Nepal Maoists plan to lay siege to the capital and local government offices in a bid to step up pressure on the ruling coalition to rectify the presidents decision to reinstate the former army chief,who was dismissed by Maoists supremo Prachanda in May. The UCPN-Maoists today announced a two-week-long protest programme from November 1 to force the government to correct President Ram Baran Yadavs controversial decision to reinstate General Rukmangad Katawal,who has now retired. Maoists had asked the government last week to find a consensus to discuss the issue in the Parliament. They said that protest from November 1 will press for upholding the civilian supremacy and rectify the presidents move to reinstate Katawal. Baburam Bhattarai,Vice Chairman of the UCPN-Maoist said they plan to stage sit-in front of local administration offices to the government secretariat and surround the capital with thousands of workers. Our main issue is to voice the demand for national independence and oppose foreign intervention, Bhattarai told a press conference. This will be the second phase of protest launched by the Maoists. The Maoists had few days ago announced that they would launch fresh protests. The protest will be largely peaceful,claimed Vice chairman of the party Baburam Bhattarai. The Maoists are planning to stage sit-in from local administration to the government secretariat at centre and surrounding the capital with thousands of workers. The Maoists have been blocking the Parliament for the past six months asking the president to apologise and to allow debate on the president¿s move in the Parliament.
