US not dropping Maoist terrorist tag any time soon

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 31 - The United States on Sunday said that it will not be dropping its terrorist tag on the Maoists immediately.

The US Ambassador James F Moriarty, who returned to Nepal after the Christmas holidays, today said that it was not deemed necessary to remove the terrorist tag since "There had been no apparent change in the Maoist activities."

Talking to "I am not sure what they've been doing. The violence is continuing, the intimidation, kidnappings are continuing. If they stop those, then it will be a good time to review the US's policy."

The US has been maintaining that it would not be softening its stance on the Maoists even after the Seven Party Alliance and Maoists signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord on November 21.

Likewise, it had also said that Maoist participation in an interim government could complicate US development assistance, since American law forbids support to terrorist organizations but added that development aid would continue even if it had to be restructured in certain areas.

Top leaders’ meeting ends inconclusive; next meeting tomorrow

The meeting of the top leaders of the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists has been postponed for Thursday afternoon as the leaders failed to reach consensus on the draft of the interim constitution.

The meeting that started at 4:00 pm at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar ended within two hours. The meeting will resume at 13:00 pm Thursday.

According to Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel, some leaders demanded that they should be given a chance to go over the interim constitution draft submitted by the talks teams of the government and the Maoists.

“The leaders would go over the draft before 11:00 am and then sit for discussion at 13:00 pm tomorrow,” he informed.

“The concern that arms management and announcement of interim constitution should go side by side was also discussed at the meeting. The Maoist side argued that the delay in announcing the interim constitution was not because of them,” he said, adding “I’m not sure tomorrow’s meeting takes a concrete decision.”

Another NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said there were a few theoretical and technical matters, which needed further discussion before the draft of the interim constitution could be finalised.
“There is no serious disagreement. Only a few theoretical and technical matters, and the phrasing of the interim constitution, remain to be decided,” he said informing that tomorrow’s meeting would dwell on these matters.

No top leaders preferred to speak to the media regarding the progress in the talks, or their differences.

Reports meanwhile said the issue of the head of the state and electoral system are some the key areas of dispute between the SPA and the Maoists.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Janamorcha Nepal chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, Prabhu Narayan Choudhary who chairs the United Left Front chairman participated in the meeting.

Government and Maoist talks teams and central leaders of the eight parties including senior Maoist leaders Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ were also present at the meeting.

UN assessment team arrives

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 10 - As part of United Nations efforts to help Nepal build on last month’s landmark peace deal, an assessment team arrived in the capital on Sunday for a week-long mission to prepare for a fully-fledged UN operation.

This team will be led by the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative in Nepal, Ian Martin, and will include members of his staff based in Kathmandu as well as officials from Headquarters, with expertise in areas including political and military affairs, logistics and public information.
The UN technical assessment mission will be on the ground in Nepal from till December 16 and that the team will plan for a full-fledged UN mission to support the peace process.

UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Friday that the world body plans are also underway to send further personnel as requested by Nepal to assist with the constituent assembly elections to be held by mid-June next year.

“Recruitment continues for a team of up to 35 advance monitors to be deployed, ahead of a full-fledged mission, to monitor provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. We also are proceeding with our efforts to recruit 25 electoral experts to assist in carrying out Constituent Assembly elections,” the spokesman said.

Interim statute, govt after arms management: PM Koirala

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Dec 10 - Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala on Sunday said that the interim statute would not be issued and the Maoists would not be allowed to join the interim government until the rebel arms are locked up.

The Prime Minister made the comments during a tea reception to mark the 58th International Human Rights Day at Sital Niwas today.

"After the arms management, the interim constitution will be issued and the interim government (containing Maoists) will be formed," said PM Koirala talking to media persons. The prime minister also made it clear that the constituent assembly elections would be held by mid-June next year as per the agreement between the government and the Maoists. "The constituent assembly elections will be completed by the month of Jestha next year (mid-June)," Koirala said.

PM Koirala's commitment comes at a time when the delay in the interim constitution and the formation of a new government, which could eventually affect the deadline set to hold the CA elections, have been drawing grave concern.

PM's remarks upsetting: Dr. Bhattarai

Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai today said that the prime minister's remarks could create a serious problem in the ongoing peace process.

Talking to Kantipur Television, Dr Bhattarai said, "The Prime Minister's comment today has somewhat terrified us (the Maoists)."

He added, "When it is clear that the political issue is more important than arms management, this attempt to entangle the peace process with arms management, has created a serious problem. However, we have tried to resolve all issues through dialogue."

The rebel leader said that if the interim constitution is not finalized and the interim government containing the Maoists is not formed within this week, the constituent assembly elections will be in danger, adding, "The whole peace process could be derailed if the poll is not held within the said time."

He said, "Girija Prasad Koirala's statement has upset the people and made them tenser. We want to request him not to say such things."

Meanwhile, CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, at the tea reception hosted by the PM today, said lack of mutual trust between the government and the Maoists has effectively delayed the interim constitution.

Nepali Congress-Democratic President Sher Bahadur Deuba, however, said as "the Maoists' weapon threat still prevails in village areas, the management of arms is necessary first."
Deuba, who recently arrived in the capital after visiting the far western region, expressed his dissatisfaction over "the Maoists' continuation of intimidation and violence in the villages."

Ten years and over 13,000 lives later, the armed insurgency in Nepal has finally been declared officially over.

In a historic ceremony held at the Birendra International Convention Center this evening, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) 2006 bringing the decade-long armed insurgency to an end and promising to chart a new destiny for "peaceful and democratic" new Nepal.

Inclusive of provisions on human rights, civil and political rights, arms and army management, socio-economic transformation, among others, the ten-point CPA was signed this evening in the presence of ministers, political party leaders, Maoist leaders, foreign diplomats, MPs, government officials and media representatives.

The preamble of the CPA reiterates the commitment of the two parties – the government and the Maoists – to abide by the previous agreements and commitments and desires of the people.
"Beginning today, the politics of killing, violence and terror will be replaced by the politics of reconciliation," declared the 85-year-old PM Koirala who said he had put his entire political career at risk by venturing on this path of peace and democracy. "Being a democrat, I wanted to bring non-democrats into the framework of democracy. I was warned by many friends about the hazards of dealing with terrorists but I thought that bringing all under democratic framework was the duty of a democrat."

PM Koirala said, "We all are entering into a new era from today. All of us Nepalis must come together to build a new Nepal." He added that Nepal will, henceforth, be regarded as a model in conflict resolution by other conflict-torn countries around the world.

Prachanda stated that with the signing of the CPA, people of Nepal were in a position to give message to the entire world. "The continuity of 238-year-old tradition has been broken now. This is the victory of Nepalese people and the loss of regressive elements," he said.

Prachanda said that like in the war, his party would work with equal zeal to implement the peace accord. "We have no prejudices against anyone. We want to make it clear to everyone that we are neither conservative nor dogmatic in our thinking," he said, adding that people of Nepal will "perform another miracle" by working on a war-footing to develop their nation after the elections of Constituent Assembly. He termed the successful struggle of the people of Nepal as the first miracle of the 21 st century.

Earlier, Home Minister and coordinator of government talks team Krishna Sitaula narrated the CPA before the audience.

By making the ceasefire permanent, the accord declares the armed insurgency that began since February, 1996 as officially over. Effective immediately, the CPA states that illegal carrying of weapons, their display and any kind of attack, threat, intimidation would, henceforth, be punishable by law.

Reiterating the commitment to hold the elections of CA by mid-June, 2007, the CPA prohibits all kinds of illegal use of weapons, raid, ambush, mining, aerial attack, abduction, etc. Within 30 days both the sides will share information regarding the placement of mines and within 60 days they all would be disabled, it states.

The CPA also talks about rehabilitation of conflict victims. It vows to form a high-level Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate about human rights abuses. It has a provision guaranteeing free passage of civil servants, UN, I/NGO workers across the country.

The accord has separate provisions dealing with civil and political rights and rights of women and children.

On the issue of implementation and monitoring, the accord states that the UN will be allowed to continue its monitoring of human rights. Likewise, the UN team will be asked to verify and monitor arms and army management, which will be as per the November 8 agreement. It also states that the UN will be asked to observe the CA polls as well.

The CPA also declares that henceforth no parallel institution will exist in the country – which means the Maoists' People's Court, People's Government, parallel tax collection and similar other parallel outfits will cease to function. This effectively ends the existence of two regimes – which the Maoist leaders have often pointed out to justify their extortion, justice dispensation and similar other activities - within the country.

