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)