Nepal’s ruling parties flay UN for interference

KATHMANDU: Nepal���s 22-party ruling alliance Thursday flayed UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for advocating a national government, saying it was the prerogative of Nepalis and the republic���s political parties to decide what kind of government the country should have.
The coalition government���s anger was directed at a report on Nepal tabled by Ban before the UN Secretary Council in New York on Oct 30, in which he had expressed concern at the lack of progress in the peace process in Nepal and urged the government to adhere to a time frame.
���Nepal is on the path of major political and social transformation,��� Ban said in the report. ���A Government of national unity remains desirable for timely promulgation of the country���s new constitution and for the successful integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel.���
Incidentally, the former Maoist guerrillas, who have brought the government machinery to a grinding halt since Monday with street protests, are also seeking the formation of a new government which, they say, should be led by them since they are the largest party in parliament.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday called an emergency meeting of the ruling parties, which ended in an announcement that they were ready to include the Maoists in the alliance and asked the former rebels to suspend their protests and sit for talks.
A statement issued by Nepal���s political advisor Raghuji Pant after the end of the meeting said that when the current government was formed, efforts were made to include the Maoists and they were on still. ���What kind of government Nepal should have, how it should be formed and under whose leadership is an issue that (only) Nepal���s people and political parties have the right to decide,��� the statement added.