The CPA further states that after the formation of interim parliament and promulgation of interim constitution, the "two parties" will cease to exist and the sole responsibility of implementing the agreements, including the CPA will fall under the shoulder of interim cabinet.
The CPA signing ceremony was attended by an impressive corps of diplomats including ambassadors of India, China, and the United States. PM Koirala and Prachanda were flanked by top leaders of the seven parties on either side. Ministers, Maoist leaders, talks team members and observers were seated in second and third row. Ian Martin, the Personal Representative of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, was also invited to the dias. Audience included government officials, MPs, journalists, and civil society leaders.

Meanwhile, a statement from the US Embassy in Kathmandu a short while later, welcoming the peace accord said, "The US Embassy welcomes the announcement of a comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Maoists. We hope this step will place Nepal on the path of lasting peace and democracy. We want the peace process to work and we pledge our full support. We support an agreement that safeguards the aspirations of the Nepali people."

The statement further states, "This means violence, intimidation, and criminal acts -- such as forced recruitment of cadre and extortion -- must end. The Nepali people, who have lived in fear for 11 years, deserve a chance to live without fear and choose their form of government in fair elections."

"The United States is committed to help Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future for its people," the statement said.

Following the US statement, a statement by Ian Martin in Nepal, Personal Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Nepal said, "It is a privilege to have been present at the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, marking another key step forward in the peace process.

When Secretary-General Kofi Annan heartily welcomed the agreement of 8 November between the Seven Party Alliance and the CPN-M, he called it a historic opportunity for the people of Nepal to end the armed conflict and to build sustainable peace within an inclusive and democratic state. Now today's Agreement promises to convert the ceasefire into long-term peace. Those involved on both sides are to be congratulated for their hard work in finalising an Agreement which is entirely a Nepali achievement."

"The Secretary-General has said that he intends to move promptly to respond to the request to the United Nations to help in key areas of the peace process. I am pleased to say that my Office is working in an excellent spirit of collaboration with the Government and the CPN-M on these areas, and today we have completed agreement on the locations of seven divisional PLA cantonment sites. With the Comprehensive Peace Agreement now signed, I hope that we will quickly be able to reach tripartite agreement on the full modalities for the management of arms and armies, clarifying essential details regarding confinement to cantonments and restriction to barracks, weapons storage, permitted and prohibited activities, and monitoring arrangements. The United Nations will then be able to move forward with its planning to deploy monitors and other personnel. I also look forward to discussing how the United Nations' role in the other areas requested, of human rights monitoring, assisting independent national monitoring, and electoral assistance and monitoring, can help to create the climate of multi-party democracy and pluralism throughout the districts and villages of Nepal which is essential for the free and fair Constituent Assembly election to which the parties have committed themselves," the statement further reads.

In yet another quick reaction, a statement by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu said, "The Government of India welcomes the signing of the Comprehensive National Peace Agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). We believe the Agreement reflects the overwhelming desire of the people of Nepal for peace and stability."The statement reads further, "We hope that this Agreement brings to an end the politics and culture of violence, and heralds the beginning of a lasting peace in order to let the people of Nepal exercise their right to decide their destiny through free and fair elections, without intimidation.""The critical test of this Agreement will be its implementation on the ground. We call upon all sides and all stakeholders in Nepal to strictly abide by their commitments under this Agreement. Violations must be dealt with under the laws of the land, and full cooperation extended to those empowered to supervise the steps ahead, such as the police, the Election Commission, and the UN. The people’s mandate, and their trust, must not be betrayed," the statement said."India stands ready to continue to help in every way, to ensure that this historic opportunity is not lost," the statement said.

nepalnews.com sd/dr Nov 21 06

Nepal rebels step up recruitment before peace deal

KATHMANDU, Nov 15 (Reuters)

Nepal's Maoist insurgents have embarked on a recruitment drive ahead of signing a peace deal this week, residents and media reports said on Wednesday, with hundreds of young men and boys forced to join the rebel army.

Under the deal supposed to end a 10-year insurgency, the Maoists say they will place their 35,000-strong rebel force in specially established camps and keep their weapons under lock and key, with Nepal's army also promising to stay in its barracks.

But as the clock ticks towards the signing, more than 400 people have been forced to join the Maoists in the Surkhet and Dailekh districts of western Nepal in the past three days, according to the The Kathmandu Post daily.

Villagers from Kohalpur near the western town of Nepalgunj told Reuters that dozens of young men, including schoolboys as young as 15, were taken from their village by the Maoists.
"They were taken by the Maoists who promised to recruit them in their army," Om Prakash Oli, chief of a school management committee in Kohalpur village, 320 km (200 miles) west of Kathmandu, said by telephone.

"Parents are worried about their children."

The Maoists denied they were responsible but the government said it was a violation of a code of conduct signed in May, shortly after peace talks began and a ceasefire was agreed.

"They must stop these types of activities immediately," Ram Chandra Poudel, head of the state's Peace Committee, told Reuters.

The peace deal was agreed in principle last week. In return for confining their forces to camps, the rebels will join an interim government and parliament.

But reports of extortion and recruitment have continued to flood in from the countryside since the ceasefire was agreed. The rebels deny any recruitment.

"We are ourselves preparing to keep our army in camps. Why should we recruit more?" asked senior Maoist leader Dina Nath Sharma, a rebel negotiator.

More than 13,000 people have died since the Maoist conflict began in 1996 to topple the monarchy.

Peace talks began after King Gyanendra ended absolute rule and handed power back to political parties following weeks of democracy protests in April.

Govt-Maoist meeting fails to finalise draft of peace accord

An eight-hour long meeting between the government and the Maoists Wednesday could not give finishing touch to the draft of the peace accord submitted by the all-party Peace Committee.

Minister Pradeep Gyawali, who is also the member of the government’s talks team, told reporters after the meeting that the draft could not be finalised today due to lack of time. Likewise, Maoist talks team member Dev Gurung said there were some vague clauses including the clause on human rights in the draft of the peace accord, which needed further discussion. Home Minister KP Situala and state minister Ramesh Lekhak and Maoist leaders Dr Baburam Bhattrai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara were also involved in the meeting that was supposed to finalise the draft.

The much-awaited peace accord that will formally put an end to the 11-year long insurgency is due to be signed between the SPA government and the Maoists tomorrow. The landmark accord also commits to ban armed activities, extortion and guarantees the return to displaced people to their original places.

Talking to journalists on Monday, Dr Bhattarai took the Peace Committee to task for disclosing the content of the draft without consulting with his party.

The committee headed by Nepali Congress general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel had submitted the draft peace accord to the government on Sunday. nepalnews.com mk Nov 15 06

US Assistant Secretary; EU Troika arrive in Nepal

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher and the European Union Troika arrived in Kathmandu this morning on a three-day visit to Nepal. Richard arrived here to discuss Nepal's latest political situation.

Talking to reporters following his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Boucher said that he would discuss the latest developments in the ongoing peace process.

The Assistant Secretary will meet top political leaders, government representatives, and members of civil society among others during his stay.

Similarly, the EU Troika, led by Pekka Metso, Director for Asia in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, representing the Presidency of the EU also arrived in Kathmandu today. According to reports, the Troika will meet high-level representatives of the Government of Nepal, political parties and members of the civil society.

Talking to journalists upon his arrival to Nepal, chief of the team Metso said that the decision to bring Maoists into interim government is a necessary step for restoration of peace in the country.

Meanwhile, politburo member of the ruling Communist Party of India and Upper House member Sitaram Yechuri is also arriving in Kathmandu today.

Yechuri, during his two-day stay in Kathmandu, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Chairman Prachanda and other leaders of the SPA and Maoists, according to sources. Yechuri played important role to garner international support in favour of April movement of the country.

These visits coincide with signature on the comprehensive peace accord by the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist) as per the agreement reached between the ruling seven party alliance and Maoists on November 8. nepalnews.com pb Nov 15 06

US Assistant Secretary Boucher to arrive tomorrow

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher (File Photo)

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu for a three-day visit to assess the political situation here in the aftermath of a landmark peace agreement signed between the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists.

A press release issued by the American Embassy in Kathmandu said the purpose of his visit is to discuss Nepal’s transition to democracy. During his stay until Friday, he will meet with representatives of the government, political parties, civil society and others.

Boucher has been traveling in the South Asian region since November 4. He has visited Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh, and is currently in Bhutan, according to the Embassy.

Boucher is the most senior US official to visit Nepal since the start of summit level talks between the SPA and the Maoists. The US has welcomed peace agreement, stressing that the agreement must diminish the fear of violence, intimidation, and extortion that the people of Nepal have endured over the past 11 years.

