KATHMANDU, May 7: The United States has asked UCPN (Maoist) to immediately call off the general strike that has created serious hardships for ordinary people and raised possibility of dangerous confrontations in Nepal.
According to a press statement received here on Friday, Robert O Blake, assistant secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the US Department of State, has also asked the political leaders to reach agreement on the issues that have impeded the completion of new constitution and the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.[break]
“We call on the Maoists to end or suspend their strike and ease these hardships. We urge both the Maoists and the government to exercise restraint and good judgment to prevent the outbreak of violence,” the statement quoted Blake as asking. “We continue to believe that the only sustainable answer lies in the ongoing political dialogue.”
Blake also said the US and the international community stand ready to assist Nepal in any way they can.
“As the May 28 deadline for the completion of the constitution nears, we hope to see Nepal´s political parties act with dispatch and maximum flexibility to resolve their remaining differences,” he said.