Envoys up talks with leaders

KATHMANDU, May 6:  On the fifth day of the Maoist general strike on Thursday, members of diplomatic community have intensified talks with the political leaders.



Indian ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood met with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter´s residence at Nayabazaar. Responding to the Maoist Janasanchar Kendra, Dahal said he discussed current political scenario with the Indian envoy and told him that people had taken to the streets for "peace, constitution, civilian supremacy, national independence and national government". [break]



According to Maoist foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara, the Indian envoy stressed on the need to find a solution through meetings of the three largest political parties.



Swiss envoy to Nepal Thomas Gass also met with Dahal and discussed the current political situation.



Likewise, US ambassador to Nepal Scott H DeLisi met Maoist Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai and asked Bhattarai about possible solutions to the current political crisis. "Maoists are taking to the streets for a national government to ensure peace and constitution," Dr Bhattarai told DeLisi.



According to Dr Bhattarai´s aide Biswadeep Pandey, the US envoy told Bhattarai that the political parties should stop accusing each other and find a meeting point to bail the country out of the current crisis. He also said the US would play a positive role to diffuse the crisis, and that he also found India and China willing to play a similar role.



Bhattarai stressed the need for a national government. When the US envoy asked who should lead such a government, he said, "The UCPN (Maoist) is not only the largest political party, the issues of federalism, republicanism and secularism are also the party´s agendas. So Maoists should lead the government for their proper implementation," Bhattarai argued. The US envoy replied that he understands Maoist sentiments.



Bhattarai also said the reports that Maoists are resorting to violent tactics are false, and that the demonstrations would be peaceful. DeLisi told Bhattarai that US sees the Maoists as a political force, and his country would soon remove Maoist party from its terrorist list.



US embassy spokesperson Nicole Chulick said the ambassador´s meeting with Bhattarai was just one of a number of meetings he has had with political leaders. The US envoy had met Dahal, UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and other leaders earlier this week.



Meanwhile, ambassadors from European countries met NC Acting President Shusil Koirala and discussed the current situation.

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