क्रान्तीकारी नेपाल

Nepal rebels oppose appointments

Nepal’s Maoist rebels have called a general strike in the capital,
Kathmandu, to protest against key government appointments in the country.
On Monday, the government announced a number of appointments, including
ambassadors to 14 countries.

The positions had fallen vacant after King Gyanendra ended his direct rule
after a popular uprising in April.

A Maoist leader warned that the appointments may endanger the current peace
process to end the insurgency.

The one-day strike disrupted normal life in Kathmandu and the neighbouring
Lalitpur and Bhaktapur towns.

Maoist workers forced schools, factories, and markets to shut and stopped
vehicles.

Conspiracy

On Monday, the government appointed the chairman and members of the national
human rights commission.

It also appointed ambassadors to 14 countries including neighbouring India
and China, and the United States.

The Maoists renounced violence following a recent peace accord.

But rebel spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, warned that the government
appointments could derail the peace process.

He said that the appointments smacked of a conspiracy against recent accords
between the Maoists and the seven-party government for an interim government
which would include the rebels.

He did not elaborate.

The Maoists are believed to have been angered that key decisions had been
made before the new administration was in place.

On Saturday, the two sides approved an interim constitution, a key step on
the way to implementing the peace accord and bringing the rebels into
government.