Posted on 11/22/2005 11:44:21 PM PST by sagar
Nepal's Maoist rebels entered a pact with opposition politicians yesterday in a move to isolate King Gyanendra, who seized full power nine months ago.
Under the deal the communists, who control most rural areas, would lay down their arms under United Nations supervision while a new constitution is drafted. They say they will become a democratic party if the king is removed.
More than 12,500 people have died in their near 10-year campaign to turn the Himalayan monarchy into a communist republic.
The announcement came in statements from the Maoists and seven opposition parties, following recent talks in New Delhi.
Both the opposition and the Maoists are opposed to King Gyanendra, whom they call a "tyrant". Since his coup in February, when he argued that 12 years of democracy had allowed the Maoists to flourish, his uncompromising style of leadership has forced his enemies closer together.
The statement issued yesterday said: "It is our clear understanding that unless the autocratic rule is ended and full democracy is restored, there will be no peace or progress in the country." It was not clear if all the parties were determined to ending the monarchy but the Maoist leader Prachanda - The Fierce One - said: "We are committed to end the autocratic monarchy and establish full democracy through a forward-looking political solution."
The parties say they will support the Maoist demand for a new constitution if the rebels end their violence.
Girija Prasad Koirala, president of Nepali Congress, the largest political party in Nepal, stressed that the agreement was not a formal alliance with the Maoists, but he added: "We will be fighting the monarchy from separate fronts".
Madhav Kumar Nepal, of the Communist Party of Nepal, called the announcement "a breakthrough to restore peace in the country and end the Maoist conflict".
Diplomats, however, cautioned that there could be no lasting ceasefire without the support of King Gyanendra, who controls the army and opposes writing a new constitution that may sideline or abolish the monarchy.
"It could be that they've presented a proposal to which they know the king can't agree in an attempt to deepen his isolation," said one western diplomat.
Thanks for the moral equivalence argument. It show the weakness of your position. All you can hope to do is suggest that the king is no better than the communists, which is ridiculous of course.
India would condemn Nepal to a Khmer Rouge style slaughter and for what? To appease their own traitorous pro-Chinese commies.
Drunk on Bhang milkshakes again?
Gyanendra is more like Pinochet. The more commies he kills, the better.
Let India get it's way there will be democracy.
The more commies he kills, the better.
How do you know they are all commies. Becoz the dictator sez so? They could be just about anybody opposed to dictatorship.
"The more commies he kills, the better."
That way he will surely end up bettering even Pol Pot. No point choosing one scumbag over another.
I just don't see that happening, and moreover, if the UN can be made to disarm the Maoists (the idea of the UN making anybody do anything is a bit of a giggle, I'll grant you) and if they enter the political process, they will be swamped by the other parties.
Thank God the USA is a Republic and not a Democracy, so the people can't decide to throw their freedom away. In a country ruled by law instead of the will of the mob, rights are inalienable and cannot be sacrificed even voluntarily.
How naive.
If the maoists are destroyed then the king will have no need to continue to suppress the political parties.
Ever tried one?
Then why do you choose Prachanda?
I'll take Pinochet over Allende. I'll take Fujimori over the Shining Path.
Thank God the USA is a Republic and not a Democracy, so the people can't decide to throw their freedom away. In a country ruled by law instead of the will of the mob, rights are inalienable and cannot be sacrificed even voluntarily.
India is a Republic and also a Democracy, and thank God for that. Here one individual does not decide the law, and yet ones rights are as much inalienable and there is still as much freedom.
"Then why do you choose Prachanda?"
I didnt.
"I'll take Pinochet over Allende. I'll take Fujimori over the Shining Path."
There are better examples to find than any of those you cited if only Nepal choose to look at India.
Personally I prefer a progressive pro-reforms (preferably a Hindu) party to come to power.
"Communism needs democracy like the human body needs oxygen." – Leon Trotsky
"Democracy is indispensable to socialism. The goal of socialism is communism." - Vladimir Lenin
“You can never have a revolution, in order to establish a democracy. You must have a democracy in order to have a revolution.” - G. K. Chesterton
If you support the overthrow of the king, then you want what the maoists want and are on their side.
Nepal is the only officially Hindu state in the world and the king is a Hindu god.
"If you support the overthrow of the king, then you want what the maoists want and are on their side."
Thats like saying if you dont want British rule over India then you want the Japs and Nazis to take over and are on their side.
Weak argument.
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