After leaving Nepal on Friday morning, the US Assistant Secretary will return to New Delhi where he will lead the US delegation to the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference hosted by Indian Prime Minister Singh and Afghanistan President Karzai, the release said.

nepalnews.com mk Nov 14 06

FULL TEXT OF SPA-MAOIST NOV.8 AGREEEMNT (ENG)

Respecting the mandate expressed in favour of democracy, peace and forward movement through the historical struggles and revolutions staged frequently by Nepali people since pre-1950 era till the present, Reconfirming full commitment to the 12-point understanding between the seven political parties and the CPN (Maoist), the 8-point agreement and the 25-point ceasefire codes of conduct as well as all the understandings, agreements and codes of conducts between the Nepal Government and the CPN (Maoist), including the letter of consensus sent to the United Nations, Pledging to do a forward looking restructuring of the state by resolving class, ethnic, regional and gender related problems existing in the country, Reiterating full commitments to competitive multiparty democratic system, civil liberty, individual rights, human rights, full press freedom and the concept of rule of law as well as democratic norms and values, Guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the people to participate in the elections to the constituent assembly in an atmosphere free of fear and intimidation, Keeping democracy, peace, prosperity, forward looking socio-economic transformation as well as independence, integrity, sovereignty and dignity of the country at centre, the meeting of the top leaders of the seven political parties and the CPN (Maoist) held on 8th of November 2006 took the following decisions in order to implement the commitments of both the sides to holding the elections to the constituent assembly by mid-June 2007 in a free and fair manner.

I. On implementation of past agreements

1. To fully, honestly and strictly implement all the past understandings, agreements and codes of conducts.

2. To constitute a high level committee to probe and make public the whereabouts all the citizens reported to be disappeared by both the state and the Maoist.

3. To speed up the process of returning seized property. To ensure an atmosphere for the displaced to return home. To formulate district level committees involving both sides for this. To complete all these tasks within a month.

4. To publicly declare withdrawal of all charges and accusations against political leaders and workers by the state and the CPN (Maoist) and to immediately release political prisoners of both sides.

II. On armies and weapons

To work as per the sentiments of the 12-point understanding, 8-point agreement, 25-point codes of conduct and the five-point letter sent to the United Nations in order to hold the elections to the constituent assembly in a peaceful, fair and fearless atmosphere as well as to restructure and democratise the army.

On Maoist army

1. As per the commitment expressed in the letters sent to the United Naitons by Nepal Government and the CPN (Maoist) on 9 August 2006, the Maoist combatants shall be confined in cantonments in the following areas. The United Nations will verify and monitor them.

The main cantonments shall be in the following areas: 1. Kailali 2. Surkhet 3. Rolpa 4. Palpa 5. Kavre 6. Sindhuli 7. Ilam There shall be three tributary cantonments around each of the main cantonments.

2. After the Maoist combatants have been confined within the cantonments, all the arms and ammunitions except those needed for the security of the cantonments shall be securely stored and locked with a single padlock within the cantonments and the concerned side shall keep the key. While fixing the padlock, a device with record and siren shall be installed for monitoring by the United Nations. While conducting necessary inspection of the stored weapons, the United Nations shall have to do it in the presence of the concerned party. Further technical details regarding this and camera monitoring shall be prepared in consensus with the United Nations, CPN (Maoist) and the Nepal government.

3. Nepal government shall manage the necessary things including rations for the Maoist combatants after they are kept in cantonments.

4. Interim cabinet shall form a special committee to coordinate and to rehabilitate the Maoist combatants.

5. Security of the Maoist leaders will be managed with coordination of the government.

On Nepal Army

6. Nepal Army (NA) shall be limited to the barracks as per the commitments expressed in the letter sent to the United Nations after assuring that the arms belonging to the national army shall not be used for or against any group. The number of soldiers and weapons of the Nepal Army under the UN supervision will be in proportion with the number of the Maoist combatants and their weapons.

The weapons of the NA shall be kept with a single lockup and the concerned party shall keep the key. The arms shall be kept under UN supervision with electronic siren, and surveillance devices. The UN can inspect the weapons in presence of the concerned party.

7. Control, management and mobilisation of the army shall be guided by the new Military Act. After taking suggestions from political parties and the committees related to Interim Legislature, cabinet will formulate an extensive plan and the same body shall implement the programmes to democratise the army. The plans and programmes include fixing the numbers, democratizing the institution to make it inclusive and national army and the forces shall be trained after enhancing the characteristics of democracy and human rights.

8. NA may continue its previous works of providing security to borders, national parks, banks, airports, power stations, telephone tower, central secretariat and providing security to the VIPs.

III. Subjects of Interim Legislature

a. Final shape to the Interim Constitution will be given according to agreements reached today.

b. The reinstated House of Representatives shall promulgate and the new interim legislature will approve the interim Constitution.

2. On Monarchy

a. King will have no authority over national administration.

b. Property of the late king Birendra, queen Aishworya and their family members shall be converted into a trust and be utilised for national welfare.

c. Property of the present king Gyanendra, which he has acquired as a king, shall be nationalised.

d. The first meeting of the elections to the constituent assembly will decide the future of the monarchy.

3. On Interim Legislature

a. Interim legislature will remain a single house parliament with the following characteristics:

i. All the 209 members of the current Lower House and Upper House, except those who opposed the April Movement, shall be the members. Numbers of Joint Left Front will be decided later on consensus, as the party does not represent any member at the present Parliament.

ii. 73 members will be from CPN-Maoist party.

iii. 48 will represent from professional organisations, political figures and from the underdeveloped community and regions.

Total number - 330

b. The political parties, which were against the People’s movement in April, will not be allowed to participate in the interim legislature.

c. The reinstated House of Representatives and National Assembly will be dissolved after the formation of interim legislature. Similarly, all governmental structure of the Maoists including the people’s government and people’s courts will be dissolved with the formation of interim legislature.

d. The interim legislature would be run through political consensus.

4. Interim Government

a) The interim council of ministers will be constituted on the basis of political agreement.

b) The structure and work division of the council of ministers will be fixed with the mutual agreement amongst the political parties.

c) The interim government will carry out its function considering the spirit of the joint people’s movement, political consent and the system of coalition government.

5. Judiciary

a) The concept of independent judiciary will be followed

b) The judiciary will work upholding the spirit of the people’s movement, democracy and the interim constitution.

c) A constitutional court will be formed to settle the dispute related to constitution.

6. Constitutional Bodies

a) A new Constitutional Council will manage recommendations for the appointment to the post of constitutional bodies and the Council will consist of Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and Speaker of the interim legislature.

b) The appointment will follow certain measurement and the Election Commission will get perfection on the basis of agreement.

7. Local Bodies

Interim local bodies in villages, municipalities and districts will be constituted on the basis of the agreement between seven political and the Maoists.

8. Citizenship

a) The citizenship will be distributed to all the people who are deprived of the citizenship rights before holding the elections to the constituent assembly.

b) The citizenship will be issued to all people who have been living in Nepal before the last of Chaitra in 2046 BS, taking the year as the base year, in an effective manner.

c) The other provisions of the citizenship will be settled as per the rules and regulations.

9. Elections to the Constituent Assembly

a) The total number of the constituent assembly will be 425. Amongst them 205 members will be elected with the system of first past the post and 204 members will be elected through the proportionate election system as per the votes got by the political parties.

b) Sixteen individuals, who earned dignified prestige in the national level, will be nominated to the constitutional assembly members by the council of ministers.

c) The election law will be enforced after holding discussions with the Election Commission.

d) The authority to decide the date of constituent assembly to hold the elections by mid-June will be given to the interim council of ministers and the election will be held under a mixed election system.

e) The political parties should give opportunity to the members of the utpidit (Marginailized) jati, region, Madheshi, women and dalit proportionately while contesting the elections

f) People who are 18 and above will be eligible to cast their votes in the constituent assembly elections

g) The United Nations will assist monitoring the elections to the constituent assembly.

