Maoists declare immediate ceasefire
Govt withdraws labelling of Maoists as terrorists

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 29: The Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) and His Majesty's Government have agreed for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate dialogue to end the seven-year-old Maoist problem.
A press statement issued today by the central committee of the CPN (Maoists), and signed by its Chairman Prachanda, said that his party came to know about the government's decisions to withdraw labelling the Maoists as terrorists, fixation of prices on their heads, and the red corner notice to arrest the Maoist leaders.

"Taking the government's decisions positively, the party has decided to observe ceasefire with immediate effect, and its willingness to participate in the talks," the statement said.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday had decided to withdraw the labelling of Maoists as terrorists; to take back the decision to give cash rewards to anyone informing or helping in arresting the Maoist leaders, as called by someone as 'prices on their heads'; and to scrap the red corner notice for the arrest of the Maoist leaders.

A press statement of the cabinet secretariat said the decisions were taken after the Maoists reciprocated the government's overtures to resolve the Maoist problem through talks, and after both the sides agreed for an immediate ceasefire.

The cabinet has also designated Minister for Works and Physical Planning Narayan Singh Pun as coordinator to create an atmosphere for the political solution of the problem through talks.

The CPN (Maoist), in the statement, also said that it was ready to resolve the situation of on-going state of civil war through talks and through positive and forward-looking political means. It said that the party had been putting forth some minimal conditions to create an atmosphere for talks.

The CPN (Maoist) has also urged the rank and file of the party, all its revolutionary fighters, the party's organs and the common people to honour and implement the announcement.

The CPN (Maoist) has also requested to continue with the party's overall policy and minimal working policies for round-table conference, interim government and constituent assembly through organisational and peaceful mobilisation of the people.

Govt in favour of dialogue: Pandey

After the announcement of the ceasefire government spokesman and Minister for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey said that the government was always in favour of solving all problems through dialogues.

"The difference between the people can be resolved through dialogue on the basis of nationalism," Spokesman Pandey said at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar Wednesday evening shortly after the announcement of the ceasefire.

He further said that our way of thinking should be inspired by monarchical tradition in a bid to consolidate mutual understanding for peace and development.

Govt always ready to talk with Maoists: Thapa

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POKHARA, Jan. 29: Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa has said that the government is always positive to hold talks with the Maoists and the murder of Inspector General of Police will not prevent the talks with the Maoists.

Speaking at a press conference organised by Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Pokhara branch here today he said though many individuals and organisations have tried to be mediator between the government and the Maoists for dialogue the government has not reached to any decision yet.

"I have no any reason to resign in the present context," Home Minister Thapa said in reply to a question about his resignation. He said some persons in the Rastriya Prajatantra Party central committee wanted to fulfil their selfish interests through the administration and when their interests could not be fulfilled they demanded the resignation.

The function was held under the chairmanship of FNJ Pokhara branch Punya Paudyal.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Thapa has pointed out the need to generate awareness to control the menace of HIV/AIDS. Inaugurating the HIV/AIDS control awareness campaign programme organised for students in Pokhara today he stressed the need to control the drug abuse, one of the main causes of HIV/AIDS transmission.

Students can be effective messengers to control HIV/AIDS and should generate awareness to the people in every household about its negative impact, he said. Most of the speakers participating the programme stressed the need to jointly launch campaign and generate awareness from all sides of the society to control the menace of AIDS in time.

A host of speakers stressed the need to prevent the serious disease AIDS at the programme which was held under the chairmanship of chairman of AIDS Control Association, Pokhara Bishwamohan Gauchan.

Donors reaffirm support to Nepal

By Our Correspondent

DHULIKHEL (KAVRE), Jan. 29: Reaffirming their support to the policies and programmes pursued by His Majesty's Government, donor countries and agencies have said that they would continue to provide assistance to Nepal.

At an interaction programme with Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Minister for Information and Communications, and General Admnistration Ramesh Nath Pandey and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shah, ambassador of the USA, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China and India, and representative of the Asian Development Bank said that they would provide every support to the government.

