Nepali Maoists step up pressure on govt

A day after issuing a three-day "ultimatum" to the government to restore "civilian supremacy" in Nepal, the Maoists yesterday announced their months-long agitation plan that will start with a blockade of parliament on August 7.
The former rebels, who are demanding the dissolution of the Madhav Kumar Nepal government, yesterday threatened to launch a protest movement "from the streets and parliament" if their demands were not met by August 6.
The Maoists said they would start the blockade of Parliament from August 7 and stage protests in all district headquarters beginning August 9. Top Maoist leader C P Gajurel said the party would boycott all public functions attended by President Ram Baran Yadav from August 27 and from August 31 onward they would boycott the Prime Minister's public programmes.
From September 5 to 15 the Maoists will boycott all programmes attended by the ministers and also hold public meetings in different parts of the country as part of their agitation programme. The Maoists have been raising the demand for upholding "civilian supremacy" since its chief Prachanda had to quit as Prime Minister in May after the President shot down his move to sack Army Chief General Rukmangad Katawal.