10. On the structure of the State

a) Steps will be initiated to bring about a complete restructuring of the state towards an inclusive democratic set up by ending all forms of discrimination.

b) A high level commission will be formed to solicit suggestions for the restructuring of the state

c) The Constituent Assembly will give the final verdict on the points suggested for the restructuring of the state

11. Directive principles for social and economic transformation

a) Steps will be geared towards dismantling all dictatorial structures and a common programme will be implemented through mutual consensus among all parties.

b) Policies will be formulated to end unequal ownership of land and scientific a land reform policy will be implemented

c) Policies that protect national industries and means of production will be adopted

d) Policies aimed at ensuring the rights of all citizens to education, health, shelter and employment will be adopted

e) Policies that will provide assistance to the economically backward classes including the ex-Kamaiyas, landless squatters, and household farm workers will be implemented

f) Policies that punish those found involved in corruption and those amassing wealth through illegal means will be enforced

g) A common agenda will be worked out for the speedy economic and social transformation of the country.

h) Efforts will be directed towards increasing investments in the domestic industrial sector by protecting the rights of the industrial workers and those involved in various productive enterprises

IV. Regarding the rehabilitation of the conflict-hit people

1. Steps will be initiated towards bestowing honour upon those who lost their lives in the course of the conflict and giving appropriate compensations to individuals who got badly wounded in the conflict.

2. Compensations will be provided to the families of the disappeared persons on the basis of the report given by the probe commission

3. Special programme will be launched to re-construct the physical infrastructure and private property that were destroyed in the course of the conflict

4. A commission to bring about reconciliation among parties, individuals and institutions that were involved in the conflict will be formed. The committee will conduct investigation on the human rights abuses that took place in course of the armed conflicts

V. Miscellaneous

1. A high level joint monitoring committee will be formed to oversee the strict implementation of the above policies

2. The government will take legal actions against those who breach the code of conduct and go against the agreements of the eight parties

3. All political parties will have the freedom to express their views on issues such as republicanism, social and economic transformation, referendum and electoral systems in the course of the run up to the constituent assembly elections although agreement on the issues are yet to be reached.

VI. Time Schedule

1. A comprehensive peace pact will be signed between the Nepal Government and the CPN-Maoist on November 16, 2006

2. The Maoists combatants will converge at the specified cantonments within November 21 and the process of shelving arms will be started, which will be monitored and verified by the UN

3. The Nepal Army soldiers will confine themselves to the barracks by November 21 and the storing of their weapons will be started. The process will be monitored and verified by UN.

4. The Interim Constitution will be finalized by November 21.

5. The Interim Constitution will be implemented by November 26. The dissolution of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly will be done on the same date.

6. The Interim Council of Ministers will be formed by December 1
The agreement bears the signatures of all the heads of the eight political parties.

All upbeat about peace deal

Maoist Chairman Prachanda with Maoist second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai during a press meet organized at the Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu on Wednesday. The rebel chief said Tuesday’s landmark agreement reached with the seven-party alliance would carve out a road map for a new Nepal.
(Photo: SAILENDRA KHAREL )

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, Nov 9 - Various political parties, civil society members and organizations welcomed the peace deal signed between the government and Maoist rebels late Tuesday night.
The Nepali Congress has welcomed the deal and thanked its President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and Maoists for reaching consensus.

A meeting of NC district presidents, its lawmakers and cadres nation-wide, said the deal has opened further avenues for prosperity in the country. The meeting also decided to take the message across the country.

Earlier, Koirala instructed district presidents to go to their constituencies and launch political campaigns. "We have to take this process with much sincerity and the NC has a huge responsibility of bringing Maoists to the political mainstream," Koirala said during the meeting.
The NC, in a separate press statement issued after the meeting, also appealed to Maoists to immediately stop their activities of intimidation and extortion.

Similarly, the Standing Committee meeting of CPN-UML held Wednesday welcomed the peace deal. The meeting also unanimously supported the note of dissent tabled by UML in the draft paper of the peace deal. Madhav Kumar Nepal, UML general secretary had tabled separate notes of dissent over the issues of referendum and proportional election system. The UML had pressed for referendum to decide the fate of monarchy and proportional system in the constituent assembly elections.

Likewise, Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of NC (Democratic), in a press statement issued Wednesday, said the peace deal began a joyful morning for people who were expecting peace, democracy and prosperity.

"It is another big achievement to bring the CPN-Maoists to the democratic and peaceful election process," Deuba said in the statement.

Similarly, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) welcomed the agreement and urged all concerned forces to be sincere about peace and security of the country.

Nepal University Teachers' Association (NUTA), Nepal Tamang Ghedung (NTG), an association of Tamang community, Nepal Teachers' Union, National Human Rights Foundation, National Human Rights Council, Human Rights and Democratic Forum and NGO Federation of Nepal also welcomed Tuesday's agreement.

Posted on: 2006-11-08 21:42:28 (Server Time)

Breakthrough on arms issue

By Ameet Dhakal

KATHMANDU, Oct 31 -

The government and the Maoists have made a breakthrough on the issue of arms management.

"A breakthrough acceptable to the government, the Maoists and also the international community has been reached," said a leader involved in the negotiations.

According to the understanding, all of the rebels' weapons will be stored and locked up in the respective cantonments where the combatants are cantoned, before the Maoists join the interim government. The Maoist leadership will keep the keys to the stores. But the UN will install fixed cameras to monitor the storage and will have the right to make inspections whenever it desires.
The deal also has an element of reciprocity: Equal number of weapons belonging to the Nepali Army will be stored and locked up at the barracks and the UN will inspect these as well. Until the constituent assembly elections takes place, both the Maoist combatants and Nepali Army personnel will be confined within their respective cantonments and barracks.

A cabinet sub-committee, which might potentially evolve into a separate ministry over time, will be formed to take up the issues of restructuring and reform of the Nepali Army, integration of the Maoist combatants into the army and reform of the whole security system. It will also develop a comprehensive plan to "right-size" the army and to rehabilitate the extra combatants from both sides into society.

The breakthrough on arms management came following a similar breakthrough on political issues last week. "Now the top level leaders will review the whole package of agreements and a 'summit meeting' will make the agreements public in a day or two," said the leader.
The leader, however, said the CPN-UML insisted even today that the future of the monarchy should be decided by a national referendum and the cut-off year for settling the citizenship dispute should be 1979. "But we think the UML will give up its stance eventually."

Commission for state restructuring

The parties and the Maoists have also agreed to form a powerful commission that will study and explore the options and modalities on restructuring the Nepali state to make it more inclusive and progressive.

Political agreements

On the political front the leaders have already agreed to form a 23-member interim government in which the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Maoists will get five ministries each. The rest of the ministries will go to the Nepali Congress (Democratic) and fringe parties.
Similarly, the interim legislature will have 300 members with more or less equal representation for the NC, the CPN-UML and the Maoists. The NC, CPN-UML and other parties will nominate all the sitting lawmakers in the House of Representatives and the upper house to the new legislature.

Likewise, the Constituent Assembly (CA) will have 425 members. 205 members will be elected from the current constituencies and the parties will nominate 204 members in proportion to the popular vote they garner in the CA elections. The prime minister will nominate the remaining 16 members. The parties have agreed to decide the future of the monarchy through the first meeting of the constituent assembly. Posted on: 2006-10-30 22:06:00 (Server Time)

Deuba optimistic about success of upcoming peace talks

Kantipur Report

BHAKTAPUR, Oct 23 - Nepali Congress-Democratic President Sher Bahadur Deuba on Monday said that the upcoming peace talks between the government and the Maoists will resolve all the issues.

The peace talks between the two sides are scheduled to be held after the Tihar festival. Speaking at function held to mark the beginning of the new year of Nepal Sambat 1127 in Bhaktapur today, Deuba said that the unity between the seven parties is must to help succeed the peace talks.

Stating that it needs more exercise to part the Maoists from their weapon, Deuba said that the problem would not budge if the Maoists refuse to relinquish their arms.

Deuba expressed his concern over statements floated by some of the key leaders and added that the peace talks should not be given up without reaching a conclusion.

Prachanda assures Madi victims of relief package; addresses his military in Chitwan

Prachanda met with residents of Madi of Chitwan as well as relatives of victims who were killed or injured during tragic bombing of a passenger bus by the Maoist cadres one and a half year ago.

He assured them of providing a relief package. Prachanda, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and Ram Bahadur Thapa aka Badal went to Phulbari VDC – which is 40 km to the east of Bharatpur – where the Maoists had invited the victims on Friday. The Maoist leaders met with the victims for around two hours and assured them of short and long term relief package.

There were around 30 people who represented the victims of the bombing. They put forth nine-point demand including the immediate public disclosure of the culprits who bombed the bus; action against them; medical relief to the injured; provision of scholarship for higher studies to the children of victims; and building a memorial on the site of the bombing, among others. During the bus bombing in Bandarmudhe area of Madi (Chitwan district), 39 civilians were killed and six dozen injured. Prachanda has said that Madi incident was one of the greatest mistakes by his party.