"The donor countries and agencies have appreciated the reform measures taken by the governments during the past six months, and have said that they would continue their support to the government," Minister Pandey told the press after the programme here this afternoon.

"The World Bank report made public on Wednesday has also praised the achievements made in the last one year on the social and economic sectors," Minister Pandey said. The report has pointed out that the present situation was the outcome of the failure of the Nepali Congress government, which had won a majority in the last general election. NC had failed to utilize the majority and give stability to the country, he said.

He refuted rumours that the donor countries and agencies would withheld their supports to the present government if it fails to hold elections as bias and baseless.

"The government is doing all it can for holding the local elections as soon as possible," Minister Pandey said. The homework for holding the local elections is at its final stage, and the people will soon be informed about it, he said.

However, Pandey, who is also the government spokesman, declined to disclose when the elections would be held.

Talking about the Maoist problem, Pandey said that the government was always in favour of solving it through dialogues.

"If nationalism is the focus of all, every problem and difference could be solved," he maintained.
Pandey said the differences and disputes would be solved permanently only if institution of monarchy is accepted as a directive force, and the country's present need and the broader interest is focussed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand attended the luncheon hosted by Mirabell Resort here at Dhulikhel, the district headquarters.

'Differences can be resolved through dialogue'

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 29: When asked about the decision Tuesday of the Council of Ministers, Minister for Information and Communications and spokesman of His Majesty's Government Rameshnath Pandey has said His Majesty's Government is confident that the differences of opinions among the Nepalese can be resolved through dialouge and a resolution could be made on the basis of patriotism.
It is known to all that His Majesty's Government has wished that all problems be resolved through talks, Minister Pandey said and expressed his belief that our ideology should be inspired by monarchist culture in order to consolidate mutual understanding and consensus among us-the Nepalese.

Team submits report on Social Welfare Council

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 29: The three-member working team, constituted three months ago to submit recommendations regarding the extension and constitutional development of Social Welfare Council, has submitted its report to the Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi and Assistant Minister Anuradha Koirala today.

Minister Khapangi expressing the ministry's commitment to implementing policies related to women, children and social welfare on the occasion said that the consultations and recommendations mentioned in the report will be fruitful in the development of council.

Co-ordinator of the team Dr Mohan Man Sainju shedding light on various aspects of the report said the report has recommended for the timely amendments of Social Welfare Council Act 2049 to make the social development activities very effective.

Mentioning the adverse influence of politics on the activities of the council Dr Sainju pointed out that there is the lack of a coherence between council's policies and its practices in reality. The report mentions the lack of co-ordination between the government and the council and the council's failure to exploit its resources.

The report recommends the council to formulate policies in accordance with the government's policies on the matters of local governance, decentralisation and others. Likewise, the report has suggested to formulate effective policies to regulating the works and nature of non-governmental organisations in the country.

Security officials find more clues on plot

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 29: Security officials investigating on the murders of IGP of the Armed Police Force Krishna Mohan Shrestha, his wife Nudup, and bodyguard Surya Bahadur Regmi have said that they found more clues of the plot and those involved in it.

"The findings have been kept secret because we still have to reach to its depth," officials involved in the investigation told The Rising Nepal. A team of investigators is being trying to dig out the plot of the killing; the investigators are pursuing the trail on the basis of the statement made by Krishna Hari Sainju, with aliases Binay and Bibek.

Police had arrested Sainju from Patan Hospital where he had gone for treatment of bullet injury on the leg he had sustained in the shoot out. The team is also investigating on the persons, whose phone numbers were recorded in the Pager found with Sainju.

Sainju, whose group used to work in Bhaktapur for a long time, was working in Lalitpur under the Valley Bureau of the terrorist organisation. IGP Shrestha was shot five times while he was on a morning walk at Bagdol in Lalitpur on Sunday. His wife Nudup and bodyguard Surya Bahadur Regmi was also shot by the terrorists killing them both.

