Maoists Unveil New Strategy to Retain Weapons Before UN Arrives

By Bhola Rana

Maoists have unveiled a new strategy to retain their weapons before a UN team arrives next month to manage them. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said this week Maoists will have to surrender their weapons if they are to join an interim administration ahead of elections for a constituent assembly. According to the new Maoist strategy, they won't join the government but will lend it outside support while pushing for elections for a constituent assembly.

"If some changes are not forthcoming in the state structure, we will not go to power. Instead, we will effort outside support for a constituent assembly. 'We will not go to power until there are changes in the state structure. I don't know if we will attain power soon. There is a feeling we will kneel down; that's not it' we're ready for any sacrifices." Maoist Chairman Prachanda told BBC Nepali Service Thursday. Similar feeling was echoed by Barsha Man Pun "Ananta' in Kantipur Friday and ruled out the surrender of Maoist weapons. "Surrender of weapons right now may not be possible. We've called for a change in the state structure.

We will stay in an interim parliament and will help the government in a peaceful manner for elections to a constituent assembly."

Popular Uprising

Maoist Spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara reiterated this week's threat by Baburam Bhattarai to launch street protests if there is no agreement between the government and Maoists. "If talks at the table are not heard, there will again be a popular revolt of the people," Nepal Samacharpatra reported Mahara as saying in Rolpa. "That popular uprising could be an October revolution of special Nepali character. But it will be fundamentally different from what the United States thinks." He said the keys of the talks are with Washington and New Delhi and said Maoists have to hold unseen talks with them. He said foreign interference has increased significantly and for that the end of monarchy is necessary.

He said parties are trying to snatch the weapons of the People's Liberation Army. While repeating they will not surrender their weapons, Maoist leaders have said they can again collect weapons even if they are surrendered to the United Nations. Nepal has a porous 1,800 km border with India from where they smuggled in their weapons for the 10-year insurgency.

alan@newsblaze.com

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