Prachanda - Public Appearance

Public Appearance

In the first week of May, 2006, Maoist chairman Prachanda along with another senior leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai entered Nepal through Birgunj, after presiding over a Maoist meet in Punjab, India. After this, they attended various programs organized by the party in different places. Prachanda refused to make a public appearance before there was a political settlement with the seven-party alliance. The Maoists were rigid in their demands that the monarchy was to be abolished, rather than just stripped of its powers. The Maoists looked at every activity of the new government with suspicion. Earlier, they had released a press statement that the king’s plan for reinstating the parliament was a betrayal of the people.

Maoist leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, claimed that there was a secret agreement between the seven party alliance and the king, on April 24, in which they would ensure the king would retain monarchy in some form in the future. On June 6, 2006, then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala went to India for a four day visit seeking support from India for Nepal’s recent political changes. The Maoist chairman insisted they not ask for any economic assistance, without resolving the political disputes within the country, and demanded that the Maoist prisoners be released soon, who were languishing in Indian jails.

After the return of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to Nepal, he insisted on having high level talks with Prachanda and Baburam directly. But Chairman Prachanda and the other senior leader refused Koirala’s request. They showed no willingness to go to Kathmandu. Home Minister Krishna Sitaula said,

"After repeated persuasion, Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai finally agreed. But before their public appearance, there was a lot more to do. So I flew in a helicopter without my security guards to meet them."

On the morning of June 14, Sitaula flew in a private helicopter to Siklis, a mountainous village in Kaski district. When Sitaula reached there, the CPN(Maoist) was planning a mass meeting in the village. After having four hours of talks with the senior leaders, Sitaula finalized arrangements for their arrival in Kathmandu. On June 16, Sitaula flew to Pokhara to receive Prachanda and Bhattarai. Maoist chairman Prachanda, along with his wife and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, were taken to the Prime Minister’s residence. Maoist chairman Prachanda said, "That day, the first day I appeared in public in Kathmandu, I wore a light blue suit. I like light blue the most". It was a turning point in Prachanda’s life after 25 years of life in hiding and 10 years of war.

There was an eight point understanding between the government and the Maoist rebels. After talks with the Prime Minister, Prachanda speaking to the media said that the peace talks were progressing despite the setbacks of the past. The public appearance of the rebel leader created a sensation in Nepal. The Maoist chief claimed that the understanding would give a new political direction to Nepal. Stating that the deal was "an historical one", Prachanda said that Nepal would soon be transformed into a republic after the Constituent Assembly elections. He was the first prime minister of Nepal after the monarchy was abolished.