Maobadi Form Parallel Government in Capital City

Posted on Dec 18, 2009 Posted by Eric Ribellarsi

Nepal's Maobadi have just declared that the capital city, Kathmandu belongs to the Newar oppressed nationality and formed a parallel autonomous government inside the capital city called the "Newa Republic Province." This has set reactionary pro-imperialist forces into a frenzy. The following article is from the bourgeois press in India, attacking the Maobadi. We are reposting it for informational purposes. Thanks to Gary Leupp for forwarding the article.

Outrage: Maoists declare Kathmandu ‘free’

Casting a shadow on the Nepal peace process, Maoists today announced that capital Kathmandu would henceforth be called the autonomous ‘Newa republic province’ where the dominant Newar community would have more rights than others.

Prachanda, chief of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M), lit a candle outside the original royal palace to make the declaration of the ‘Newa republic province’, a move other political parties condemned as the “most retrograde step”.

It was seen to be symbolically challenging the political unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah who conquered the Kathmandu Valley in 1768 by defeating its Newar rulers.

Maoists have so far declared half-a-dozen “autonomous republic provinces”, ignoring warnings that such moves could lead to fragmentation of the country.

Prachanda said the Newar community would enjoy “special powers” and “in due course of time, all communities will enjoy equal rights”. He raised the ‘Newa Rajya Zindabad’ slogan three times.