February 11, 2008	Monday	Safar 03, 1429

KATHMANDU: Mounting tensions between the partners in Nepal’s peace deal are posing a serious challenge to its stability two months ahead of polls meant to transform the country into a republic, analysts say.

Former rebel Maoists faced heavy criticism this week after their supporters were accused of attacking and wounding 17 people, including a member of parliament, who were campaigning in the west for Nepal’s biggest party, the Nepali Congress.

Later the same day, hundreds of police raided the headquarters and offices of the controversial Maoist Young Communist League, with local media reporting that the raids were retaliation for the beatings.

On Wednesday, a Maoist announcement that they will revive local-level Maoist organisations prompted accusations they are restarting the parallel government they ran in areas under their control during the bitter insurgency.

“We are approaching a critical few weeks,” said analyst Rhoderick Chalmers, Nepal’s country director for the International Crisis Group, a conflict prevention think-tank.

“It was inevitable that things would bubble up at some point. There is a lot of jealousy and rivalry (in the interim government) so it’s not surprising,” said Chalmers, saying the worsening tensions have highlighted the fragility of the country’s 2006 peace deal.

The elections on April 10, designed to elect a body that will rewrite Nepal’s constitution, now look set to take place amid questions over whether the peace pact can hold.

In December, the country’s interim parliament — made up of Maoists and mainstream parties — approved a motion to scrap the monarchy and declare a republic immediately after the election.

But a survey last week showed that 49.3 per cent of Nepalis wanted some form of monarchy preserved. The monarch is considered by devout Hindus to be an incarnation of the Hindu god of protection Vishnu.—AFP