Earlier on the day, Maoist chairman Prachanda accused that international forces were trying to compel Maoists to abandon arms. Addressing Basu Smriti 4th Brigade of the People's Liberation Army in Bhandara of Chitwan district, Prachanda said his party was currently in the forefront working to make the peace process successful. Stating that the Maoist army was ever ready for nation's protection, Prachanda directed his party workers to exercise restraint and patience. He also met with intellectuals, teachers and business representatives of Chitwan today. Prachanda had arrived in Chitwan to attend the 5th national convention of Maoists' peasant wing.

nepalnews.com sd Oct 21 06

Peace process still fragile: Arbour

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 20 - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour, in her report on Nepal to the General Assembly Wednesday, warned that the ongoing peace process is "still fragile" and any setback to it risks a potentially devastating impact on the human rights situation.

The report has urged the parties to ensure that human rights remain central to the peace process in order to ensure that sustainable peace is secured.

The report - which has documented human rights violations over the months preceding the April movement and during and after it - has implicated the government and Maoists, as well as other armed groups, in committing human rights violations even after the ceasefire declaration.
"A major improvement in the human rights situation was observed immediately after the establishment of the new government," said the report, presented to the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the 192-member General Assembly. "The current improvements remain fragile and any setback to the peace process risks a negative and potentially devastating impact on the human rights situation."

For peace to be sustainable in Nepal, the report said, "human rights must underpin the peace process throughout".

Arbour's report said tackling the climate of impunity remains the "single-most difficult human rights challenge".

The report has held all branches of security forces responsible for excessive use of force. It also said the pattern of long-term disappearances which dominated previous years ended during 2005. "There are, however, many challenges remaining with regard to upholding and strengthening respect for human rights… including ongoing violations and impunity."
The report has also urged the concerned bodies to empower the National Human Rights Commission, which is the "single largest human rights monitoring presence" in Nepal.
Another aspect seriously raised in the report is the weakness or absence of law enforcement and systems for administration of justice, which has deprived the people of fundamental public services. "...the state lacks the capacity or at times the will to undertake law enforcement and judicial functions… The security vacuum risks being filled… through communities taking justice into their own hands."

Despite the ceasefire in place, according to the report, continuing abuses by the CPN-Maoist - including abductions, ill-treatment, killings and child recruitment - and violations by the police and the Nepal Army are documented. "Despite the ceasefire, dozens of children - including some as young as 12 - were reportedly recruited in PLA and militia activities."

Such abuses, which undermine commitments given by the parties to respect human rights, must be ended, said the report. It has also rapped the rebels for continuing with forced collection of tax and donations.

The report has said two other armed groups -- Terai Janatantrik Mukti Morcha and vigilantes -- have violated civilian rights.

According to the Nepal mission in New York, general discussions on the agenda items will take place next week and Nepal will then post its reply to Arbour's concerns.

Keep peace process focused on HR: OHCHR report

BY TILAK P. POKHAREL

KATHMANDU, Oct 19 - In her report to the United Nations General Assembly, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has urged the Nepal government and the Maoists to keep the human rights agenda at the center of the ongoing peace process.

According to a reliable source at the UN, Arbour is expected to present the "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Human Rights Situation and Activities of her office including technical cooperation to Nepal" at the General Assembly on Wednesday (Thursday according to Nepal standard time).

The 19-page report has "good paragraphs on impunity, accountability and disappearances", the source said Wednesday. "It (the report) really focuses on the peace process with human rights [concerns] at the center."

The source added that Arbour's report has urged the parties in the peace process to focus on respecting human rights while their negotiations are under way. The report will be made public after Arbour presents it in the General Assembly.

In a similar report last year - the first extensive report since the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) was set up in Nepal in May 2005, the UN office had said that Nepal, under King Gyanendra's autocratic rule, had been experiencing "a grave human rights crisis". Last year's report had also implicated state authorities and Maoist rebels in "widespread human rights violations", besides recognizing vigilante groups as significant contributors to the armed conflict.

Recently, OHCHR expressed concern over inaction on alleged disappearance and possible extra-judicial killing of at least 49 persons by the army. Instead, the army on Monday dismissed the UN allegations.

Likewise, OHCHR said in a report on September 25 that the rebels had killed at least 16 persons since the ceasefire declaration in April, besides committing other fundamental rights violations against civilians.

Posted on: 2006-10-18 21:15:28 (Server Time)

Maoists must abandon arms before joining interim government, says an Indian analyst

The Maoists cannot join the interim government as a guerrilla organization, rather they must abandon arms before doing so, says a leading Indian analyst, retired General Ashok Mehta. Mehta, who is a frequent commentator on Nepalese situation, accused the Maoists of "shifting goalposts."

Talking to BBC Nepali Service on Wednesday, Mehta said New Delhi could still play the role of a 'facilitator' to help peace process in Nepal just like it did when bringing the 12-point pact between the SPA and the Maoists to fruition last November.

The former commander of Gurkha forces in Indian Army, Mehta said "there were still lack of confidence and trust" between SPA and the Maoists.

Mehta said that during recent trip to New Delhi, Ian Martin, Tamrat Samuel (UN officials) and Indian ambassador Shiv Shankar Mukherjee focused their consultations on the issue of "arms management."

When asked about India's current position on Nepal, Mehta said that New Delhi has stopped stating the twin pillar theory of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. "Now, India has said that it will respect the decision of Nepali people through constituent assembly about the status of monarchy," he said.

Mehta also added that peace process anywhere is a time-consuming affair. He gave examples of Northern Ireland or Sudan or Rwanda where it took years for the peace process to complete. "It has just been six months in Nepal. There should not be any haste," he added.

Maoist leader invited by NRN to London

Six political leaders including spokesperson of the Maoists Krishna Bahadur Mahara have been invited to London by the Non Resident Nepalis (NRN) community in the United Kingdom.
According to Nepal Samacharpatra daily, Mahara is expected to elaborate about Maoists' economic policy and foreign investment during his London stay.

Mahara as well as Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel, leader of Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and Speaker Subas Nemwang, NC (Democratic) leader Dr. Minendra Rijal, central member of People's Front Nepal Shashi Shrestha and Janajati leader Dr. Om Gurung will leave for London on Friday.

The leaders will take part in three programs to be hosted by NRN community in London between October 21-23. The leaders would also visit Germany and Belgium and attend NRN meetings there.

nepalnews.com sd Oct 19 06

Nepal: Precarious Premise Of Peacemaking

The two factors supposedly holding back the breakthrough that was so tantalizingly close – the monarchy and Maoist arms – have brought out the painful predicaments of peacemaking.......

By Sanjay Upadhya

The grins, quips and all the other breezy displays of optimism surrounding the post-Dasain phase of the peace process have dissolved in the somberness of the indefinite postponement of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA)-Maoist talks.

Given the murkiness of the enterprise, however, another phase of ebullience and enthusiasm could bounce back with surprising speed. The “homework” hiatus should afford the country an opportunity to reflect on the predicaments on both sides.

For the Maoists, blaming the palace and foreign powers for conspiring to keep them out of power would help energize the base and thwart the prospect of serious discontent over the political leadership’s capitulation to the machinations of the mainstream.

When the rebels continue to ascribe to the palace the ability to torpedo the peace process, they are virtually negating the finality of the “historic” proclamation the House of Representatives adopted in May. Yet the SPA – at least the sections of the two Nepali Congress parties that seem to be propelling the ruling alliance – does not seem too bothered.

The Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) and the other communist constituents may be too busy protecting their own turfs against the imminent influx of their more radical cousins to challenge Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s deepening affection for the monarchy. The mainstream communists, like the republican wing of the Nepali Congress, have evidently recognized the asset a sufficiently and certifiably tamed palace could prove to be.

Providing revolutionary ardor to Prithvi Narayan Shah’s famous counsel, the Maoists describe Nepal as a dynamite between two boulders. The yam metaphor of the first Shah king may have contained traces of weakness – as the Maoists allege -- but it still pulsated with a quest for life. The two factors supposedly holding back the breakthrough that was so tantalizingly close – the monarchy and Maoist arms – have brought out the painful predicaments of peacemaking. The government’s annoyance with the Maoists eagerness to maintain simultaneous access to their arms and political power – in defiance of international pressure – is understandable.

No less so is the Maoists’ bafflement over the government’s refusal to “suspend” the monarchy, when, for all practical purposes, the House proclamation has already done that.

Introspection is in order. Considering the approaching anniversary, it should begin with the 12-point SPA-Maoist accord reached in New Delhi last year. The reality that the accord stands on flimsier ground than the 1951 Delhi Compromise rests not on the absence of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the preponderant player.

