Kathmandu - Nepal's former Maoist rebels say they intend to
form a new government despite the collapse of their coalition barely
a month ago, media reports said Wednesday.
The Maoist made their intentions public at the start of their
politburo meeting in Kathmandu.
The meeting was the first since the Maoist led coalition
government collapsed in early May over a power struggle with
President Ram Baran Yadav over the sacking of army chief Rupmangat
Katuwal.
Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, aka Prachanda, said the
current government led by the moderate Communist Party of Nepal -
Unified Marxist Leninist had no constitutional status, Kathmandu Post
newspaper.
'Only a Maoist-led government can take the peace process to a
conclusion and draft a new constitution that the people want,'
Prachanda said. 'The current government has no constitutional status
and is a puppet of expansionist and imperial forces.'
Prachanda also vowed to continue 'peaceful struggle' in the
parliament and on the streets to safeguard national sovereignty and
civilian supremacy, the newspaper said.
The Maoist-led government collapsed after the president vetoed a
decision to sack Katuwal and reinstated him as army chief.
The Maoists described the president's action as a step against
'civilian supremacy' and have obstructed parliament and imposed
strikes across the country.
On Monday, a Maoist strike in Kathmandu and western Nepal
brought public and private transport to a standstill.
Political differences within a new coalition has also prevented
the expansion of the cabinet and distribution of portfolios, leading
to a paralyzed government.
The dispute has already impacted the integration of former Maoist
combatants into security forces and drafting of a new constitution,
two key points of the peace process singed in November 2006 that
ended a decade of communist insurgency.
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