Nepal Maoists Begin Peace Talks
BBC NewsMay 26, 2006
The Nepalese government and Maoist rebels have begun peace talks in the capital, Kathmandu to resolve the 10-year-old insurgency. It is the first time in three years that the sides are meeting.
Hopes for peace have been raised since a new multi-party government took power in Nepal last month after weeks of street protests against King Gyanendra.
Thirteen thousand people have died in Nepal during the decade-long insurgency which has also hit the economy.
The talks are being held at a luxury hotel in a forest just outside Kathmandu.
The government team is led by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, while the rebels are represented by senior leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
"We are 100 percent hopeful that the talks will succeed," Mr Sitaula is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Mr Mahara told the BBC that the initial discussions will focus on how to consolidate a 12-point agreement reached between the Maoists and a seven-party alliance which now runs the government.
These include:
preparing for the election of an assembly to write a new constitution
both sides agreeing to respect human rights
releasing Maoist detainees, a process already under way
listing of people who have disappeared from detention.
Hopes for peace have been raised since a new multi-party government took power in Nepal last month after weeks of street protests against King Gyanendra.
Thirteen thousand people have died in Nepal during the decade-long insurgency which has also hit the economy.
The talks are being held at a luxury hotel in a forest just outside Kathmandu.
The government team is led by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, while the rebels are represented by senior leader, Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
"We are 100 percent hopeful that the talks will succeed," Mr Sitaula is quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
Mr Mahara told the BBC that the initial discussions will focus on how to consolidate a 12-point agreement reached between the Maoists and a seven-party alliance which now runs the government.
These include:
preparing for the election of an assembly to write a new constitution
both sides agreeing to respect human rights
releasing Maoist detainees, a process already under way
listing of people who have disappeared from detention.
Meeting
Earlier on Friday, Mr Mahara informally met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
The current talks will prepare ground for a final round of negotiations in which Mr Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda are expected to take part.
Two earlier round of talks in the past five years had failed because of differences over elections for a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution.
But the current government, which took office after King Gyanendra ended direct rule following widespread pro-democracy protests, have agreed to hold elections for a constituent assembly.
The rebels hope the elections will pave the way for achieving their goal of abolishing the monarchy.
However, the BBC's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu says many of the mainstream parties who constitute the present multi-party government are non-committal on the future of the monarchy, despite taking part in the anti-king protests.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/5018832.stm
Published: 2006/05/26 11:31:51 GMT
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