Thousands flock to Maoists rally

Kathmandu, June 2 (UNI) Tens of thousands people today participated in the biggest mass meeting of the CPN Maoists here in over three years.

The inner parts of the Nepalese capital were covered with the red communist flags of the Maoists and with more than 5,000 volunteers, portraying the picture of Prachanda and crossed hammer-sickle sign of the Communist Party. The area of Khulla manch, Bhotahity, Ratna Park and areas in front of Bir Hospital were all packed with people.

''We will burn the crown and we will run the country,'' the people shouted as they filled into a dust-choked public ground just 500 metres (yards) from the royal palace for the rally here.

Central committee members of the CPN-M addressed the mass meeting, after the rallies from various parts of the city converged at the Khulla Manch. The heads of Maoists affiliated organisations also addressed the meeting. The Maoist leaders demanded the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HOR) and the present government .

''The HOR and present government do not represent the forces which were actively involved in the movement. A broad political conference of all the forces involved in people's movement, introduction of an interim statute and government is needed'', Coordinator of the rebels talk team Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

The Maoist leaders said peace is the most important requirement and they were committed toward restoring peace in the country through negotiations.

Traffic inside the Ring Road here came to a halt due to the mass meeting. Only small vehicles are plying inside the Ring Road area. No vehicles plied in the adjoing areas of Khulla Manch since the early morning. Main business hubs too remained closed.

According to Police, more than 400 vehicles carrying thousands of people entered Kathmandu valley from different checkpoints.

According to reports, Maoists had issued notices in the villages that a member from each family must go to the capital to participate in the meeting.

Reuters add: Dozens of soldiers carrying automatic rifles stood in front of the heavily guarded palace. Scores of riot police maintained a vigil outside the venue where red hammer and sickle Maoist banners fluttered.

Armoured cars and soldiers holding machine guns manned major road intersections.

Weeks of violent street protests forced Gyanendra in April to give up his absolute grip power, reinstate the parliament he disbanded in 2002 and return power to political parties.

The Maoists have held rallies outside the capital to win support since Nepal's new multi-party government last month matched an earlier ceasefire declared by the militants.

''We want to build a new Nepal,'' said Chhemata Biswokarma, a 20-year-old woman who had traveled 200 km (125 miles) to attend the Kathmandu rally. Chants of ''Gyanendra thief, leave the country'' and ''Hang Gyanendra'' were also heard.

NO SHOW OF ARMS Thousands of posters bearing the portraits of rebel leader Prachanda had been put up in the ancient temple-studded city, although organisers said he would not be present.

''Unconditional constituent assembly,'' read a huge Maoist banner that hung from an iron railing near the venue.

Last week, the multi-party government and the Maoists held their first meeting since 2003 and agreed to hold elections to a constituent assembly to decide the monarchy's future, a key Maoist demand.

The Maoist insurgency has claimed more than 13,000 lives since 1996 and wrecked the economy of the tourism and aid-dependent kingdom.

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