“The two big parties -- Nepali Congress and CPN UML -- are not paving the way for the formation of a national unity government and are trying to push us back to conflict. If they do not come to an understanding, we will intensify our protest and launch a general strike from May 2,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the meeting. [break]
The UCPN (Maoist) had called the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) and the Federation of Nepalese Cottage and Small Industries, among others, at the party´s headquarters.
Business leaders said they could not believe the largest political party of the country talking in such an ´insensible manner´ when the country is passing through economic gloom and seeing declining exports.
“The future course of politics does not look good. Dahal´s statement has shaken us to the core,” Surendra Bir Malakar, president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce, told myrepublica.com after the meeting.
During the meeting the Maoist chairman had informed the businessmen that the level of protest the party has been organizing so far is proving inadequate to create pressure on the government.
So, we are bringing in a huge mass of people to Kathmandu on May 1. The rally will be peaceful, but if no understanding is forged by that night, we might launch a general strike from the next day. - Dahal
“So, we are bringing in a huge mass of people to Kathmandu on May 1. The rally will be peaceful, but if no understanding is forged by that night, we might launch a general strike from the next day,” he said.
“This will be painful for the business community. We understand that. But we cannot do anything about it. The situation has compelled us to choose this path. Hence, I appeal to you all to support us by providing donations and participating in the strike,” said Dahal.
Dahal also suggested that the business community should not worry about the trainings the party has been providing to its cadres in different parts of the country. He said the trainings were aimed at preparing volunteers for the May 1 peaceful rally.
The Maoist chairman also vented ire at the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML for postponing the meeting of the High-Level Political Mechanism from Saturday to Sunday.
Entrepreneurs who were made anxious by the sudden summons readily agreed to pay ´donations´, but asked the party not to fix the ´donations´ amount. However, they objected to the planned general strike, saying that such a strike will only increase the balance of payments deficit and throw the economy into chaos.
CNI President Binod Chaudhary asked Dahal not to inflict yet another attack on the industrial sector. “Being the largest party in parliament we expect much more from the UCPN (Maoist). I request you not to launch a strike,” a participant of the meeting quoted Chaudhary as telling Dahal.
Officials from FNCSI that is organizing the Cottage Industry Expo from April 30 to May 4 said a strike will hamper all the efforts small entrepreneurs are making to revive their businesses.
Business leaders including Pradeep Kumar Shrestha even offered to facilitate talks between the top three parties to avoid tension. FNCCI President Kush Kumar Joshi, meanwhile, asked the party to focus more on constitution-writing.
“People voted to make the UCPN (Maoist) the largest party for the purpose of constitution-writing. If Constituent Assembly members fail to deliver, the people will blacklist them. The party should worry about this more than anything else,” he told the Maoist chairman.
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