Kathmandu: Ahead of their announced blockade of government offices, the Kathmandu valley and Nepal`s only international airport, the republic`s former Maoist guerrillas on Friday asked neighbour India not to intervene, saying it was an internal matter of Nepal.
"We are appealing to India not to interfere since this is Nepal`s internal matter," senior Maoist leader and former finance minister Baburam Bhattarai said on the eve of his party`s new protests that have been called to condemn the role played by President Ram Baran Yadav in the downfall of their government five months ago.
Earlier this year, when the Maoist government faced collapse after its futile bid to sack the chief of the army, Gen Rookmangud Katawal, then Maoist prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda had asked the Indian government - that two years ago had brokered a pact between the former rebels and Nepal`s major parties - to send an emissary to once again mediate among the parties.
However, Bhattarai said this time his party was not seeking Indian mediation since the situation was different.
"At that time, we were heading the government," he said. "Since the Indian government was concerned, we asked them to send someone to discuss the issues if they wanted. However, this time we are not in the government and the context is different."
The new round of Maoist protests will kick off with a torchlight rally on Sunday - when the nine-day ultimatum given by them to the communist-led government expires.
The opposition to the coalition government will gather momentum from Monday, when the Maoists have announced a blockade of all rural and municipal offices throughout the 75 districts of the country.
On November 5 and 6, the ex-guerrillas said they would picket all district administration offices, and on November 9 announce the formation of autonomous states.
The former insurgents, whose 10-year "People`s War" ultimately led to the abolition of monarchy in Nepal, are demanding the restructuring of the country into 13 autonomous states.
The most audacious protest has been announced on November 10 when besides a blockade of Kathmandu Valley, the heart of the country, the former insurgents have also announced they would seal off the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, the republic`s lone international airport, and prevent all flights, both international and domestic.
"We are asking all international airlines to cancel all flights on that day," Bhattarai said. "We will not allow people to enter or leave the airport."
Though American embassy charge d`affaires Jeffrey Moon met Maoist chief Prachanda soon after the announcement of the protests to express concern, Bhattarai said there had been no meetings between the Maoist leadership and Indian officials.
The Maoists are demanding that the president`s "unconstitutional" step to reinstate the army chief they fired be "rectified".
"The government should allow us to initiate a debate on the President`s move in Parliament or table a consensus statement indicating that the President acted unconstitutionally," Bhattarai said.
"Or, the President could issue a public statement expressing regret for his action. Otherwise, (the presidential step) would create a negative precedent at a time we are trying to promulgate a new Constitution."
However, while a capitulation by the President or the government will make the Maoists call off their proposed protests, Bhattarai said other issues would still remain.
The Maoists are also seeking a new "national government" under their leadership once more since they are the largest party in parliament, Bhattarai said.
IANS
