An agreement to bring Nepal's Maoist rebels into government and bring permanent peace is being widely hailed as historic in the country. On Friday, the Nepalese government said it would dissolve parliament and set up an interim government that would also include the Maoists. It followed landmark talks between the rebel's reclusive leader, Prachanda, and Prime Minister GP Koirala. Nepal's 10-year Maoist insurgency has left around 13,000 people dead.
In what has come as an interesting revelation, a senior commander of the Maoist armed forces has said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the CPN (Maoist) stands ready to follow orders from Nepali Congress president and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Addressing a huge mass meeting organized at the Open Air Theatre at Tundikhel in the Nepali capital on Friday, Deputy Commander of the PLA, Comrade Prabhaker alias Janardan Sharma, said the PLA was ready to follow orders of Nepali Congress president and premier G P Koirala. "People
have given Koirala a historic charge of making a new Nepal, said Prabhaker
adding, So, I urge him not to hesitate in taking bold steps." He did not
elaborate.
At least 200,000 people have taken part in a Maoist rally in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu - the first there by the rebels for three years. Streets were hung with banners bearing communist slogans and posters of the Maoist leader, Prachanda. King Gyanendra ended 14 months of absolute rule in April after weeks of pro-democracy protests. The new multi-party government has been holding talks with the Maoists aimed at ending the 10-year insurgency. The Maoists are demanding the dissolution of the government and elections to a new constituent assembly. Hundreds of youths in T-shirts featuring the Maoist leader Prachanda kept the crowd orderly. Hundreds of public transport vehicles were allegedly seized from villages around central Nepal and people compelled to come.
Dozens of companies in southern Nepal have suspended operations saying they cannot cope with acts of financial extortion by Maoist rebels. The Maoists appear to be stepping up a campaign of forced donations despite their declaration of a three-month ceasefire in the decade-long conflict. Reports say Dabur Nepal, one of the country's biggest companies, has had demands from Maoist trade unionists. The rebels' trade union branch has denied demanding any money. During their earlier ceasefires the Maoists have had a track record of continuing extortion and even recruitment to their ranks. Now, nearly a month into the new ceasefire, the trend seems to be continuing. 'Donations' necessary Reports say Maoist trade unionists have demanded a tax equivalent of more than $1m from one of the largest joint venture businesses in the country, Dabur Nepal.
This
is how you get to meet the Maoist rebels here in the flat plains of southern
Nepal.
You follow them, along the highway, then off the road onto a stony mud track that meanders along a dried-up river bed. After 20 minutes or so, you notice a handful of young men and women, in uniform, walking casually along the side of the road. They have red flashes on the lapels of their shirts. They are Maoist guerrilla fighters, and they look as if they have been walking for days. Close
to victory?
Maoist rebels in Nepal have welcomed a government ceasefire offer and said they are ready to enter peace talks. A statement from rebel leader Prachanda called the indefinite truce a "positive step". The rebels announced their own three-month ceasefire last week. "We hope that the peace talks will not fail this time," Prachanda said. Talks broke down in 2001 and 2003. More than 13,000 people have been killed in Nepal since the rebels began their fight for a republic in 1996. |
