Nepal's Maoists set for street protests‎

http://www.timesofearth.com/ Residents in Kathmandu started to horde rice, vegetables and cooking gas on Friday ahead of an street protest called by the opposition Maoist party with the aim to overthrow the current government.

The United Communist Party of Nepal, also known as the Maoists, have gathered hundreds of thousands of red-shirted cadres on the eve of May day, after having trained many loyalists for a month on how to use the combat Gurkha knife. Police confiscated large amounts of petrol and other goods used to prepare handmade bombs from various lodges in Kathmandu on Thursday. However, the Maoist leadership said that the protests would be non-violent unless instigated by the government.

Unless we are forced by the security forces, we wont resort to violence. But if they try to disturb our peaceful protests, we will be forced to show our strength, said Barsaman Pun alias Ananta, a politburo member of the Maoists.

Protests intend to put pressure on the fragile government led by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, as the country struggles to agree on a new constitution and plan to integrate the Maoists armed cadres with the national army. The 601-member constitutional assembly elected with a mandate to prepare a constitution in two years will expire in less than a month without any solution at sight.

Most of the shops in the capital city have been closed due to the threat of violence on Saturday. Many businesspeople have closed their offices for an indefinite period and have left the capital as many were forced by the Maoists to provide donations and spaces for their cadres to live. Many schools, factories and big buildings in Kathmandu have been occupied by the Maoist cadres.

We are terrified. We dont know what to do from Sunday. The situation is very volatile and people are seriously worried, and it is hampering the education of our children, said Sanjay Shrestha, a local businessman.

The Maoists have announced plans to bring half a million people on to the streets of the capital of the poor Himalayan state. Local newspapers have estimated that over 200,000 Maoist cadres from around the country have already entered the city.

The government has decided not to give in to the protests. If they are willing to co-operate, I am ready to sacrifice my position. But I am not giving in to violence and threats, said Mr Kumar Nepal.

Bhim Rawal, the home minister, has instructed Nepals police and armed forces to take any necessary action in case the protests turn violent.

Meanwhile, Ram Sharan Mahat, a senior leader of the Nepali Congress party, the second-largest party in the constitutional assembly, has blamed the Maoists for violating the peace process. The prime minister cannot be forced to resign from the street protests. They have to follow [the] parliamentary process if they want to oust the government. They are using terror tactics, which [are] not acceptable to democratic parties, he said.

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[Nurdagniriel]

And China keeps giving money to these people and funding this nonsense. Nepal will be so sorry if they reach the government.

[ShefBill]

Communism always seduces the masses at first. Then later they are all sorry but are too suppressed to anything about it. Good-bye freedom in India! Don't go to the USA because they will soon be communist slaves also.  We will all be slaves soon.

[sachinkunwar]

Stupid people!!

they dont know that they are doing..

fools.....

look how prachanda talks...he needs go to see a mental doctor...

i m sry nepal aama....

mawobadi le sabai kura khattam gare.....

[shreeza]

look at the faces .. non of them look educated at all .. these ppl are going to decide for country noo wayyy.. throw some money at them and they will do whatever u say .. FOOLS