Nepal rebels end blockade of highways

COMMUNIST rebels withdrew a blockade of Nepal’s highways yesterday but gave the country’s political parties a two-day deadline to begin the process of rewriting the constitution, their leader said.

“We have withdrawn the blockade until the first meeting of the Parliament, taking into consideration positive assurances,” rebel leader Prachanda said in the statement.

The announcement came as soldiers in south-western Nepal opened fire on thousands of villagers peacefully protesting at the death of a local woman at an army camp, killing six, a rights activist said, adding the protesters had been emboldened by the country’s weeks of political turmoil.

A military official, however, said the villagers were trying to overrun the camp in the village of Belbari.

The rebels had blockaded key roads for weeks to support a campaign of anti-monarchy protests by the opposition coalition of seven main political parties, which often resulted in bloody clashes with security forces and left at least 15 people dead.

The parties called off their campaign after King Gyanendra agreed to hand power back to elected officials and reinstate Parliament by today.

The rebels initially called the move a betrayal, saying it did not go far enough, and tightened their blockade, leaving cities short of supplies, especially fuel.

Girija Prasad Koirala, nominated by the parties to return as prime minister, appealed to the rebels to withdraw their blockade, pledging to honour their agreements, including to focus on drafting a new constitution.

“The reinstated Parliament’s main agenda will be the election of a constitution assembly as per the road map of the parties and their understanding with the Maoists,” he said.

It was widely expected that the new constitution would limit the king’s role, or even eliminate the monarchy altogether.

The blockade had cut off major transport routes, including the nation’s key highway between the capital Kathmandu and the resort town of Pokhara.

The camp shootings, meanwhile, were rooted in Tuesday night’s death of a local woman at the small army base.

A military official said soldiers killed her as she tried to get into the camp. But area villagers believe soldiers raped and murdered her, said Kunjan Aryal, of the rights group INSEC-Nepal.

The status of the Nepal’s security forces has dropped significantly because of its backing of the king and the violence used against protesters.