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Kathmandu Wednesday November 14, 2001 Kartik 29, 2058.
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Third round of talks inconclusive
By Tilak Pokharel
GODAVARI, Lalitpur, Nov 13 – The much awaited third round of
government-Maoist peace talks concluded here today inconclusively, after the Maoist
negotiators remained adamant on their demand to hold constituent assembly and the
government side denying it.
However, both the sides have said that the talks have not deadlocked as yet
and decided to hold more rounds "in future".
After the talks that lasted for five hours, chief Maoist negotiator Krishna
Bahadur Mahara said, "After we formally told them (government side) that our minimum
demand now is the constituent assembly, the government side stood hesitant on it."
"Since the Maoist side withdrew the demand of republican state, the
government negotiators went on saying that our other demands could be fulfilled through
present Constitution," Mahara added. "But we insisted on dissolving the
Constitution and forming an interim government thereby conducting election for the
constituent assembly, which the government negotiators categorically denied."
Leader of the government negotiating team and Minister for Physical Planning
and Works Chiranjivi Wagle, after the talks said, "Since the Maoists have withdrawn
the demand of a republican state, other demands can be fulfilled by present Constitution
and we denied to go for the constituent assembly."
"Since both the government and the Maoists want protection of human
rights, justice to the people and empowering them, welfare of the state and its people;
all these can be fulfilled through the present Constitution, said Wagle.
Wagle who is leaving for a weeklong state visit to South Korea tomorrow said
the government can sit for next round of talks in November-end and the date and venue will
be finalised after consulting the Maoist side.
According to Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Daman Nath Dhungana, facilitators of
the government-Maoist dialogue, the Maoist side insisted on the complete change of the
present Constitution and the government side preferred its reform.
"But the talks have not deadlocked and we have told them to sit for the
next round after consulting with opposition parties and ruling party leaders," Mahara
told reporters. "Next round of talks will depend on the sincerity and honesty of the
government and now the ball is in their court," he added.
But another government negotiator and Minister for Agriculture and
Co-operatives, Mahesh Acharya, said, "The ball now is in Maoist’s court."
Among the three major political demands of the Maoists, they have dropped the
demand of a republican state to make third round of talks go comfortably. But, they were
sticking to their demand for the formation of an interim government and constituent
assembly.
The environment for the peace talks was further facilitated after the
government scrapped the much controversial Public Security Regulations 2001 and released
68 Maoist workers, one day after the Maoists withdrew their major demand last week.
During today’s talks, Mahara said that the Maoist side again put forth
their demand for the release of 300 Maoist workers and supporters, withdrawal of army
personnel deployed in seven Maoist stronghold districts under government’s Integrated
Security and Development Programme (ISDP) and withdrawal of Armed Police Force Act that
was passed by the 20th session of parliament to counter the Maoist rebels.
Minister Wagle was optimistic about peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem
through dialogue. "The government has perceived the Maoist move of withdrawing the
demand of a republican state as a very positive note and I hope it will make easier to
reach a firm conclusion."
Earlier for today’s talks, Maoist leader Mahara arrived in the capital
from New Delhi. Other Maoist negotiators included Agni Prasad Sapkota and Top Bahadur
Rayamajhi. Other government negotiators included Minister for Water Resources Bijay Kumar
Gachchhedar, Narahari Acharya and former minister Chakra Prasad Bastola.
One of the facilitators Tuladhar, said he, on behalf of human rights
activists, submitted a letter containing code of conduct to protect the human rights to
each sides. "We submitted it to make both sides responsible for the protection of
human rights," he said.
During the talks, the government side reiterated its demand of publicly
issuing a directive by elusive Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal a.k.a. Comrade Prachanda
to all Maoist cadres not to indulge into murder, violence, abduction and extortion.
After Prime Minster Sher Bahadur Deuba assumed power four months ago, he
declared cease-fire against the Maoist rebels and the latter reciprocated the government
move by declaring cease-fire from their side. It led to two rounds of peace talks –
first one on August 30 and the second round on September 13-14.
According to Dhungana, today’s talks assessed the situation developed
after the conclusion of second round of dialogue and both the sides hailed each
other’s latest moves.
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