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Maoists in Nepal
News 2003
Percentage increase in the annual defence expenditure
Maoist shift in strategy: What's next? - Special - October 2003
Rebel leader Prachanda declared change in strategy October 2003
Nepal cease-fire collapses August 2003
Nepal peace talks in progress April 2003
Nepal rebels soften on monarchy March 2003
Map of Nepal
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Hope Maoists in Nepal
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Report: Nepal's percentage increase in the annual defence expenditure
December 22, 2003
The percentage increase in the annual defence expenditure beginning 1985 through 1998 in Nepal remained at 4.7 percent as compared to 3 percent each in India and Bangladesh and 2.3 percent in Pakistan.

Stressing that "war" has a long-term effects over economies, the report said increase in security expenses (associated with security arrangements and preventive initiatives for the reduction of the risk and consequences) is one of the three worse consequences of war. The two other effects or "costs" of war are human costs (in the form of death tolls, injuries and physical damage) and industrial costs (loss of production, sales, goodwill and administrative efficiency), a report said. In Nepal, the gross domestic product in the last seven years decreased by 66 billion rupees only due to security expenses and other war-related activities," an economist said, while passing comments over the report.
It is estimated that the Maoist insurgency has, so far, caused a loss of 18 billion rupees to Nepali economy. "But the actual cost may be much higher than the estimates," said the Governor of Nepal's central bank, the Nepal Rastra Bank.

Maoist rebels want to change their strategy
October 22, 2003
The CPN-Maoist president and headman Prachanda announced the rebels would now target US-backed organisations and halt attacks on government infrastructure. He signalled a shift away from attacks on government buildings, telecommunications and other infrastructural works. Prachanda said Nepalese police would be given a chance to leave the force rather than be killed. Aid groups not funded by the US would be allowed to work in villages after consultations with the rebels, the rebel's most senior leader said. A new "tax" on businesses would replace extortion.

Nepal cease-fire collapsed
August 27, 2003
A seven-month old cease-fire in Nepal between the government and Maoist rebels has collapsed after the rebels declared there was no justification for the truce amid an uncompromising stance from the Nepali Government.

"We have come to the conclusion that the cease-fire and peace process is unjustified because of the government's attitude towards our demands," Maoist top leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda, said in a statement posted on the Maoists' Web site. Prachanda however said that the rebels would still keep the door for open for further dialogue on peace provided the government showed flexibility. The cease-fire collapsed a week after the third round of peace talks between the government and the Maoists. The talks ended in a stalemate over the rebels' demand of elections to a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. The government rejected the demand but said it was prepared to amend the present constitution without changing the provisions for constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.

Nepal rebels soften on monarchy
March 15, 2003
Nepal's Maoist rebels have, for the first time, said they may not seek the end of the country's monarchy. If the people accept the monarchy, there is no problem, a Maoist negotiator said.

Nepal's Maoist rebels have, for the first time, said they may not seek the end of the country's monarchy. If the people accept the monarchy, there is no problem, a Maoist negotiator Throughout their seven-year insurgency, the abolition of the monarchy has been on of the Maoist's principal aims. But since the rebels and the army began a ceasefire in January, they have not raised the issue. Now a senior rebel says it is up to the people of Nepal to decide on the monarchy's future. However, a communist republic still is Maoist's ultimate goal. Under the code of conduct, the two sides agreed to cease from armed and provocative activities and also agreed on fair access to the state-run media. The government also agreed to begin the process of releasing Maoists prisoners. The rebels say they are committed to peace. The date and the venue of the talks are still to be set. An expert said there have been encouraging signs of progress towards a negotiated settlement.

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