Date:21/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/21/stories/2008062160321600.htm

International

Maoist Ministers resign in Nepal

Ameet Dhakal

Seven Party Alliance meet fails to sort out differences

Rift over integration of Maoist combatants
I will resign if alliance asks me to do so: Koirala

KATHMANDU: Maoist Ministers tendered resignation late on Friday after the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) meeting failed to sort out differences.

Maoist leader Babu Ram Bhattrai submitted the resignations of the five Ministers. Differences persist on power sharing and integration of the Maoist combatants.

Four fringe parties and the Nepali Congress have said the post of President, Prime Minister and Chair of the Constituent Assembly should go to Maoists, Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML).

But the Maoists and UML have already reached an agreement to share the post of Prime Minister and President between them. The parties have also not been able to agree on the terms and conditions of the integration of the Maoist combatants in the Nepali Army.

Despite the resignation, the leaders of the SPA have agreed to sit for negotiations on Saturday.

Prerana Marasini reports:

The Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) on Friday reached an agreement to back each other’s candidates for various posts in the next government.

UML’s general-secretary Jhalanath Khanal said a UML candidate had been proposed for the President’s post, a Maoist candidate for Prime Minister and a Nepali Congress candidate as chairman of the Constituent Assembly.

Earlier, the Maoists had proposed UML leader Sahana Pradhan for the President’s post.

However, UML leaders prefer the party’s former general-secretary, Madhav Kumar Nepal, for the post.

On Thursday, UML leader Bamdev Gautam said it was certain that Mr. Nepal would become President.

The Maoists, on the other hand, have proposed their party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal for the Prime Minister’s post.

All the major parties have already agreed to elect a ceremonial President and an executive Prime Minister.

Debate over Koirala

The Maoists have officially conveyed they don’t support Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s candidature for the President’s post. They have also demanded his resignation. Mr. Koirala on Thursday hinted his party could sit in the opposition benches and said he would resign if the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) asked him to do so.