HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

UML for govt-Maoist talks to end crisis: Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct 14: The main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist) is looking forward to initiate efforts towards bringing the Maoists, who have been conducting armed insurgency in the name of the so-called "peoples’ war" to come to the negotiating table.

"We have been approached by the left parties along with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Nepal Sadbhawana Party to direct efforts towards pressing the Maoists to hold talks with the government and put an end to violence," CPN (UML) General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said.

Nepal however said that the CPN (UML) would not play the role of a mediator between the government and the Maoists.

"We had a meeting with the eight left parties on October 10 and the left leaders called upon the CPN (UML) to take the initiative to address the Maoist problem," Nepal told a tea reception organised at the party’s central office on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami.

He said that the CPN (UML) had not received an official notification of the demands of the Maoists.

"We look forward to call upon the Maoist leaders to spell out their demands officially so that we can take the initiative to bring them to terms with the government," Nepal said.

He said that the party would also ask the government about the demands of the Maoists.

The CPN (UML) has volunteered to take the initiative to address the Maoist problem in the capacity of the main opposition party in the parliament for the first time.

"It is unfortunate that the government has decided to mobilise the army at the instruction and supervision of the Chief district officers in some districts recently," Nepal said.

The killings in Dunai by the Maoists before the Dahain festival seemed to be an indication to the government that it should make efforts to call the Maoists leaders for talks, he said.

Nepal said since the three demands of the Maoists aren’t too rigid, the Nepali Congress must invite the Maoists for talks ensuring that the achievements of the popular movement of 1990 are safeguarded.

"The ruling party must be ready to make a sacrifice in order to protect democratic culture in the country by inviting the Maoists for talks."

He said the government instead of attempting to crush the Maoists should adopt a flexible strategy and find a way out of the problem through the holding of dialogue.

On the recent price hike of POL products Nepal said the decision was very unfortunate and the CPN (UML) was planning to launch a nationwide movement against the price hike.

"The government must take back the decision to hike the price of POL products," he said.

Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, former Prime Ministers Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba, leaders of different political parties, heads of Constitutional Bodies, representatives of the diplomatic missions and general public were present at the tea reception.

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