Maoist parties to observe occasion in separate ways

---'People's war' anniversary today---       
REPUBLICA
KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Tuesday is the 18th anniversary of the 10-year Maoist insurgency known as ´People´s war´, according to the Nepali calendar. More than 15,000 people were killed in the insurgency, with thousands injured or maimed, over 1,500 disappeared, and thousands more displaced.

The then CPN (Maoist) launched its people´s war with armed attacks on police posts at Holeri, Rolpa and Sindhuligadhi, Sindhuli on 13 Feb, 1992.

Dahal re-elected party chairman

KIRAN PUN
Former PLA members object to new leadership
HETAUDA, Feb 9: Giving continuity to Pushpa Kamal Dahal´s leadership, the ongoing seventh general convention of ruling the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has concluded on Friday.

The convention also announced 98 members of the 151-member central committee. While Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha have retained their positions as vice-chairmen, Post Bahadur Bogati who was the party secretary has been elected general secretary.

Dahal to emerge as heavyweight

Dahal addressing closed session. (Photo: Republica)

KIRAN PU, HETAUDA, Feb 8: Probably, there are few political parties like the CPN (Maoist) that went through umpteen upheavals. CPN (Maoist) waged the bloodiest insurgency in Nepal´s history with the aim of abolishing monarchy and turning Nepal into a communist country. 

Dahal for CJ as head of election govt

KIRAN PUN

HETAUDA, Feb 8: The ruling UCPN (Maoist) has floated a new proposal of forming an election government under the leadership of incumbent chief justice (CJ) as a way to end the ongoing political impasse.

The ongoing general convention of the party came up with the new proposal as the opposition parties turned down several earlier proposals. Dahal’s political document has been endorsed on Thursday.

Party should stay in govt for next 20-30 yrs: PM

KIRAN PUN
HETAUDA, Jan 7: At a time when the opposition parties have launched anti-government protests demanding his immediate exit, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Wednesday told his party´s rank and file that it had become necessary for the party to stay in government for the next 20-30 years.

Addressing the closed session of the ongoing seventh general convention of UCPN (Maoist) in Hetauda, Bhattarai also sought support from the party organization to formulate party policy and programs accordingly. He said he would not step down any time soon without finding a suitable alternative.

Violent phase of revolution over

PHOTO: KIRAN PUN

REPUBLICA

The seventh UCPN (Maoist) general convention in Hetauda has garnered the attention of the whole nation. Although the party has already endorsed its political document and settled top leadership positions ahead of the national gathering, there is a belief that the general convention will mark political transformation of the Maoist party and could be instrumental in breaking the logjam in national politics. Republica’s Kiran Pun caught up with Maoist vice-chairman and prime minister Baburam Bhattarai on the sidelines of the Heutada conclave to learn more about the general convention and the future course of national politics. 

Where has Prachanda Path gone?: Maoists

KIRAN PUN
HETAUDA, Feb 6: Strongly criticizing the proposal to hold a referendum on the issue of disputed borders, the chiefs of discussion groups at the ongoing UCPN(Maoist) general convention have expressed grave concern that the proposal could turn Nepal into Fiji or Sikkim.

Presenting the views of the groups at the general convention venue at the Hetauda textile factory on Tuesday, they also termed Dahal´s political document a ´political document for elections´ or ´a proposal of an NGO´.