Nepal laughs off Maoist poll win prospects

Nepal’s royalist government vowed on Tuesday to continue a crackdown on Maoist guerrillas, brushing aside their prediction of a victory...

Nepal’s royalist government vowed on Tuesday to continue a crackdown on Maoist guerrillas, brushing aside their prediction of a victory in the nine-year civil war that has ravaged the Himalayan kingdom.

The Maoists elusive leader, Prachanda, in an e-mail interview on Monday, ruled out talks or a ceasefire with the government and said the rebels would soon come to power by ousting what he called “mediaeval and barbaric feudal autocrats”.

Nepal’s Information and Communications Minister Tanka Dhakal dismissed Prachanda’s statements as wishful thinking.

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“This is laughable. It’s only day dreaming,” he said.

“The terrorists are destroying infrastructure. The state can’t remain a silent spectator to this.”

Officials say security forces are continuing operations against the Maoists, who inspired by the teachings of Chinese leader Mao Zedong, want to see Nepal’s constitutional monarchy abolished and a Communist republic established .

The new government has rejected talks with the Maoists. “When there is no political cause or thinking there is no reason for the government to hold talks with them,” Dhakal said.

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Meanwhile, Nepal king Gyanendra would try to muster support during his 10-day foreign trip, beginning on Wednesday — the first since his February 1 power grab. The king, who will visit China, Indonesia and Singapore, is due to address the Asia-Africa Summit on Friday. Foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey said, ‘‘His Majesty’s planned meeting with leaders from Asia and Africa will help rebuild Nepal’s image in the international arena ’’

The king will meet Indonesian President Susilo Byudhoyono and South African President Thabo Mbeki on the sidelines of the Summit in Jakarta. However, it is not yet certain whether a meeting between the Nepal king and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will take place in Jakarta.

Although state-run daily Rising Nepal reported that the King and the Prime Minister are likely to meet, Indian embassy official Prabhat Kumar said they have not yet received any request for the meeting. After the Summit, the king will proceed to Hainan province of China to attend the Boao forum for Asia. He will also meet chairman of the Chinese people’s political consultative conference Jia Qingling.