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Kathmandu Wednesday March 07, 2001 Falgun 24, 2057.
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Govt makes public names of Maoists in custody
Calls the rebels to join fresh peace talks
By Binaj Gurubacharya
KATHMANDU, March 6 - In a major breakthrough to the fresh initiatives for
peace talks between the government and the Maoist rebels, the government today made public
the names of what they claimed to be all the rebel members in custody.
The move comes just a day after news reports revealed that the government was
initiating fresh peace talks in an attempt to end the five years of insurgency that has
claimed over 1,500 lives. The government complied to the condition set by the rebels and
for the first time made public the names and figures of the rebels and their supporters
who are in custody.
"The rebels wanted the names made public and we have done that since we
have nothing to hide," Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters.
"This leaves them no room or excuse to delay the talks and I urge them to come
forward to resolve the issue."
At the same time the government too spelled out its own set of demands. The
government also wants the rebels to state the conditions and whereabouts of the 131 people
who were abducted and are still in their captivity.
Besides that, Poudel said the government as a democratic force was willing to
listen and discuss anything with just two exceptions.
"There will be no compromise or changes in the multiparty democracy and
constitutional monarchy...we are however willing to discuss and make changes that are
practical," Poudel said.
According to DPM Poudel, who also looks after the Home Ministry, there are
282 people who were involved in "terrorist activities" in custody and another 20
in solitary confinement.
The ones in custody, charged with crimes ranging from murder to possession of
fire arms without a permit, include 33 in eastern region, 66 in central, 68 in western, 96
in mid-western and 19 in far western regions.
If this fresh initiative does go through, it will be the only second time
that the government and the rebels would have approached each other for the talks.
The first one brokered by human rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar around
the Dasain festival last year broke down after the rebels accused the government of
failing to show sincerity ahead of the talks.
After meeting a top rebel leader, the government had conceded to the
rebels’ demand for the release of Dinesh Sharma but had held a press conference where
he said he was leaving the rebel group to live a life under the present system.
Immediately in the evening, Sharma changed his statement that prompted the
Maoists to cut off the talks and promise from their leaders that they would never ever
hold any dialogue with the present government.
Without admitting that the government made a wrong move with the Sharma
episode, Poudel said they were sincere about the talks.
"The government is sincere and serious about resolving the issue and we
are ready to hold the talks," Poudel said. "But they (rebels) have not shown any
commitment towards resolving the problem through peace talks."
Since the rebels took to the jungles and waged a guerrilla war from the
remote hills of central and mid-western parts of the country, at least 1,563 people have
been killed.
The latest government figures say that as many as 278 civilians have been
killed either by the rebels or were caught in the cross fire while 267 police personnel
and 1,018 rebel have also been killed.
Meanwhile, prominent human rights activists led by Padma Ratna Tuladhar have
formed a committee to help create an conducive environment for the peace talks. The
committee has Daman Nath Dhungana, Sindhunath Pyakurel, Sudip Pathak and Gauri Pradhan as
members also.
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