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Three armed outfits ready for "talks"

A day after the government signed a five-point deal with the agitating Federal Republican National Front (FRNF) following long-drawn negotiations, three armed groups operating in terai have said they are ready to sit for talks with the government provided there is "enabling atmosphere for it".

'Central convenor' of Samyukta Jantantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (UJTMM) Pavan, 'central chairman' of Madhesi Mukti Tigers (MMT) Rajan Mukti and Terai Cobra's Nagaraj expressed their willingness to come to the negotiating table by issuing a joint press release Sunday.

"We are not against talks, and if there is an enabling atmosphere for it then we are ready to come for talks," the statement reads.

In the statement the three armed groups also termed as "positive" the decisions to declare those who have died during the madhesi agitation as martyrs and provide compensation to their families including treatment to those injured. However, the statement further said the decision to "abandon the main demand of one Madhes state was a contempt to the people's aspiration", terming the deal as a "sham".

The three armed groups are among a dozen or so Madhesi groups comprising of rag-tag armed men that are involved in low-intensity terrorist activities including killings, abduction and extortion targeted mainly at people of hilly origin living in terai plains. Their statement also comes a day after home minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula urged all armed groups operating in terai to lay down their weapons and join the election campaign, making it clear that those challenging the sovereignty and integrity of the country would not be spared.nepalnews.com ag Mar 02 08