HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

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.

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