Kingdom receives rainfall due to westerly wind

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 29: Most parts of the Kingdom received rainfall today as a result of the effects of the westerly wind over the last two days. According to meteorologist Rajendra Prasad Shrestha, the precipitation occured after rain-bearing clouds that developed over the low pressure area in Jammu-Kashmir and West Rajasthan, India since Monday, entered the far-west and western parts of the Kingdom.

Due to these changes, cloudy conditions prevailed and precipitation occured throughout the country since morning today. The central and eastern parts of the country however had received rainfall since yesterday. There will be improvement in the weather in western Nepal from tomorrow while partially cloudy conditions will prevail over central and eastern Nepal.

The maximum atmospheric temperature in the capital today was 11 degrees celcius and the minimum temperature eight degrees. Snowfall is expected in the high hills around the valley tomorrow as a result of the change in weather.

The dense fog cover over the Terai belt since the last three days, which had disappeared as a result of the rainfall, is likely to occur again. There is a possiblity of the westerly winds once again having their effect on Nepal. However, if there is no such effect, the weather will improve fully over the coming two days.

'Political parties need to be honest to resolve impasse'

By Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 30: Political think-tank Pradeep Giri said that the present complex political situation could not be resolved unless the political parties move ahead with dedication, determination and honesty rather than continuing to raise their accusing finger to a particular section. Giri said the Maoists must be serious enough to take initiative to find out an exit to their problems by sitting across the dialogue table.

The October 4 Royal promulgation did not come as a surprise but was a culmination of the shortcomings of the past 12 years on the part of the political parties that must bear all responsibilities for their faults, said Giri, a Central Working Member of the Nepali Congress (Democratic).

At a television programme the other day, Giri said that the reason behind the present impasse was due to lack of seriousness among the parties during the time of talks with the Maoists and non-cooperation to the then government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba.

"Without including the concept of modern freedom, no state or the government can run in the present geo-political situation. That is they are undergoing a very difficult phase," he said. The dissolution of the Parliament was a product of the conflict within the Nepali Congress for power, Giri said.

The ambition shown by our leaders, who are never tired of harping on the merits of the Westminster Style of Government but have are always ready for grabbing power, leading to the emergence of the Maoists problems, he said.

An aberration in the political equation as enshrined by the Popular 1991 Movement and the shrinkage in the Prime Minister's popularity among the people led to the Royal Promulgation on October 4, last year, he said.

As per the tradition of the Shah Dynasty to rule the nation in accordance with the wishes and aspiration of the common subjects, His Majesty the King dismissed the Deuba government after many political parties requested to him to so.

An well educated and a descendent of the His late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, His Majesty the King's steps to dismiss Deuba and to appoint Lokendra Bahadur Chand as the Prime Minister was not unnatural and surprising, Giri said.

The political parties must share the blame for the present crisis. Each of the political parties are responsible for failing to maintain power equilibrium after the successful 1991 Movement, which did not reject the role of the Monarchy then.

The political parties were not people-oriented but rather were interested in grabbing power. Every Prime Minister image among the people was not so strong. The political parties and the masses went farther from each other, which had invited the current problem, Giri said.

Giri said that rhetoric on the Constitution would not solve the present issue. "The mandate given by the Popular Movement is that the government along with its all other organs such as the army, civil service, judiciary, the university, and the police administration need to be more democratized."

"The Popular Movement helped change only Prime Ministers and transfer of the power but was unable to bring democratization to these organs," he said. The country has suffered not because there was a less amount of democratization in people's representative system of governance.

Remember courage of martyrs, says Koirala

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 30. Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that on the occasion of Martyrs Day, we should remember the courage, commitment and sacrifice of the brave martyrs and pledge never to let democracy, the legacy of that sacrifice, commitment and courage, ever become weak.

In a statement on the occasion of Martyrs Day today, Koirala said democracy was brought to this country through the sacrifice of the martyrs with their unparalleled courage and firm determination that democracy, the inherent birthright of each human, should be duly won.

He said democracy which was established through the blood of these martyrs is now again in dire straits.