Welcoming Maoists' move to withdraw their indefinite strike, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today sought the cooperation of former rebels in speeding up drafting of the Constitution and completing the peace process.
"I believe that the withdrawal of the strike will contribute positively in the task of building consensus collaboration and cooperation," Nepal said in a statement, a day after Maoists withdrew their indefinite strike that crippled normal life across the country.
"There is no way other than forging consensus and cooperation among the political parties to complete the drafting of the constitution and to conclude the peace process," he said.
The prime minister said solution to all problems should be sought within the constitutional framework and through democratic procedures.
He also expressed confidence Nepalese political parties will succeed in forging consensus among themselves and complete tasks related to the peace process such as dissolving the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League of
the Maoists, returning the seized property, managing Maoist
combatants and converting the Maoist party into a civilian
organisation.
"Democracy cannot be strengthened by causing pain to the people, which we have seen recently," he said.
Amid intense pressure from the public, Maoists had yesterday called off their 6-day-old anti-government general strike following a 48-hour ultimatum to the former rebels by the people reeling under a virtual siege.
However, the party will continue their protest rallies even after withdrawing the indefinite strike to press for a national government through consensus among parties.