The real distinguishing feature is that Jawaharlal Nehru represented India far more credibly than the current Congress premier – and perhaps any future leader of the world’s most populous democracy – can expect to.

The fragility of the peace process becomes more ominous when Maoist chief ideologue Dr. Baburam Bhattarai praises India for facilitating the accord and then blames it for conspiring to keep the rebels out of power, almost in the same breath. If the adroit hair-splitter is making a distinction between those in the Indian Left who mediated the talks with the SPA and the “official sources” who leaked reports to the media that Indian intelligence agencies were “chaperoning” him around New Delhi, then he needs to be more explicit about those negotiations.

The question is, can he? When UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal traveled to Lucknow in November 2003 to meet with Prachanda and Dr. Bhattarai, there was palpable mix of outrage and embarrassment in both sides of the border over the ease with which the leader of the opposition could meet “terrorists” on Indian soil.

Those sentiments obscured the more relevant story: Dr. Bhattarai’s candid acknowledgement that the Maoists, like any other political organization in Nepali history, could not advance their objectives by criticizing India. The Indians, for their part, must be equally baffled by how the Maoists, who have vowed to launch massive peaceful urban protests in case the talks fail, could still keep their broader pledge to turn South Asia into a flaming field of Maoist revolutions.”
Such fiery rhetoric cannot obscure the flexibility behind the Maoists’ growth. An organization that took up arms against both the monarchy and parliamentary democracy – more vigorously against the latter until the June 1, 2001 royal palace massacre – has now allied with one.
A 40-point list of grievances heavily targeted against India has now been distilled into diatribe against the 238-year-old monarchy. The obfuscation and prevarication that has gone into justifying such shifts are not helpful. Yet the Maoists persist.

Providing revolutionary ardor to Prithvi Narayan Shah’s famous counsel, the Maoists describe Nepal as a dynamite between two boulders. The yam metaphor of the first Shah king may have contained traces of weakness – as the Maoists allege -- but it still pulsated with a quest for life.
The notion of self-destruction – and its wider devastation -- inherent in the dynamite analogy may not have alarmed many Nepalis. The international community has taken notice. No wonder U.N. General Assembly members on Monday refused to be taken in by the peace-and-democracy platform in Nepal campaign for a two-year seat on the Security Council.

(Upadhya is a political commentator and analyst currently based in the US and can be reached at supa62@yahoo.com . This article has been reproduced here courtesy http://www.scoop.co.nz/ )

Govt-Maoists struggle to reach deal, talks postponed indefinitely

KATHMANDU, Oct 15 - The much-awaited high-level talks between the seven-party alliance (SPA) government and the Maoist rebels have failed to reach any agreement on the position of the monarch and arms management, among other contents for the interim constitution but both the sides agreed to postpone the talks indefinitely.
The talks, which began at the prime minister's residence, Baluwatar at around 5 p.m., some three hours after the stipulated time, ended within a few minutes after the "formal meeting" between the SPA and Maoist top leaders on Sunday. PM Girija Prasad Koirala informed about the postponement of the talks after several informal meetings between the leaders.
According to sources, the talks couldn’t proceed after the four major political parties that include the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, NC-D and CPN-Maoist failed to reach a consensus on the arms management issue.
The government, in the meeting, had asked the rebels to lay down all their arms, while the Maoists insisted that they would put their arms and armies in the cantonment areas and put away "only a few" of their weapons. The Maoists put forward a new proposal that the Nepali Army should also lay down its arms if the government wants the Maoists to do so, sources said.
The government wants the weapons separated from the Maoist People's Liberation Army men so as to ensure that the Maoists do not have their personal army while in the interim administration. But the Maoists strongly object to the SPA proposal.
The Maoists have also been saying that they are ready to lock up their weapons provided the SPA agrees to declare a republic state in the interim statute or make a written commitment to go for the republican setup after the constituent assembly elections.
The leaders who attended the meeting said that PM Koirala would summon the next meeting after consulting with the other parties.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda with his talks team members had entered the talks venue after nearly one and a half hours.
The meeting discussed the finalization of the interim constitution, role of the monarchy in the interim period and arms management.
Meanwhile, the Maoists have said that the talks were postponed after the SPA and the rebels failed to reach any conclusion on the crucial issues, which were debated during today's sitting at Baluwatar.
"There are some crucial issues including arms management and the position of the king for which both sides need to reach an agreement," coordinator of the Maoist talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara told ekantipur.
He, however, said that discussions are underway and the summit talks would "soon agree on a political package."
"We (the Maoists) have stressed on the political package which includes all contents of the interim constitution," Mahara said.
Likewise, Pradeep Gyawali, a member of the government negotiating team said that the talks were postponed after both sides still needed to undertake adequate homework on the contentious political issues.
This is the fourth sitting of the top brass leaders of the SPA and the Maoists in a week in an attempt to hammer out a peace deal, which is expected to open the door for the rebels, who launched a decade-old insurgency, to join the mainstream politics.
Last Tuesday, the SPA and the Maoists agreed to hold the constituent assembly elections, which will rewrite a new constitution permanently.
'Postponement of talks not unnatural'
Meanwhile, veteran political science teacher Dr. Lok Raj Baral said that the postponement of the summit talks was not unnatural, as a common stance on several issues among the eight parties who have their own party positions has to be reached.
"It's clear that there are several issues which have remained controversial among the seven parties. It takes time for them (SPA and the Maoists) to have a common view on the serious issues," he said.
Baral also said that there was no alternative left for the eight parties but to reach a consensus in order to create a political way out.

Prachanda meets PM, seeks common stance

Prachanda meets PM, seeks common stance
KATHMANDU, Oct 14 - As part of the ongoing homework to explore a common stance between the ruling alliance and Maoists on the issues of monarchy, interim statute and arms management, Maoist chairman Prachanda and second-in-command Dr Baburam Bhattarai met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday.
The meeting held at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar this evening, was aimed at preparing a framework of consensus on major contentious issues in the ongoing talks, a senior minister said.
"The informal talks have so far been positive in achieving a common view on several political issues," said Pradeep Gyawali, a member of the government talks team and Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation.
Gyawali said that the fourth session of the ongoing second round of the summit talks between the ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) and Maoists to be held on Sunday is likely to yield a consensus on "some" of the prickly political issues.
Earlier on Thursday, the summit talks had been postponed for Sunday, as the two sides could not reach any agreement on any of the contentious issues.
"The meeting between our Chairman Prachanda and PM Koirala was focused on how to prepare a conceptual framework for the consensus we are going to derive during the next summit talks," Dev Gurung, member of the Maoist negotiating team told ekantipur.
Gurung said the negotiating teams of both sides will start working on the nitty-gritty of the issues once a general framework is prepared by top leaders.
He, however, said that no agreement has been reached on any of the political issues so far.
All sides in the negotiations are engaged in internal homework for the next summit talks slated for Sunday.
The top leaders on Thursday had adjourned their meeting until Sunday to carry out extensive homework and develop common positions on contentious issues.
On Tuesday, the seven-party alliance (SPA) government and the Maoists agreed to hold the constituent assembly elections, which will rewrite the country's constitution permanently, by mid-June next year.
Senior rebel commanders in capital
The Maoists too including their senior leaders held an internal meeting in preparation for tomorrow's peace talks.
According to a Maoist source, senior commanders of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the Maoists too, who were hitherto in different districts, have joined their senior leaders to hold discussions in the preparatory meeting for Sunday's peace talks.
The source also said, tomorrow's peace talks will concentrate on completion of the interim constitution and resolving arms management issues.
On Tuesday, the seven-party alliance (SPA) government and the Maoists agreed to hold the constituent assembly elections, which will rewrite the country's constitution permanently, by mid-June next year.

