Top > World > 2006 > August > 2006-08-02

Maoists Seek Nepalese Republic

According to reports coming out of the Himalayan nation of Nepal, Maoist rebels have plans to intensify their efforts at campaigning for a republican form of government that they would like to see established in the strife-ridden, fragile democracy. The Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, or CPN-M, has announced that it will launch a two-month long campaign in the first week of August to garner public support ahead of the forthcoming constituent assembly elections.

In June 2006, the Maoists - who had waged an often violent guerilla war against the government, prompting King Gyanendra to seize total control and imposing harsh controls on the population - launched a diplomatic initiative to convince the international community, including neighboring countries like India, that they were sincere about maintaining a democratic system of government...despite their Maoist leanings.

It was in June that two key Maoist leaders - Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara - met India`s Ambassador to Nepal, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee. It was the first time that an official meeting had taken place between the Maoist guerrillas and representatives from New Delhi. According to a Maoist spokesman, "The purpose of the upcoming campaign is to create public support for unconditional constituent assembly polls."