HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Ceasefire result of people's aspiration: PM

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 11: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said at the RPP central working committee meeting today that the ceasefire between His Majesty's Government and the Maoists did not occur suddenly but was a result of the aspirations of the Nepali people and a lengthy dialogue.
Prime Minister Chand also made it clear that no secret agreement or consensus has been reached other than the public announcement of withdrawal of the red corner notice issued against leaders of the Maoist Party, which had been declared a terrorist organisation, and of the decision to award those giving information leading to the arrest of Maoist leaders.Stating that political parties have a very important role to play in the peace process, Chand said there is no truth in the accusation that effort has been made to minimise the role of the parties.

Effort is being made to win support from the political parties, Mr Chand said and expressed confidence that he would receive positive cooperation from them.

The meeting welcomed the cease-fire agreement reached between government and the Maoists and called for cooperation from all sectors in order to transform it into lasting peace.

It also urged that no sector should express or do anything that could have an adverse affect on the peace process.

The meeting said that both sides should develop a code of conduct for the ceasefire, neither should allow the ceasefire to be utilized as an opportunity to garner power or reap fruit in future and they should develop a proper mechanism for monitoring and supervision to safeguard the reliability of the cease-fire.

An atmosphere should be developed immediately to involve political parties in the peace process in order to maintain the legality of the process and to make the talks successful, the meeting said adding that the government should take effective steps to take into confidence the political parties, civil society and other sectors which are an integral part of the state which is holding talks with the Maoists.

The government should work to wipe out the misconception that a secret agreement was reached while declaring the ceasefire and a policy adopted to ignore the political parties in the process, sufficient home-work has to be done to manage the peace process in a planned, systemic and successful manner, the process should be transparent and immediate programmes launched for the rehabilitation and well-being of people fallen victim to the people's war.

As the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 was developed as per the wishes of the Nepali people in course of building a political system based on people's sovereignty, constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy, any agreement reached against the spirit and norms of the constitution would not be acceptable to the RPP, the meeting has made it clear.

Calling for a commitment to carry out extensive and far-sighted reforms in the political, socio-economic and cultural sectors for a sustainable resolution of the Maoist problem, the meeting said in this connection that special attention should be given to uplifting the indigenous people, the nationalities, the Terai people, the Madhesi community and women.

The meeting also expressed determination to carry out organisational activities to create a popular mandate for the peace process and called upon all political parties, civic society and the general public to play a historic role in the overall interest of the country and for protecting the people's rights.
A working paper on the RPP's approach and policy in the present political circumstances presented by central member Kamal Thapa was approved with amendments by the meeting.

Former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa was also present at the meeting chaired by RPP central president Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana.

Former vice-president Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani and former central member Rabindra Nath Sharma were present as invitees.

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