Earlier, the Maoists had decided to announce such provinces during their second phase of protest, but later the party put off the program citing lack of "internal preparations". However, defying orders from the party headquarters then, Maoist politburo member Gopal Kirati, who is also former minister for state restructuring, had announced Kirat autonomous province in Khotang.
A joint meeting Thursday of the United National People´s Movement, Nepal and the chiefs of the party´s autonomous provinces decided to declare autonomous provinces.
"We took a decision to this effect as a pressure tactic for the formation of autonomous province", said Maoist Vice-Chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai, who is also the coordinator of the Maoists´ United National People´s Movement, Nepal.
The Maoists are all set to declare 13 autonomous provinces based on the party´s federal model submitted to the CA committee on state restructuring by party standing committee member Dev Gurung. Among the 13 provinces, 11 are ethnic-based and two regional. The ethnic provinces are Limbuwan, Kirat, Sherpa, Kochila, Madhes, Newa, Tamsaling, Tamuwan, Magarat, Tharuwan, and Bhote-Lama, and the two regional provinces are Bheri-Karnali and Seti-Mahakali.
Maoist leader Devendra Paudel, who is also the in-charge of the party´s Madhes and Abadh State Committee, claimed that declaring autonomous provinces is not the same as forming parallel government. "It could just be rumors spread by others. It is not wrong to declare autonomous provinces as we have already agreed (in the interim constitution) to go for federalism," he said.
According to Paudel, many issues related to federalism, including naming and delineation of provinces are yet to be settled in the party. "But we decided to bring out what we have agreed," said Paudel. He said the party decided to declare the autonomous provinces coinciding the scheduled protest programs to be launched by the party´s ethnic fronts.
During the Maoists´ last central committee meeting, the party leadership was under criticism for withdrawing the scheduled programs to declare autonomous provinces and picket the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for the restoration of "civilian supremacy".
As part of its third phase protest that began Nov 22, the Maoist party has also announced a three-day general strike beginning Dec 20.
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