KOL. 21 January 2002. Govt. preparing to extend emergency.
KATHMANDU -- Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday said that the government is preparing to extend the state of emergency in the country with a go-ahead from other political parties in the Parliament, adding that a three months period wasn't enough to quell the Maoists. The declaration of the state emergency has to be approved by a two-third majority of the Lower House, the House of Representatives, within three months from the date of issuance, i.e. last November 26. Once the Ordinance is approved, the emergency can remain in force for six months from the date of proclamation. If the House approves, the emergency can be further extended for six months. Our correspondent, Kul Chandra Neupane, reports that PM Deuba, who was earlier speaking at a program organized by Press Union-Kaski in Pokhara, also told businessmen in another gathering in the same town to not blame the government for placing much burden upon the deteriorating economy with additional taxes. "I did not mobilize the army on my will... the Maoists compelled us to do so. There were no other options left," the PM is quoted as saying in our report. PM Deuba also said that the present state of emergency is only targeted against the Maoists and their sympathizers, adding that the condition is not as bad as the one declared in India by then Indian PM Indira Gandhi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
