The alliance of the seven opposition political parties is to discuss latest developments after the Maoists announced to call off their unilateral ceasefire beginning Tuesday.
Senior leaders of the alliance are scheduled to meet at the residence of former premier and Nepali Congress President, Girija Prasad Koirala, at Maharajgunj at 3:00 p. m. on Monday.
During the meeting of the alliance held at the office of the CPN (Marxist) in Kathmamndu on Sunday, the opposition leaders had requested Maoists to extend the truce to pressurize the king to restore what they call ‘total democracy’ in the country.
Sunday’s meeting, however, could not reach into a decision over the issue as NC President Koirala could not take part in the meeting due to his ill-health.
“Why did the government not respond to extended ceasefire? The government must take positive steps,” CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and CP Mainali of the United Left Front asked emerging from the meeting .
Some media reports on Monday speculated that Maoists may extend their unilateral truce by at least another 15 more days.
But a formal announcement by the Maoist chairman, Prachanda, this afternoon said his party had decided to call off the unilateral ceasefire “as continuing to do so was not only impossible, it would also have been suicidal.”
The authorites are yet to comment on the latest developments.