Maoists join mainstream, interim govt

The crowded press conference marked the end of his underground life that has spanned almost two decades8212;its last half as head of the Maoist insurgency which began in February 1996.

The meeting which took place on the eve of Prime Minister G P Koirala8217;s departure to Bangkok for his medical check-up, in principle, brought the two sides to an agreement to involve the United Nations for management of arms of both the Nepal Army and Maoist guerrillas so that the proposed elections to the constituent assembly would be fair and free from intimidation, a statement signed by Koirala, Prachanda and other top leaders of the Seven-Party Alliance said. But nothing specific was said about the decommissioning or demobilization of the guerrillas.

A committee of legal experts led by Laxman Aryal, retired judge of the Supreme Court, has been formed to draft the 8216;interim constitution8217; which will form the basis for formation of an interim government with Maoist participation. The formation of the interim government would be preceded by dissolution of the revived house of parliament and the 8216;people8217;s government8217; formed by the Maoists.

8216;8216;We want that the draft should be ready within a month,8217;8217; Prachanda said, but there are apparently divisions between the two sides on the issue. He hoped that the election to the constituent assembly will take place within a year.

Prachanda, his wife Sita Dahal and party ideologue Baburam Bhattarai were flown in from Pokhara in western Nepal in a private helicopter chartered by the Government for the summit-level talks. The ten-hour meeting8212;in which Koirala and Prachanda had a one-on-one discussion a couple of times, together lasting nearly 90 minutes8212;perhaps encouraged the Maoist chief to concede that Koirala or any one were free to support 8216;8216;ceremonial monarchy as that8217;s what the competitive multi-party democracy is supposed to be.8217;8217;

Prachanda, by all means, was the uncontested ruler or hero today as he was flanked by leaders of the 7-party alliance on the dais, and all listened to him, at times nodding their heads in support, when he spoke about the mismanagement of the present government.

His guerrillas, most of them carrying bags which many suspected had arms inside, took charge of the law and order as well the responsibility to regulate the crowds in the Prime minister8217;s residence. 8216;8216;I did not want the event of my coming overground in such a poorly managed situation. This shows how pathetically this government has been running the country,8217;8217; he said. Deputy Prime Minister Amik Serchan and Home Minister K P Sitaula listened quietly. Sitaual had gone all the way to Pokhara in the morning to escort the Maoist leaders to the Prime Minister8217;s residence.

8216;8216;We are not using this peace process for any short-term political gain. We want to make this country a model of peace and development in the whole world through development, industrialisation and drastic cut in unnecessary expenses,8217;8217; he said adding 8216;8216;what glory has the Nepal army achieved except taxing on the government and committing rapes on women?.8217;8217;

The Ministers present there chose not to respond. Koirala perhaps sensed the likely embarrassment when he excused himself from sharing the dais with the Maoists chief. 8216;8216;We will manage the country with just about 20,000 Army instead of the 90,000 at present. Can this army face Indian or Chinese army in case of war?8217;8217; he asked, adding 8216;8216;but we can train 25 million Nepalese as militias, and they can defeat Indians or Americans if they come aggressively.8217;8217;