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| Kathmandu, Monday May 13, 2002 Baishakh 30, 2059. |
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‘No
talks until Maoists surrender arms’
Post Report
KATHMANDU, May 12
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday emphatically ruled out any dialogue with the
outlawed Maoists unless they return the arms and put an end to all violence.
In a an interview to
the Nepali service of the BBC today, PM Deuba said, "They have to return the weapons
and end all violence." He was replying to a question whether the government sought
the laying down or returning of the arms. When asked what would be the objectives of the
talks with the Maoists if they already returned the arms, the PM said, "Who will
guarantee that they will return the weapons later. They will have to return the arms
first."
He added that they
would use the talks to strengthen and re-group themselves. Deuba also insisted that the
Maoists cannot be trusted anymore after "their betrayal". "Terrorists
cannot be trusted," he quipped. Fresh talks only after the arms were surrendered, he
insisted.
Throughout the
interview, the Prime repeated that the Maoists could not be trusted and there was no
guarantee that they would not violate peace after any possible cease-fire.
Deuba clarified that
he was not asking the Maoists to surrender but "I am asking the surrender of the
arms". He pointed out that the country’s democratic system allowed them to place
their demands and said people had freedom of speech and writing and form organisations.
When pointed out
that other countries with similar problems were effecting cease-fire and holding dialogue
to solve the problem, the Prime Minister replied that following that example (of
cease-fire and talks) in Nepal’s case would prove to be harmful.
Speaking on the
extension of the ongoing emergency (which is expiring on May 24), Deuba said that he would
hold consultations with all the political parties and then take a decision. "It is
everyone’s problem," he said, replying to a question whether the parties would
support the extension.
Deuba also clarified
that he was not meeting the world leaders to discuss the talks with the Maoists.
Earlier, he revealed
that US President George Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security
Advisor Condolezza Rice were positive towards Nepal’s stance against the Maoists. His
objective of the US and the UK visits, he said, were to seek help to strengthen
Nepal’s security forces so as to defeat the Maoists and to seek assistance to promote
developmental works in the country.
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