General strike called off; Victory rallies across the country; Constituent Assembly to be the main agenda

April 25, 2006
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The Seven Party Alliance (SPA) has called off 19-day-old nationwide general strike with immediate effect after its key demand of restoration of the dissolved parliament was met through Monday’s royal proclamation.

The SPA has also urged the Maoists to withdraw its all type of protest programmes in the wake of new political developments.

A meeting of the top leaders of the SPA—that was held at the residence of Nepali Congress president and former premier G P Koirala—expressed sincere gratitude to all the Nepalis across the country for their active and encouraging participation in the pro-democracy movement and general strike.

Talking to reporters after the meeting of the SPA this morning, NC spokesman Krishna Sitaula said the SPA decided that the main agenda of the reinstated parliament would be to hold elections to the constituent assembly to draft a new constitution.

“After the date for elections to the constituent assembly will be announced, the Maoists will also be included in the interim government,” he said. Sitaula informed that the reinstated House of Representatives would formally urge the CPN (Maoist) to observe ceasefire.

In its first meeting after Monday’s royal proclamation, the SPA has paid rich tributes to the martyrs who lost their lives during the latest pro-democracy movement. They have vowed to extend every possible support to the families of martyrs and those who were injured or rendered handicapped during the agitation.

The SPA has also announced that the new government will constitute a high-level commission to probe into atrocities committed by the state against pro-democracy demonstrators across the country and other forms of human rights violations and that the guilty would be brought to book.

The SPA has reiterated its commitment to the 12-point understanding reached with the CPN (Maoist) and has also urged the latter to honour it.

The meeting also declared that all the “unconstitutional decisions” taken by the royal regime will be declared null and void.

Thousands of activists and supporters of the SPA had surrounded Mr. Koirala’s residence as the top leaders of the SPA were meeting this morning. Some of the activists danced and sang victory songs while others chanted slogans cautioning leadership not to forget future agenda of the movement.

Meanwhile, reports say tens of thousands of people have taken to streets across the country from early Tuesday welcoming the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament. There are reports of lighting lamps by local people in Dharan, Dhankuta and other parts of the country.

People have come out in the streets to take part in victory rallies and life is gradually returning to normalcy in the capital, Kathmandu, after the crippling 19-day-long strike and prolonged curfew in various parts of the country. nepalnews.com by Apr 25 06