HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Govt, Maoists sign code of conduct for peace talks
Govt will abide by code sincerely: Pun
Maoists will observe code seriously: Mahara

By Krishna Sharma

KATHMANDU, March 13: Nearly six weeks after the government and the CPN-Maoist announced a cease-fire, representatives of both the sides signed a code of conduct for the peace talks here this afternoon in a bid to end the seven-year-long insurgency.

The code, signed by Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun, who is also the coordinator of the government's side, and his counterpart Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, who is yet to make his appearance public, comes into effect from today. "The code must be enforced within three weeks," reads the code.

Expressing determination to keep the cease-fire intact, the mutually agreed 22-point code of conduct details the necessary steps to be taken by both the parties during the peace talks.

Minister Pun read out the rules at a press conference and said that the government would abide by them honestly.

The code says both the sides will make efforts at finding a permanent peace through the talks and will try to reach a general agreement while taking important decisions, taking into account the nation's interest.

As per the just released code of conduct, both the sides will stop their violent activities immediately and will not deploy armed forces.

The code also talks about the gradual release of persons detained by either of the sides; impartial dissemination of news and opinions of both the sides during the talks; a stop to forceful collection of cash or kind from the people; and a halt to arrests, kidnappings and unnecessary search operations.
The code also guarantees the fundamental civil rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal.

It says if any debate or problem arises during the implementation of the code of conduct, it will be resolved through consultations by both the sides.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, representative for the peace talks from the CPN-Maoist, who was present at the public disclosure of the code of conduct, said that his party would seriously observe the code and that it had already directed its lower level cadres to immediately release persons detained by them.
"We do not have many detainees, and they will be released immediately," said Mahara, who was the Maoists' coordinator of the peace talks held with the government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba about 18 months back.

During the press conference, representatives from both the sides said that goodwill talks to precede the peace talks would commence within a week.

"The talks will begin as soon as necessary preparations are made," said Pun. However, Minister Pun declined to give the date and the venue.

Mahara said that the focus of the forthcoming talks would be on heralding real democracy in the nation. "There is a need for a new kind of unity amongst the political forces in the country," he said. "The nation can no longer be run by a single authority." He called on the political parties to make the talks a success.

Mahara said that the Maoists' team for the peace talks would be ready within a week. As to whether he had met His Majesty the King in connection with the peace talks, Mahara made it clear that he has not met anybody from the government's side except Minister Pun.

This is the first time the government and the Maoists have come up with a detailed code of conduct to facilitate the peace talks. Earlier, the talks with the then Deuba-led Nepali Congress government were held without a code of conduct.

The 22-point Code of Conduct

* Both the sides will commit to seek a peaceful solution to the problem through talks.
* Both the sides will try to obtain general consensus before taking any important decision by remaining sensitive to national interest.
* Both the sides will stop all forms of violent and coercive activities, and stop the use and deployment of armed forces that strike terror among the people.
* None of the sides will resort to any kind of provocative activity in sensitive areas.
* Both the sides will gradually release persons detained by them.
* None of the sides will create any obstruction in carrying out work for the benefit of the people.
*The government media will disseminate news and opinions of both the sides in an impartial manner.
*They will not express statements in the media that will adversely affect the talks and peace process; they will use dignified and decent language while disseminating political information.
* There will be no forceful collection of cash or kind.
* They will not call for strikes or closures during the peace talks, but peaceful rallies and demonstrations can be held.
* Both the sides will stop unnecessary search, arrests and kidnappings.
* Both the sides will help each other in maintaining peace during the cease-fire.
* There will be no obstruction to the regular supply of foodstuffs, medicines and other consumer goods throughout the Kingdom.
* Both the sides will honour the people's right to move freely from one place to another.
* There will be no hindrance in the people's use of their fundamental rights.
* There will be no obstruction on the arrival and the movement and activities of those involved in the peace talks.
* Both the sides will help the displaced people return to their homes and be rehabilitated.
* A monitoring team will be formed through mutual consensus to look into the implementation of the code of conduct.
* If the code of conduct requires any amendment it will be done only through the consensus of both the sides.
* Both the sides will settle any debate regarding the interpretation of the code of conduct.
* The code of conduct can be terminated as per the consensus of both the sides.
· The code of conduct will come into force immediately; it must be enforced fully within three weeks from the date of its issuance.

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