Change is in the air: Maoist leaders address public meeting in Kathmandu (Nepalnews special)

April 28, 2006
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They are still wanted by the government but two leaders of the Maoist-affiliated oganizations appeared at a mass meeting in the Nepali capital on Friday and also addressed the audience.

It was already late by two hours but thousands waited the pro-Maoist leaders under the burning sun. The enthusiastic people continued to throng to `Shahid Manch’ at Tundikhel. Preparation had begun since 10 in the morning.

People in a mass meeting organized by the ?Joint Democratic Forum? at Tundikhel, Friday. Leaders of Maoist student and trade union wings also addressed the mass meeting, Apr 28 06. nepalnews.com/rh

The mass gradually increased as rallies from different places of the capital entered the open ground at around 1:45 p.m. By 2:00 p.m. the mass has nearly covered the whole of the open theatre. More foreign media correspondents were seen covering the event compared to the Nepalis.

Pamphlets signed by chairman Prachanda were distributed in thousands.

Speakers had already arrived at the stage. When the master of ceremony announced the name of student leader Lekhnath Neupane, president of All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary) and as he appeared on the stage with smiling face, the crowd pitched its voice out of control.

Hooting from the audience further increased when he was called to address the meeting, Neupane said Maoists were ready to lay down their arms if the reinstated parliament declared to go for unconditional elections to the constituent assembly to decide the fate of monarchy.

He warned foreign powers not to intervene in the elections to constituent assembly, which he said was the popular mandate expressed in the recent movement.

The firebrand student leader warned that the CPN (Maoist) would not accept even the ceremonial role of king even if the seven parties went for it. Our aim is to turn Nepal into a ‘People’s Republic,’ he declared.

Addressing the meeting, president of All Nepal Trade Union Federation, Shalikram Jamarkattel, said Nepalis had to arrive at a critical situation like this since parliamentary forces refused to form a United Front soon after the royal massacre some five years ago. “The leaders who have boycotted our proposal have been finally forced by the regime to realise the importance of our proposal,” he said. “Soon, they will realize monarchy is no more essential for the Nepalis,” he claimed.

Advocate Borna Bahadur Karki said the reinstatement of the parliament was due to the people power and that it should pave way for drafting a constitution, which no ruler could trample upon.

Leaders of various pro-left organizations, addressing the meeting, expressed their suspicion over the reinstated parliament and said people should continue to warn the seven parties to keep moving as per the 12-point understanding with the Maoists.

The mass gradually begin to disperse after the address of Neupane and had halved by the time Jamarkattel finished his hour-long address. Over a dozen people were invited to address the meeting, whose time had been consumed by long speeches and frequent songs and dances by a Maoist-affiliated cultural group. Similar meetings have been organised in various parts of the country over the last two days.

Maoist leaders who spoke today are still labeled as ‘terrorists’ by the state. But there was no attempt by the authorities to arrest the leaders who were “underground” for the past several years. The fact that change is in the air was more than obvious at `Shahid Manch’ on Friday afternoon. nepalnews.com Indra Adhikari Apr 28 06