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)