KATHMANDU - Maoist leader Prachanda vowed on Tuesday to push to abolish the monarchy and create a “new Nepal” as he addressed tens of thousands of supporters in his first public speech in the capital in 25 years. “Unless the monarchy is eliminated, a new Nepal cannot come into existence,” Prachanda, or “the fierce one’, said as his flag-waving supporters roared their approval.The rally, which brought the heart of the city to a standstill, took place on the 11th anniversary of the start of the Maoist revolt that ended last November when the rebels signed a historic peace deal with the government. Security was tight as the demonstrators listened to their formerly reclusive leader, who has emerged from a quarter-century underground vigorously to press his cause.
“This is a memorable day for us as our 10 years of people’s war has been able to establish new norms and values for the country to head towards the path of a republic,” he added, in what organisers said was his first public speech here since the early 1980s. The Maoist leader spoke for just under an hour in a vast open-air theatre and was frequently interrupted by cheering supporters waving red flags and holding banners declaring “Long live the Maoist party,” and “Long live Prachanda.”
The former rebels entered parliament earlier this year, taking 83 out of 330 seats, but have yet to be given positions in the cabinet.
Prachanda is not a member of parliament. But he said late last year he was willing to serve as president of a future Nepal republic ”if the masses want to give me the responsibility and if my party chooses me as the best candidate.”
| And it'll be the last decision the 'masses' ever get to make. |