February 12, Kathmandu.
A decade-long Maoist war started on February 13, 1996. Maoists joined forces with other political parties in the Second People’s Movement in April 2006, which would pave the way for abolishing two centuries-old monarchy.
Maoists are all set to commemorate the war on February 13, Tuesday. Cabinet led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had declared a public holiday for February 13 last year, but the Supreme Court annulled the government decision last December. In the absence of a public holiday, PM Dahal has asserted that the Maoist war anniversary will be celebrated all over the country. ‘Nobody can deprive us of our rights,’ said Dahal, addressing the central committee of his party on Monday.
Meanwhile, Durga Prasai, a former aide to Maoist leader Dahal, has announced a renewed movement in favor of monarchy, the Hindu state, and relief for victims of cooperatives and other financial institutions for the same day. In November last year, Prasai led demonstrations against the federal democratic republic. Rashtriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), a Hindu monarchist party present in the parliament, has also announced the commencement of a movement on the same day. Prasai reiterated that Gyanendra Shah, who was King before the establishment of the federal democratic republic, will join the movement’s inaugural event in central Kathmandu. Shah had not participated in the November demonstrations, however.
In January, Gyanendra Shah refuted accusations of his involvement in the ‘Palace Massacre’ that cleared his elder brother Birendra Shah’s family line. Political leaders at the helm of the power for the last two decades were quick to react to Shah’s call for investigation. Contrary to the official investigation report, KP Sharma Oli, former Prime Minister and chairman of CPN (UML), asserted that the then crown prince Dipendra Shah could not have murdered his whole family. PM Dahal, who led the Maoist war, stated that a renewed investigation into the massacre is on the way. ‘Former King said what he should not have said. The government will now move on to reinvestigate the massacre,’ said Dahal last month, responding to journalists.