“The cabinet seriously deliberated on the protest announced by the Maoists. If there is any breach of laws, the government will resort to legal procedures against it,” said Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel after the cabinet meeting, adding, “The government calls on the Maoists to go for legal channel and settle the issue through dialogues.”
Prior to the cabinet meeting, the Central Security Committee led by Home Minister Bhim Rawal also deliberated on the Maoists´ protests. The meeting was attended by the chiefs of the Nepal Police, the Armed Police Force and the National Investigation Department, Home Secretary Dr Gobinda Kusum, representatives of the Defense Ministry and the Nepal Army, among others.
Meanwhile, the UCPN (Maoist) has decided to mobilize all of its mechanisms to effectively implement its protest programs. A meeting of the top party leaders in Kathmandu on Thursday took a decision to this effect. The party has decided to focus its programs mainly in the Kathmandu Valley, and deploy its central leaders to lead the protests.
“We tried our best to reach consensus on our demand concerning civilian supremacy, but to no avail,” said Maoist vice chair Dr Baburam Bhattarai, who leads the Maoists´ United National Mass Movement, Nepal. He, however, said the protests would be peaceful. “If the government resorts to force, it will share the fate of former king Gyanendra,” he said.
Meanwhile, issuing a statement, the National Human Rights Commission has called on government and the main opposition to settle the issue through talks.
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