Nepal Maoist protests continue

[bemildred]

Source: al Jazeera

Tens of thousands of Maoist protesters have blockaded Nepal's government headquarters for a second day.

The protesters prevented ministers and civil servants from entering the main government complex in the capital Kathmandu, although a handful of ministers managed to get in before the
blockade began early on Friday.

Bhim Rhawal, the home minister, told reporters that security in the capital had been increased following clashes between riot police and protesters on Thursday in which 20 people were wounded.

"We have ordered police to show maximum restraint to avoid clashes with protesters. Security has also been stepped up," he said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/11/2009111383741301332.html

[David__77]

1. The Maoists are the progressive force in Nepal.

That's a fact, albeit a strange one to most outside observers. Thanks to the Maoist party, Nepal is now a democratic republic instead of an absolute monarchy. Hopefully now the military can be brought under civilian control and the threat of an anti-democratic coup can be averted, bringing the peace process to a successful conclusion.

[murdoch]

2. The Maoists

Sometimes I have been reading news articles and they contrast the UCPN Maoists with the other parties in government, and they speak favorably of these other parties. What they always forget to mention is - most of the other parties are Maoist too! The CPN(Unified Marxist-Leninist) has 108 seats, the CPN(Marxist-Leninist) has 9 seats etc. I can't recall how many articles I've read talking about the other parties in the assembly yet neglecting to mention how many of them are Maoist as well. It's a fact people who doesn't like the UCPN Maoists don't like to mention.

What are they trying to do now? A deposed king who killed most of the royal family to get to his throne, who disbanded the elected government, is still trying to hold onto control of the military. If India, the United States and so forth were not pressuring the country from outside, this would not even be an issue.

[David__77]

3. Kind of true...

CPN-UML is not "Maoist" any more... they are more of a Stalinist sort of party, but these days act like a junior partner to the Congress. CPN-ML is more Maoist too, true. Basically, the large majority of Nepal's voters support a communist party of one sort or another.