speeches. Maoist cadres were moving around with booklets about Maoism to distribute among the people.

The Maoists had mobilized their unarmed militia to manage the crowd right from the morning. Thousands of cadres arrived in the capital in hundreds of buses and mini-buses from neighbouring districts from early morning. They were chanting slogans against the monarchy and demanding that the Nepal be turned into a “democratic republic.”

For the first time, thousands of Maoist cadres entered into the Army pavilion and took control of it. Some of them managed to erase ‘Shree Panch” (His Majesty) written at the pavilion in honour of His Majesty. They also erected sickle and hammer red flags at the army pavilion.

Young people were more interested and excited with dance and songs performed by pro-Maoist cultural troupes rather than long speeches given by the Maoist leaders. Gradually, the mass began to disperse after Mahara ended his speech.

Water tankers were at hand to provide drinking water to the participants while half a dozen primary care centers were also set up by various health institutions.

The Valley Traffic Police Office had banned the entry of heavy vehicles inside the Ring Road from 10 a. m. onwards. Friday being a public holiday, very few vehicles could be seen in the street. Maoist volunteers were seen helping traffic personnel to manage the crowd and participants of the rally.

Some Maoist cadres were also seen discussing with the members of security personnel on the issue of managing the mass meeting and rally