ID :
58962
Tue, 05/05/2009 - 11:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/58962
The shortlink copeid
Nepalese prime minister resigns over army chief row+
KATHMANDU, May 4 Kyodo - Nepal's Prime Minister Prachanda announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation Monday afternoon, ending his eight-month coalition government.
The resignation came a day after the country's president reversed Prachanda's
dismissal of Chief of Army Staff Gen. Rookmangud Katawal for insubordination.
Prachanda's government was left in minority after two partners in the coalition
government quit Sunday over Katawal's sacking.
''For the sake of the peace process, national integrity and sovereignty, I
announce my resignation from the Council of Ministers I lead,'' said Prachanda,
who defended his decision to sack Katawal as right and constitutional.
He termed the move by President Ram Baran Yadav to block the firing of Katawal
as ''unconstitutional and undemocratic'' and urged all ''democratic and
nationalistic'' forces in the country to end conspiracies to institutionalize
dual power centers in the country.
Prachanda also admitted his government ''couldn't perform'' up to expectations.
But he said that many forces within the government and outside conspired to
prevent his government from delivering.
''And partly, we couldn't deliver due to our inexperience (in governance),'' he
admitted.
Prachanda complained ''regressive'' forces encouraged the president to reverse
the government decision, inviting a serious crisis in the country.
''Whoever made them do it attacked Nepal's infant democracy,'' the premier
charged. ''I want to alert all Nepali brothers and sisters about the visible
and invisible role of foreign powers in this (president's action).''
After announcing his resignation, Prachanda submitted a resignation letter to
Yadav.
Under Nepal's Constitution, Prachanda's government will continue as caretaker
until a new government is formed.
After the resignation, a meeting of the second- and third-largest parties,
Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist),
decided to expedite efforts to form a national government with participation
from all 24 political parties represented in the special assembly.
Prachanda became prime minister last August after his Maoist party won the most
seats in the special assembly elected four months earlier.
Before entering into a peace process in 2006, his party had led a decade-long
violent insurgency to get rid of the country's 240-year monarchy and turn Nepal
into a constitutional republic.
But, Prachanda ruled out the possibility of his party returning to war, saying
Monday, ''I remain committed to the ongoing peace process.''
The monarchy was abolished last May and the assembly Prachanda led was elected
to write a new constitution by April next year.
Following Sunday's impasse over the firing of Katawal, the main opposition,
Nepali Congress, asked Prachanda to quit and pave the way for formation of a
new national government.
The 1996-2006 insurgency cost the country more than 13,000 lives.
==Kyodo
The resignation came a day after the country's president reversed Prachanda's
dismissal of Chief of Army Staff Gen. Rookmangud Katawal for insubordination.
Prachanda's government was left in minority after two partners in the coalition
government quit Sunday over Katawal's sacking.
''For the sake of the peace process, national integrity and sovereignty, I
announce my resignation from the Council of Ministers I lead,'' said Prachanda,
who defended his decision to sack Katawal as right and constitutional.
He termed the move by President Ram Baran Yadav to block the firing of Katawal
as ''unconstitutional and undemocratic'' and urged all ''democratic and
nationalistic'' forces in the country to end conspiracies to institutionalize
dual power centers in the country.
Prachanda also admitted his government ''couldn't perform'' up to expectations.
But he said that many forces within the government and outside conspired to
prevent his government from delivering.
''And partly, we couldn't deliver due to our inexperience (in governance),'' he
admitted.
Prachanda complained ''regressive'' forces encouraged the president to reverse
the government decision, inviting a serious crisis in the country.
''Whoever made them do it attacked Nepal's infant democracy,'' the premier
charged. ''I want to alert all Nepali brothers and sisters about the visible
and invisible role of foreign powers in this (president's action).''
After announcing his resignation, Prachanda submitted a resignation letter to
Yadav.
Under Nepal's Constitution, Prachanda's government will continue as caretaker
until a new government is formed.
After the resignation, a meeting of the second- and third-largest parties,
Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist),
decided to expedite efforts to form a national government with participation
from all 24 political parties represented in the special assembly.
Prachanda became prime minister last August after his Maoist party won the most
seats in the special assembly elected four months earlier.
Before entering into a peace process in 2006, his party had led a decade-long
violent insurgency to get rid of the country's 240-year monarchy and turn Nepal
into a constitutional republic.
But, Prachanda ruled out the possibility of his party returning to war, saying
Monday, ''I remain committed to the ongoing peace process.''
The monarchy was abolished last May and the assembly Prachanda led was elected
to write a new constitution by April next year.
Following Sunday's impasse over the firing of Katawal, the main opposition,
Nepali Congress, asked Prachanda to quit and pave the way for formation of a
new national government.
The 1996-2006 insurgency cost the country more than 13,000 lives.
==Kyodo