Peace Committee begins discussions on peace accord

KATHMANDU, Oct 13 - Discussions on a peace pact to be signed between the SPA government and the Maoists began Friday.
Members of the Peace Committee formed to assist the ongoing peace process in a meeting discussed the pact today, said co-ordinator of the Peace Committee, Ram Chandra Poudel. "We have begun discussions today and will submit the draft to the government within a few days," he said.
The committee has already submitted its draft pacts on human rights and the ceasefire.
The meeting also discussed the ongoing peace talks between the SPA government and the Maoists.
The 10-member Peace Committee comprises leaders of 10 political parties including the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

Significant progress in summit talks, says Prachanda; asks all to remain optimistic
KATHMANDU, Oct 12 - Maoist Chairman Prachanda on Thursday said that the ongoing high-level peace talks between the seven-party alliance (SPA) government and the Maoists were progressing significantly and asked everybody to remain optimistic about a positive outcome when the two sides meet next on Sunday (Oct 15).
"Today's talks were very positive. Learning from past experiences, we are seriously trying to take a mature decision instead of deciding in haste," said the Maoist supremo, adding, "Though today's talks ended quickly, the homework with the government has created a positive environment."
In an exclusive live interview with Kantipur Television after the end of Thursday's session of the summit talks, Prachanda also said that today's SPA-Maoist meeting was "qualitatively better" than the previous two sittings, adding that both the SPA and the Maoists were serious about a positive outcome.
"Though an agreement is yet to be reached, discussions have been held on all major issues with a view to conclude the talks positively," Prachanda said, "We hope that a positive outcome will come out after the interaction (between the SPA and the Maoists) in the next two days."
"We are saying the talks have been positive because the discussions on all crucial issues including the issue of monarchy, management of arms and armies, interim constitution, interim legislature, interim government, fixing dates for constituent assembly polls and its modalities have been positive," Prachanda said.
The spirit of the ongoing talks is to settle the issues of interim constitution-legislature-government by mid-November, he added.
"We are aware about the people's desperation for peace and progressive change…I appeal to everyone to remain convinced about the positive efforts being made for the success of the talks, and at the same time, keep raising voices in a positive way for a new conclusion by October 15," Prachanda said.
He, however, ruled out rumours that he had already reached a "secret agreement" during his informal meeting with PM Koirala, NC-D President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, held at the PM's Residence prior to today's summit talks.
Saying that his party was constantly showing more and more flexibility to resolve the crisis, Prachanda also asserted that the Maoists were ready to lock up all kinds of arms in their possession under an agreement with the UN "if all the eight parties decide for a republic through the constituent assembly."

PM Koirala says govt-Maoist joint letter to UN today

KATHMANDU, Aug 9

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assured a civil society delegation Tuesday that a joint letter to the United Nations would be sent by Wednesday, according to a civil society leader.
"There are only minor differences [between the government and the Maoists] over the issue of sending a joint letter to the UN," Koirala told the delegation, said prominent civil society leader Dr. Devendra Raj Panday. "It [the differences] will be bridged."
The prime minister also said that the letter would be sent on Wednesday.
A UN assessment mission had returned to New York last week virtually empty-handed after the government and the Maoists couldn't come up with a common understanding on managing Maoist arms with possible UN assistance.
Koirala, however, couldn't convince the civil society leaders over his controversial remark about giving political space to the king. "We didn't get a convincing answer in this regard," Dr. Panday said.
The seven-member delegation of the Citizens' Movement for Democracy and Peace (CMDP) had handed him a memorandum demanding, among other things, implementation of the eight-point agreement and the ceasefire Code of Conduct in letter and spirit.
Earlier, various members of civil society had marched about a kilometer to get to the PM's official residence and hand over the memorandum.
The memorandum has also demanded the dissolution of the House of Representatives (HoR) as agreed in the eight-point pact.
"As you are well aware, we citizens were forced to take to the streets earlier also when there were direct indications of undermining the aspirations of the people," the memorandum said. "However, the time to lead the peace talks to a logical end hasn't lapsed as yet," it suggested.
The memorandum has also demanded action against army officers involved in suppressing the peaceful demonstrations in April. It has sought immediate announcement of dates for the constituent assembly elections.
Posted on: 2006-08-08 21:21:53 (Server Time)

ICDC to submit proposed constitution

KATHMANDU, Aug 9 - The Interim Constitution Draft Committee (ICDC) is set to submit its draft constitution to the talks teams by Wednesday evening.
In spite of repetitive requests to the parties and Maoists, since none could arrive at common consensus on the issues of interim legislature, constituent assembly process, arms management and other political issues, the ICDC decided to submit the draft constitution handing over these issues to be resolved by the talks teams themselves.
A member of the ICDC Sindhu Nath Pyakurel informed that though decision on some issues were still due to be made, preparations were on to submit the draft constitution to the talks teams by today evening. However he didn't clarify the unresolved issues. The committee has mentioned that there would be a "single-house" interim legislature, in the draft constitution. However, it does not detail on its infrastructure and the number of members that it comprises. Similarly, it is known that only theoretical aspects of interim government and constituent assembly structure and process are included in the draft constitution.
In the proposed constitution, the state of the monarch is left as it is for now with a provision that the final verdict on this would be made by people themselves through constituent assembly elections.
Posted on: 2006-08-09 01:56:14 (Server Time)

Goverment asks UN mission to extend stay

BY TILAK P. POKHAREL

Staffan de Mistura, (L) head of the high-level UN assessment team,

turns to speak to the media after meeting PM Girija Prasad Koirala

at his residence in Kathmandu on Monday

KATHMANDU, Aug 1 - As the government and the Maoists haven't been able to reach a common understanding on the kind of support they will seek from the UN, the government Monday requested the high-level UN mission currently in Nepal to extend its stay.
During his meeting with the UN mission, Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan requested the mission to extend its stay in Nepal so that the government and the Maoists may have more time to agree on a common understanding.
"They repeated that [three-day ultimatum given by the team yesterday to the government and the Maoists to come up with a common understanding on arms] even today, warning that they should return [empty-handed] if nothing comes up within this period," Sherchan said, after holding a meeting with the team.
He said he will talk to the prime minister and the other parties to concentrate on the UN ultimatum, setting aside all prescheduled programs for today.
Upset about dillydallying on the part of the government and the Maoists towards coming up with a common understanding on arms management, the chief of the mission, Staffan de Mistura, had warned yesterday that "an occasion" to get UN help could be missed. He had given three days' time to arrive at such an understanding.
Posted on: 2006-07-31 21:36:14 (Server Time)

Don't hamper talks, DPM Oli tells Maoists

KATHMANDU, June 3 -
Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Saturday requested the Maoists not to hamper the talks process.

Referring to past incidents of Maoists hampering negotiations, Deputy PM urged them to abide by the code of conduct and not to put unnecessary blame on the government.
"The intention of having a secular state is not to disregard Hinduism but to show respect to all religious beliefs," he said at a programme in the capital today.
He warned everybody not to politicize religion.
Oli's remarks come after the Maoist talks team's coordinator Krishna Bahadur Mahara recently said that the next round of talks would discuss the political roadmap also suggesting that the Maoists might demand the dissolving of the reinstated House of Representatives.
Meanwhile, Member of the government negotiating team and Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradip Gyawali today said that the government would not put forward any precondition that would create impediments to the ongoing peace parleys.
An alternative could be sought for the systematic management of the Maoist's "People's Liberation Army," and the present government is ready for working together with the Maoists toward that end, state-owned Rastriya Samachar Samiti quoted Minister Gyawali as saying at a press conference in Rajbiraj today.
"The government would not leave any stone unturned for giving the peace process a logical end," he said, adding that a reliable international monitoring committee needs to be formed for the purpose of the management of Maoists' weapons.
Separately, Speaker of the HoR Subash Nemwang today said that the reinstated House is yet to guarantee the rights of the people. The constitution of 1990 could not represent women, ethnic minorities and backward classes, said the Speaker stressing the fact that there is no alternative to elections to the Constituent Assembly (CA).
Speaking at a programme in the capital Nemwang said that elections to the CA is the most important national agenda since the Maoists' agenda meets it.
"Only the constitution made by the people can represent their interests fairly," Nemwang said. At the function, Speaker Nemwang and Sitaram Tamang, an ethnic minority leader, were felicitated.

