Maoist Chairman Prachanda interacts with donors, UN reps

KATHMANDU, April 24 - With the CPN-Maoists emerging as the largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections, the Maoists held talks with donor agencies and UN representatives in the capital today.
At the interaction this morning, Prachanda said, ”Our commitment to peace, multi-party politics, a federal republican setup and drafting a new constitution may be a new one, but there is a situation where our international friends need to change their perspective, as some think that we are mechanical and hardliners which is not true.”
While the US has not removed the former rebel Maoists from its list of terrorist groups, Prachanda also held informal discussions with US ambassador to Nepal Nancy J Powell during the programme.
Prachanda expressed hope that the US government would change its policy and reconsider its decision after today’s crucial interaction.
A special committee to be formed would carry out the task of integrating the Maoists’ People’s liberation Army into the Nepal Army and the process will move ahead along with the process of drafting a new constitution, the Maoist Chairman said.
Prachanda also lauded the role played by the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), since its arrival in Nepal.
”We are discussing the extension of UNMIN’s mandate in Nepal with other parties and we will have reached a conclusion in this regard before the CA meeting,” Prachanda said in the programme.
Prachanda also urged the assembled agency workers not to think that the first CA meeting will end the monarchy and establish the country as a republic.
Similarly, talking about relations with India, Prachanda stressed on the need to revoke the 1950 Nepal-India treaty and to review other treaties signed with India.
Emerging from the interaction, Maoist Chairman Prachanda said that he was convinced that a new process of international assistance would begin after the discussion with the donors.
The donor agency representatives underscored that a lasting peace should prevail in the country after the formation of a new constitution, he informed.
At the beginning of the interaction held at the UN building in Lalitpur today, the Maoists mentioned the ongoing peace process, formation of a new constitution, alliance with other political parties, army integration and physical development.
Arranger of the interaction and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Robert Piper informed that the conference discussed the peace process, new constitution, development, education and health, among other issues. (Kantipuronline)