Maoists not likely to join govt: Vaidya

Kathmandu, Nov. 6: Senior leader of the CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidya 'Kiran' has claimed that the leftist force has to lead the seven party alliance and move ahead accordingly in order to end the present political deadlock. Talking to The Rising Nepal, Maoist leader Vaidya said that the special session of interim parliament has brought the leftist forces closer and mounted moral pressure on the leadership of the present government. ?The special session of parliament has passed the motions on republic and proportionate representation system for the constituent assembly," he said adding that the onus now lies on the government to sincerely implement the decision of the House. He warned that the government would eventually collapse if it ignored the sentiment of the House and failed to implement the instructions on these vital national issues. The endorsement of the motions for declaring republic and adopting fully proportional electoral system is against the authoritarian tendency of the Nepali Congress and it clearly calls for genuine democratic practice in the functioning of the government, he said. ?The decision is of vital importance as it has underscored the urgency of institutionalising the republican setup and fully proportional election system by amending the interim constitution, which reflects the aspirations of the people," the senior Maoist leader claimed. According to him, the government is now under the obligation to present a bill in the parliament and act accordingly to ensure that the House decisions are implemented. ?For this, our activities should be focused to help the government carry out the House instructions and hold the CA election as early as possible."Asked how the Maoist party would move ahead to implement the House decision, Vaidya said that the government was already facing a moral question regarding the recent House decision. ?Our efforts would be to exert pressure on the government in a peaceful manner to act in line with the spirit of the House motions on the republican setup and proportional representation system."?It is up to the Nepali Congress whether or not to move ahead as per the democratic norms and practices. If the government does not follow the parliament's instructions, it will lose its credibility and will also lose the right to rule.Regarding the provision in the interim constitution for implementing the adopted proposals he said, ?the constitutional provision of the two third majority for adopting the motion on monarchy is a technical one. Moreover they are related with the CA election and the majority lawmakers have passed the motions. They are of political importance. Now we have to see whether the Congress wants the election or not. It depends on how the government responds to parliament's instructions. If the government ignores or makes unnecessary delay to implement them, we will start people's movement. Therefore, the government should act accordingly or else invite its eventual collapse."He clarified that the party would not join the government even after the government implements the instructions. ?The condition for us to join the government is the end of the authoritarian attitude of the Congress and creation of environment for the genuine practice of lokatantra in which the government operates on consensus," he said.Denying rift in the seven-party alliance because of the division in parliament during the voting, he claimed the voting in parliament has created a new basis for alliance among seven parties. This unity must be strengthened to institutionalise a republican set up in the country.?Maintaining the alliance is the need of the hour as it has not achieved its goal of holding CA election and thereby ensuring restructuring of the state. This mission was set when the seven parties and our party reached the 12-point understanding two years ago," he added.Vaidhya termed the leftist unity seen in the voting as the victory of the Nepali people and against the hegemonistic attitude of some partners in the alliance. ?The left unity should not undermine the SPA or alienate the Congress, but it should rather be used to strengthen the alliance to foil the conspiracy of reactionary and imperialist forces. As the leftist force is a progressive force, it has the responsibility to work for a free and fair CA election and the leftist have to reorient their activities towards the free and fair election."At the same time, the Maoist leader warned of fresh agitation if the government ignored the other demands of the Maoists. ?The issues concerning the whereabouts of the disappeared people, providing relief to the family of the martyrs, facilities and salary to the Maoist combatants are humanitarian issues, which must be addressed with priority. How can we go for polls without addressing these issues?" he said.

Source: The Rising Nepal, November 7, 2007