KOL. 17 January 2002. Left leaders fear extension of emergency.
KATHMANDU -- The left parties here Thursday expressed their fears that the emergency won�t be called off after the stipulated period. They also said that matters have turned more complex in the emergency period, which began on November 26. Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Standing Committee member of the CPN (UML), claimed that a conspiracy is on to prolong the period of emergency. He said that internal and external pressure is being applied to delay the calling off of emergency. "The army can always say that the situation is still not under control and blame the Maoists for it," said Adhikari. RK Mainali of the CPN (ML) said that the country is embroiled in so many problems that the emergency won't be called off within the constitutional time frame. "When the matter comes to Parliament, the CPN (ML) has an option to walk out of the voting but that will only lead the country towards a greater crisis," he said. Both the leaders underlined the need for unity among the left political parties, and also stressed that they have to forge a common strategy with the ruling party [which is exactly the strategy that led to them to initially endorse the emergency measures]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
