US, Nepal tell parties no joint action with Maoists

The Maoists, following a 12-point understanding with the SPA, has already issued a general appeal to the public to support the peaceful strike.

‘‘We have credible information that the Maoists would infiltrate the protest programmes so the government is determined to deal with terrorists,’’ Thapa told journalists today. The government dismisses Koirala’s assurance that the protest will be peaceful. In fact, the SPA takes Thapa’s warning as an indication of the government’s programme to arrest pro-democracy leaders and activists across the country coupled with possible suspension of mobile phone services to disrupt coordination among the political parties.