Maoist faces music<br/>Opposition, coalition partners for obstructing House

• Ruling coalition partners--UML, MPRF, SP, CPN (United)-- stand against Maoist

KATHMANDU, March 31: Strong criticism of the ruling Maoist dominated the winter session of parliament on Tuesday. The ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) faced the music from opposition as well as coalition partners over its failure to implement past commitments. [break]



Lawmakers from all the five coalition partners--CPN-UML, CPN (United), Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and Sadbhawana Party—came down sharply on the Maoist and accused the latter of promoting the culture of violence.



The opposition and ruling lawmakers took a strong stance against proceeding with the regular business of parliament until the Maoist implemented its commitments in practice.



UML lawmaker Pradip Gyawali charged that the Maoist is bent on introducing an authoritarian regime by condoning serious crimes.






"Although the murderer of Prachanda Thaiba has already been identified, the Maoist hasn´t yet taken any sincere initiative to arrest him," Gyawali said, adding, "Instead, they (Maoist) have sheltered the murderer in a PLA camp."



He said the Maoist is developing the UN-monitored PLA cantonments as shelters to protect criminals. He charged that the Maoist has remained indifferent over taking action against any of its cadres involved in serious crimes like murder.



"UML can´t let the business of parliament proceed until Thaiba´s murderer is arrested and the government guaranteed safety of all the citizens," he said.



He lambasted the Maoist for disparaging the morale of the national army and undermining the independent judiciary.



During the session, Nepali Congress lawmaker Ram Chandra Poudel charged that the Maoist has failed to stand by its promises made in the past. "Although Maoist Chairman and Prime Minister Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal)  had pledged to return the property captutred by his cadres, nobody has yet received any property back," he said.



He said the Maoist hasn´t yet dissolved the paramilitary structure of the YCL.



Weighing in heavily against the Maoist´s recent act of protesting the Supreme Court verdict on Nepal Army generals, he said the Maoist is on a mission to introduce fascism. "The Maoist has attacked the national army, the press and the judiciary in its attempt to introduce fascism," NC lawmaker Poudel said.



On Maoist senior leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai´s recent scorning of the judiciary, Poudel demanded that Bhattarai apologize in parliament.



Dr Bhattarai, reacting on the Supreme Court decision against the government move not to extend the tenure of eight generals, had said an independent judiciary was harmful for the functioning of loktantra (democracy).



NC lawmaker Poudel said the regular business of parliament cannot move ahead until the Maoist implements all past commitments.



Similarly, MPRF lawmaker Indrajit Chaudhari charged that the Maoist has encouraged violence. He said the Maoist hasn´t taken action against any of its cadres involved in killings in the past. "Maoist cadres have continued killings, intimidation and abduction across the country and the party doesn´t want to check this," he said.



Ruling CPN (United) lawmaker Chandradev Joshi said the Maoist shouldn´t protect criminals. "Protection of criminals is pushing the country towards further chaos," he said.



Echoing other lawmakers, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) lawmaker Hridayesh Tripathi said the government has failed to implement any of its past commitments.



He expressed serious concern over the formation of the Special Committee for Integration of Maoist Combatants. "The special committee is unconstitutional and we will never accept the decisions taken by this committee," he said.



He also alleged that the Maoist is using the YCL to blackmail those who declared their property under the Voluntary Declaration of Income Scheme (VDIS).



Maoist lawmaker Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, however, defended his party´s position over the murder of UML cadre Thaiba. He said an independent investigation will soon bring the facts to the public.



He, however, warned that the Maoist is exercising patience in the face of attacks from the opposition.



House adjourned



Ruling and opposition lawmakers reached an agreement to adjourn the regular session of Tuesday´s session till April 4, Saturday, after they failed to enter regular agenda. An informal meeting of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Madhesi Peoples´ Rights Forum and Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, following a strong stance maintained by all but the Maoists against moving the regular business of the parliament, reached the agreement.



Speaker Subas Nembang, following the decision, announced the removal of Tuesday´s business from the agenda tabled at the meeting.



ghanashyam@myrepublica.com