Cracks surface in Baidya-led alliance

KIRAN PUN
KATHMANDU, July 28: A theoretical difference has surfaced in the 33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya following the latter´s recent remarks that his party may forge an alliance with the former king to safeguard national sovereignty.

“The discussion on the issue is on. We have sought clarification from Baidya over his remarks,” Matrika Yadav, chief of CPN (Maoist), a member party of alliance, told Republica.
While the CPN-Maoist has prioritized the issue of national integrity other members of the alliance are for institutionalizing the republic first.
“While Baidyaji [Mohan Baidya] argued there would be no republic without the existence of a nation, we argued that that national unity can not be maintained without institutionalizing the republic,” said a leader of a member party of the alliance seeking anonymity.

Stating that the alliance was formed to safeguard the achievements of the April 2006 movement, Yadav said, “The former king will always remain a threat to national integrity. No king after the Sugauli Treaty was a nationalist. So, would it be sane of us to forge an alliance with an anti-nationalist former king?”
During the meeting of the alliance held on Saturday, Maoist leaders had argued that the media had misinterpreted their statement. Chairman Baidya on Sunday also issued a press statement saying: “The party is ready to forge an alliance with only those forces that are for a federal republic.”

According to Maoist leaders, Baidya told the meeting that they had not signed any agreement with the former king. “We have proposed an alliance with Gyanendra Shah not in his capacity as the former king but as a civilian. The media misinterpreted our remarks saying we want to revive the institution of monarchy. This is not what we intended to mean,” said Ramdeep Acharya, a central committee member of CPN-Maoist. “Nepal´s national sovereignty and integrity is under threat. We are ready for an alliance even with Nepali Congress and CPN-UML if that helps us safeguard national sovereignty.”

Baidya-led faction had strongly raised the issue of national sovereignty after the Baburam Bhattarai-led government signed BIPPA agreement with India. This also led to the split in the UCPN (Maoist) with the Baidya led faction forming a separate party.
from Repubica