Girija Prasad Koirala, a four-time Prime Minister and president of the Nepali Congress, the largest political party, said time was running out for the king and urged the international community to continue pressuring the monarch.
"He did not address the problem of the nation, he should have done that," Koirala, said hours after the monarch's message was broadcast to the Hindu nation on its new year day.
"There is no change (in his stance), all he has changed are only his words. We will start our agitation as usual and it will go on till the sovereignty of the people is not returned," said the 84-year-old leader.
Nepal was plunged into fresh turmoil after an alliance of seven main political parties launched a nationwide general strike on April 6 and held mass protest, which resulted in the killing of four people and injuries to hundreds by government troops.
The protests were the most intense since the King sacked the government and took power 14 months ago. Nepalis had hoped that the king would make the first move to end the strife through his traditional new year message.
But the King only reaffirmed his earlier pledge to hold national elections without setting a date, and called for talks to help restore democracy without elaborating.
Koirala rejected the invitation for talks.
"I will not go there like a dog, (with my) tail between my two legs. You should know that I've been fighting for democracy since 60 years and am fighting still," said Koirala, speaking in the balcony of his bungalow in an upmarket Kathmandu neighbourhood.
TIME RUNNING OUT
Koirala is the most senior leader in the seven-party alliance against the king and his voice largely prevails in making strategy.
But the chain-smoking former trade union leader has been ailing for some time and rarely comes out in public, which has led to the absence of a charismatic leader at the forefront of the mass campaign.
Koirala said the people wanted him to take care of his health so that he could continue to guide the movement from home.
"Time is running very fast and for me time is very short, because of my health and my age. People know that and they want that I should care for my health first," Koirala said.
Political parties in Nepal have been surprised by the overwhelming support for their latest protests against the King as ordinary people had largely deserted them only a year ago, blaming them for 15 years of misrule and corruption.
Koirala said political parties had realised this and were trying to change their ways.
"It was a nascent democracy, we have done some mistakes. I have also done some mistakes. But democracy is a system to address the mistakes also," Koirala said.
A die-hard anti-Communist, he also said that he was working to bring Maoist rebels, fighting to topple the monarchy since 1996, into the democratic fold.
The rebels and the seven parties formed a loose alliance in November against the king and the latest protests are backed by the rebels for the first time.
Koirala said his party would not compromise on its commitment to democracy despite the understanding with the Maoists, who want to establish one-party Communist rule.
"My basic stand is that the end of autocratic rule, peace, full-fledged democracy, that means a ceremonial king and an independent, sovereign and prosperous Nepal. Within that principle, I have talked to the Maoists. I will not deviate from that," he added.
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=66081
Probably there might be some forum out there for you that pays homage to the legacy of tyrants like Hitler and Polpot. Hitler mind you was fighting communism your style. There aren't many takers for your Nazi ideals on this forum. Take your Nazi baggage elsewhere this is no place Aryan Nation skinheads. You are very confused. Pol Pot was a Maoist. The person one should compare to Pol Pot is Prachanda, the mass murderer whom "democratic" communists like you support against the King. You are the one who needs to be posting over at DU.
As for nazis, I find your accusation ironic considering you are one of the few LUNATICS psychotic enough to defend both the SOVIETS and the NAZIS. Here's proof:
"The Brits were our enemies. Yes if the Nazis kicked their @sses then yes I enjoyed it." - 61 posted on 05/09/2005 3:33:19 PM CDT by Gengis Khan
So you'll pretty much side with anybody as long as they kill the "English-speakers" you so despise.
For now the whole world is watching how a blood thirsty King is killing civilians and brutally suppressing freedom.
By the "the whole world" of course you mean the MSM, the UN, Amnesty International, the State Department, Jimmy Carter, etc, etc...
Your country "supports" Taiwan by supplying China with nuclear technology and weaponry, by giving MFN status, by setting up Walmart all across US and by relocating all manufacturing industries to China.
The USA has sworn to defend Taiwan if they are attacked by the reds. Japan has now joined us in this pledge. I guess you're more concerned about outsourcing to China, because you prefer outsourcing to India. At the same time India is massively increasing its trade with China.
And your country also supported Tibet right?
In fact the first CIA agent killed in the line of duty was killed in Tibet. http://www.intotibet.info/aboutthebook.html The CIA helped Tibetan guerrillas fight the Chi-coms for decades, but the USA doesn't share a border with Tibet like India does. Where was India to stop the conquest of Tibet? India was busy siding with Communism per Nehru's "Non-alignment" -- in other words, kissing China's ass! That's what you can't grasp. India was on the wrong side of history. Now you're wrong again and you can't accept it because you refuse to admit your mistakes. You want to "spread democracy" so bad how come India doesn't speak up for democracy in Burma? Maybe Nepal will be treated better by India when they too are a Chinese client like Burma. 'Free Tibet' push fades as India-China ties warm
Your support for Musharraf makes you an enemy of India and an anti-India.
No, President Bush's support for Musharraf makes YOU an enemy of my President and my nation. I take my nation's enemies seriously and I like them to be dealt with severely.
you have no problem whatsoever if the King exterminates women and children.
Again, you are confused, it is your "hero of the people" Prachanda who slaughters women and babes. Only in your schizophrenia do you project his crimes upon his archenemy. What about all the Hindus who are slaughtered yearly by Prachanda and his bloodthirsty gang? You don't speak for India and you sure don't speak for Hindus, most of whom support the King.
The Freepers who know you as a Paki scum arn't wrong at all.
Such as whom? The only person who ever told this lie about me was the VOICE OF MOSCOW, the rabid Russian propagandist who's been banned. Sooner or later you will get the ZOT too for the anti-American lies you push here.
Your antipathy towards Hindu right wing and in general towards India is well known on FR.
Wrong. I am known for my antipathy for the Indian left wing. I prefer the BJP and always have, but what do you care about the truth, you are to busy making up lies about me. You are the one who would support India's policies regardless of whether they are left or right, because you are a chauvinist.
So the BJP (Hindu right wing) who were against the deal are anti-Americans eh? So how come are you supporting the BJP?
I care alot more about the war against the communists in Nepal than about India's business deals. If India would rather be friends with the Ayatollahs determined to wipe Israel from the map, and be dependent on a pipeline controlled by Pakistan, then go right ahead, be my guest. You won't screw us, just yourselves.
So I take it you have no problems with the anti-conversion law and missionaries being kicked out.
Indian Christians will have much bigger problems if the Maoists take Nepal and complete the first phase of their plan to establish a "revolutionary zone" in India. India stood by when the Reds practically wiped out Buddhism in Tibet, why do you want this fate for the Hindus of Nepal and India as well as the Christians? Communism is deadly to all.
You have no idea about true "conservatism".
Where I come from, conservatives are anti-communist. You are the supporting a communist cause, thus you are the one who is not conservative and has no idea what it means to be conservative.
[it is really you who serves the Pakistani agenda by providing aid and comfort to Pakistan and China's Naxalite and Maoist proxies. You are a traitor to India. Further you support Pakistan's plan to make India dependent on Iranian gas with your communist-islamic "Peace Pipeline."]
Fact is you still gives Pakistan military and monetary aid. And you support Musharraf and all his activities. As I said you are the Paki scumbag.
Wrong. I support only American cooperation with them in the War on Terror. You see, I am not an Indian and have no loyalty at all to India, therefore I cannot betray India. Siding with my own country instead of yours only makes me a Pakistani in your demented mind.
I stand by every word I have ever said
You stand by Soviet apologies, Marxist pseudo-history, nazi sympathies and dhimmitude. You are a sick puppy.
