Nepal Seven, Maoists join hands to end King’s rule Yubaraj Ghimire Posted online: Monday, March 20, 2006 at 0000 hrs KATHMANDU, MARCH 19 Setting the stage for a direct confrontation with King Gyanendra, Nepal’s alliance of seven pro-democracy parties, fresh from their talks with Maoists in New Delhi and Kathmandu, today announced a “decisive” agitation next month aimed at ending “absolute monarchy” and finding a political solution to the decade-old armed conflict by holding Constituent Assembly polls. The Maoists came out in open support of the alliance plans and announced withdrawal of a highway blockade that had crippled life in the kingdom for nearly a week. A statement by the Maoists, signed by their leader Prachanda, said they were ending the six-day blockade and suspending an indefinite general strike that was to begin April 3. The Maoists said they would support and endorse the April 6-9 general strike called by the alliance of seven parties. The alliance will hold a “decisive, peaceful rally” in Kathmandu on April 8 to mark the declaration of “end of absolute rule” 16 years ago by late King Birendra following a massive movement for democracy in the country in 1990. The King’s government has warned that it may even impose curfew to foil the rally. The alliance and the Maoists came out with public appeals through separate statements because some constituents of the alliance feared that a joint statement with the Maoists, who are still targeting civilians and have not renounced the gun, could be counter-productive for the alliance.