Govt-Maoist talks:

Both sides agree on 25-point Code of Conduct

HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE: The government (right) and Maoist (left)

negotiating teams pose for a photograph during the first round of

preliminary talks at Gokarna Resort, Kathmandu, on Friday.
(Photo: Narendra Shrestha )

KATHMANDU, May 26 - At the end of the first day the government-Maoist peace talks, both sides have agreed on a 25-point Code of Conduct to go for the constituent assembly elections.
The talks ended at 10:15 p.m. after more than six hours of closed-door negotiations between the two parties at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in Kathmandu on Friday.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, heads of the government and the Maoist negotiating teams respectively signed the Code of Conduct.
The 12-point understanding reached between the seven-party alliance (SPA) was also discussed during the negotiations today.
Both sides also agreed to hold another round of talks after reaching the agreement today.
However, no date has been set for the next round of talks.
During today's negotiations, both sides agreed to invite national and international teams to monitor the ceasefire. They also agreed not make any public statement or to undertake any activity that would provoke each other.
In the Code of Conduct, both sides have agreed, among others, to stop new recruitments in their armies and create for the environment to run regular educational institutions, hospitals and industries.
The government and the Maoists also agreed on ending the forceful collection of donations and financial assistance.
"We don't want to return to war again," said Mahara after the meeting.
He added, "This (talks) is the first step towards achieving our goal of a constituent assembly election."
Home Minister Sitaula said that the dialogue was held in a constructive environment.
"Now no Nepali will have to spill blood to for the reasons of an armed conflict," said Sitaula.
The government on Thursday had given full shape to its team headed by Home Minister Sitaula and formally called the Maoists for negotiations while the Maoist preparatory talks team headed by the party spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara had arrived in Kathmandu last week; another member Dev Gurung arrived on Thursday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda has already said that he would lead the rebel negotiating team after the preparatory negotiations are held with the current teams.
Posted on: 2006-05-26 10:34:18 (Server Time)

Govt recalls ambassadors to 12 countries; annuls political appointments after Oct.4 royal move
Kantipur Report

Special advisor of the UN Department for Political Affairs,

Samuel Tamrat (second from left) meets Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli

at the latter's office in Singha Durbar. Also seen in the picture are

UN Resident Representative to Nepal, Matthew Kahane

(extreme right) and OHCHR-Nepal chief Ian Martin (extreme left)

KATHMANDU, May 7 - Annulling all the political appointments made by the previous governments after October 4, 2002, the government Sunday decided to recall Nepal's ambassadors to 12 countries.
The ambassadors of India, United Kingdom, United States of America, Japan, Russia, France, Thailand, Myanmar, China, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Pakistan were recalled.
The decision to this effect was taken by the cabinet meeting held at the residence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala this evening.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula read out the government announcement following the two-hour-long meeting today.
This decision will affect all the political appointments to various corporations and state-owned institutions made by three governments after October 4, 2002 royal takeover.
Meanwhile, the government also formed a committee headed by Dr. Sudha Sharma, president of Nepal Medical Association, to recommend further treatment for those who were injured during the pro-democracy movement.
The recalled envoys are:

Karna Dhwoj Adhikari India
Kedar Bhakta Shrestha USA
Prabal Shumsher Rana UK
Narendra Raj Pandey China
Pushkar Man Singh Rajbhandari Pakistan
Rameshananda Baidya Japan
General Prajwalla Shumsher Rana France
Hiranya Lal Shrestha Russia
Shyamananda Suman Qatar
Abullaish ThakuraiSaudi Arabia
General Tara Bahadur Thapa Thailand
Victry Shumsher Rana Myanmar

Posted on: 2006-05-07 07:55:19 (Server Time)

Government annouces truce,.......

Journalists take part in a rally organized to mark

World Press Freedom Day in the capital on Wednesday

Govt announces truce, withdraws Red Corner Notice, terrorist tag on Maoists, annuls municipal elections
Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, May 3 - Reciprocating the Maoist announcement of a three-month-long ceasefire, the government on Wednesday evening withdrew the Red Corner Notice and removed the “terrorist” tag labelled on the Maoists.
The government’s move comes at a time when the reinstated House of Representatives unanimously passed PM Koirala’s motion to hold constituent assembly elections to write a new constitution.
Constituent assembly is one of the major demands of the seven-party alliance and the Maoists, who reached a 12-point understanding on November 22, last year.
PM Koirala while addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed ministers at Singha Durbar said yesterday that the government would work as per the agendas of the alliance and the 12-point understanding reached between the SPA and the Maoists.
The government took the decision after holding a two-and-a half-hour-long formal meeting of the newly formed Cabinet at Singha Durbar today.
Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli read out the government decision.
Announcing a three-month-long ceasefire, Maoist Chairman Prachanda on April 27, said the truce was for facilitating the ongoing “people’s struggle” for a constituent assembly and a democratic republic “so as to lead the struggle to a historic conclusion” and for encouraging the parliamentary political parties to announce an unconditional constituent assembly.
The government also annulled the municipal elections conducted by the royal government recently.
With the major political parties boycotting the Feb.8 municipal polls conducted by the royal government, the turnout of voters was very poor—less than 21 percent of the total voters across the country.
The government also cancelled the appointment of regional and zonal administrators appointed by the royal government.
Tightening his grip on power, King Gyanendra on April 11, 2005 had appointed five regional administrators for the country's five development regions and 14 zonal administrators to replace bureaucrats.
Posted on: 2006-05-03 06:33:43 (Server Time)

Ram Bahadur Bhandari

Q & A with Ram Bahadur Bhandari

KATUNJE, 1 May 2006 (IRIN)

For the last 10 years, Nepal’s Maoist rebels have been waging an armed struggle to end the monarchy and establish a communist state in the Himalayan kingdom. King Gyanendra assumed absolute power on 1 February 2005 in frustration at the government’s inability to contain the rebellion that has cost the lives of at least 13,000 Nepalese. Last week the king announced an end to direct rule and reinstated parliament following days of protest throughout the country organized by the seven main opposition parties and the Maoists. The rebels, who have declared a three-month ceasefire, have now been invited to put down their weapons and join the political process. Senior Maoist leader Ram Bahadur Bhandari, based in the remote rebel-controlled village of Katunje, 150 km west of the capital Kathmandu, spoke exclusively to IRIN about where his movement, now at a critical crossroads, goes from here.

QUESTION: Are you optimistic that a political resolution to Nepal’s crisis is now possible?

ANSWER: Our main point is that if the seven party alliance leaders use us only as a weapon against the king, then we will continue with our political struggle to liberate the Nepalese people from all forms of repression.

Q: So, Nepalese civilians will have to endure more violence?

A: Not anymore. Since the repressive king is not ruling anymore, we shall continue in the most peaceful means. If there had been violence on our part then it was just to counter the violence penetrated by the repressive regime.

Q: What challenges do you foresee if you are to enter mainstream politics?

A: Our main goals have been to form an interim government with the presence of our Maoist party. The representatives of this government will be elected by the Nepalese people and the representatives will form a new constitution leading the way to forming a complete people’s democracy. Once they are achieved, there will no difficult challenges at all.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for confidence-building measures between Maoists and the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA)?

A: First of all, the ceasefire should be used to start the process of forming a new national army for Nepal. Both the Maoists and seven political parties should be working together to form that by merging both the RNA and PLA [Maoists’ People’s Liberation Army]. Most importantly, we need a trustworthy and reliable international body like the United Nations to help in managing that to make the merger possible. There is danger of another war if both armies are kept separately.

Q: What guarantees can you give civilians that their human rights will be respected in what could be a new era of understanding in Nepal?

A: We not only condemn such human rights abuses but also work to promote humanitarian and human rights. Of course, there have been violations on our part, also through torture to extract information. But we have firm belief that we have to respect international human rights laws. We have to be more answerable if we are to be an influential force. If we are to earn the trust of the international community, then we have to follow international human rights standards. And we will not forget that.

Q: Several reports suggest that over 100,000 Nepalese are reported to be displaced as a result of your insurgency. Do you have plans to assist these people back to where they used to live?

A: I don’t think we should be totally blamed for all the displaced population. There were many false reports that many fled out of our fear and intimidation but that is not true. We had only taken action against those involved in anti-social crimes. Of course, there were innocent villagers who were displaced due to some of our own cadres but we had taken action against those involved in hurting innocent civilians and getting rid them from their own homes. We have also gone around apologizing to such people on behalf of our members involved in such activities like targeting innocent people. But no matter what the cause, we are ready to integrate all of them back to their homes, which we have been doing in the past also.

Q: What about those innocent men, women and children who have been killed in the insurgency?

A: Our intention had never been to target innocent civilians but to target the elements of our enemies. Our main goals have also never been to kill RNA soldiers or the police. But if they came as shields of the regressive state force, they became the targets. If civilians get killed, it also breaks our heart and affects us very badly. What do we gain by killing innocent people? We know such deaths lose us support.

Q: Many NGO and development workers say they have been prevented from working by Maoist cadres. Can you say that your movement is going to promote development work in areas you control?

A: We have promoted the idea that even during war, development work should continue. But it is really disappointing to hear that several NGOs are blaming us for their activities not taking place. We have never said we are against development work. You find that some international media and some politically motivated organizations have been spreading false rumors that we are against development and that we favor violence. We have been accused of destroying roads, bombing schools and health clinics. Why not ask all the local and international NGOs how they have been so successfully working and implementing their projects without any problems even in our core areas? Besides, we have always welcomed aid agencies to invest in Nepal as much as they can without worrying about us.