8- Party Alliance Meet To Form Republic Of Nepal

Kathmandu, Nepal: On Friday last, the King of Nepal went on nationwide TV & radio to address the Hindu Kingdom and offered what sounded, without objective analysis, like a return of democracy to Nepal.

Lined up like lemmings, India, the US, UN, UK, Canada, the EU and others applauded the apparent gesture of the King.

Not surprisingly the 8-Party Alliance (EPA), comprised of the 7-largest Parliamentary Parties and the Maoists, who recently came into the alliance around a 12-Point Agreement hammered out last November in New Dehli, and reaffirmed on March 19.......took a closer look at the King’s offer and found it completely lacking. It kept the same government in place that now directs and condones criminal attacks on unarmed civilians, and asked for “recommendations” of a PM to be given to the, discredited by many, King and made no mention of, or provisions to address the 12-Point Agreement.

With as many as 500,000 Pro-Democracy demonstrators ringing the Capital City of Kathmandu being subjected to increasingly more inhumane and brutal attacks by the Security Forces, and with demonstrations growing more militant each day, the EPA is holding urgent negotiations to form the 1st. Government of the new Republic of Nepal.
Announcement of a “Provisional Government”is much anticipated by those close to the negotiations.

As the King abandoned the 1990 Constitution with the seizure of dictatorial powers on Feb.-1, 2005, the new Nepalese Republic will be initially based on the 12-Point Agreement, summarized below, and does not include the Monarchy at any level of government.

Summary of 12 Point Agreement

#1) End the Autocratic Monarchy... “therefore, we have reached an understanding that all anti-autocratic-monarchy forces will hit the autocracy from their prospective positions by setting off the Nation wide Democratic Movement for ending the autocratic monarchy and establishing absolute democracy..”

#2) State Power can be handed to the People by:
a. Holding elections for a Constituent Assembly, &
b. restoring the Parliament.

#3) Bringing an end to the ongoing-conflict by,
putting the RNA(Royal Nepalese Army) and the Maoist Army under the supervision of the UN or other reliable International Agency until free and fair elections for Constituent Assembly is completed.

#4) Maoists commit to democratic values, competitive multi-party system of governance, civil-liberties, human rights, and the concept of Rule-of-Law.

#5) Maoists will, “create an environment conducive to”.... allowing people displaced by the armed conflict to “return to their respective places and settle there with honor. To get back their unjustly seized properties & assets, and to practice political activities without hindrance”.

#6) Maoists have committed to self-review of the past shortcomings and mistakes of the past, make self-criticism, and will not repeat the same actions in the future.

#7) The 7-Parties will “review the shortcomings and mistakes made in the past while in Parliament & Government...”

#8) Honor the values of Human Rights & Media Freedom.

#9) Actively boycott polls held by the Monarchy.

#10) Fully commit to the independence of the country, it’s sovereignty, and to safeguard the territorial integrity and national unity.

#11) “Call upon civil society, professional community, class organizations & associations, media people, people of all castes and professions, intellectuals and the entire Nepalese Community to actively participate in” a peaceful peoples’ movement.

#12) Investigate compliments and inappropriate behavior of parties & individuals and take public-action against anyone found guilty.

Signed and agreed, 7-Parties and CPN(M) Maoist

This agreement will in hours, or days if necessary, become the basis for a humane government and establish the rule-of-law in Nepal.

With India having seemingly backtracked from it’s earlier hasty support for King Gyanendra’s Friday statement, it is yet to be seen how soon the US and rest of the international community will follow.

D. Michael Van De Veer-Freelance Journalist
Contributor to UnitedWeBlog-Voice of Democratic Nepal, & Pacifica’s Free Speech Radio News.
Member: SAJA (South Asian Journalist Association).
Host OUT OF THE BOX KKCR-FM www.kkcr.org

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