Six days after a ceasefire between the government and Maoists to end a seven year communist insurgency, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand in a radio and televised address to the nation indicated Monday the government will not compromise on monarchy and multi-party democracy in
talks with rebels.
Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand
“Monarchical culture and multi-party democracy should be focal point and our guiding principles,” said Chand who completed 100 days in office last month. Chand called on all to “forget the past” and concentrate on the greater and long-term needs of the nation in the 10 minute address.
Chand said he was not interested in continuing in office and was keen to hand over government to elected representatives earliest. Chand said the King appointed him in October last year after his
predecessor “could not hold scheduled elections at the prescribed time.”
He did not say when local or national elections will be held. The national vote was scheduled for November 13. The King charged Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba of “incompetence” and appointed Chand with a directive to hold promised elections on October 4 last year.
“There is no doubt that multi-party democracy in the best system of government” but added “the expectations of the people could not be met in the last 12 years” in an implied criticism of successive governments that ruled after the overthrow of the party less Panchayat system in 1990; the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML ruled briefly most of the 12 years.
Chand did not give details of the circumstances leading to an agreement between the government and rebels to end hostilities and negotiate a peace deal. Chand did not reveal anything substantive in the much hyped prime time speech.
Two facilitators between the government and rebels said a roundtable conference will discuss the demands of the Maoists who waged a bloody insurgency for a republic and sweeping social and economic changes.