BUTWAL, Feb 21: Angry cadres of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) tried to vandalize a vehicle carrying one of the contenders for the top party post of chairman, KP Sharma Oli. Some of the cadres threw stones at Oli´s vehicle. Police present there prevented the cadres from causing damage to the vehicle. The cadres stopped the vehicle when it reached the venue of the party´s 8th general convention here in Butwal. [break]
These cadres have been shouting slogans demanding that leaders reach consensus over the top post of chairman. They are shouting slogans like "Long live CPN-UML," "We don´t need factionalism". A heavy posse of policemen has surrounded the cadres.
The police and protesters have clashed outside the convention venue. No one has been arrested yet. The cadres are telling police -- "Why can´t we meet our leaders? Who gave you the orders to stop us and beat us?"
Meanwhile, the number of young party cadres who began a fast-unto-death strike outside the party´s 8th general convention venue in Butwal from Saturday afternoon has reached 24. Earlier 19 had begun the protest demanding that the party leadership pick its chairman and other office bearers through consensus.
They began the strike at 1 p.m. on Saturday, which is officially the last day of the general convention. They say they will not stop the strike until the leaders arrive at a consensus.
“They (leaders) are exercising to split the party by making two panels,” Radhika Khatiwada, a central committee member of the UML’s student wing, ANNFSU (All Nepal National Free Students’ Union) participating in the strike said. “This is not good for both the party and the nation. This establishes one leader and displaces the other. This is not good.”
Tilak Pokharel
Another activist, R C Lamichhane from Gorkha district, said the fast-unto-death and sit-in protest will continue until their demand is met. “We will continue the strike until the leaders come out with consensus candidates,” said Lamichhane. “As they have enough positions to share in the wake of the adoption of multi-post leadership system, they should not be seen fighting again for positions.”
The activists said this is just the first phase of protest against the leadership, adding that more young cadres are going to join the strike. The strikers also said the convention should be concluded as per schedule, Saturday.
This action of the young leaders -- from youth and student wings of the party – follows an ongoing signature campaign to pressurize the leadership for consensus over the top posts.
By early afternoon, more than 300 of the 1816 delegates have put their signatures to the campaign.
