|
Timeline
of the Insurgency
|
|
|
 Maoists
have escalated attacks against targets nation-wide, killing, injuring or
abducting more than 60 policemen ahead of a nation-wide strike . Three
policemen were killed and more than 50 others abducted in separate incidents
in Banke and Rolpa districts in far west Nepal. |
|
|
The embattled Nepalese Prime Minister Koirala announced his resignation on Radio Nepal and .
Nepal
Television, saying the country was passing through a very serious situation
because of attacks by Maoist rebels. If all political parties do not confront
the crisis united, the country will face an even graver situation in the
future. The Maoist violence is targeted against democracy.
Nepal's
PM has been under increasing pressure from the opposition over his handling
of the Maoist revolt as well as over long-standing corruption allegations.
.
Maoist
leaders said severals time that the rebels were ready for talks with the
government if Mr Koirala resigned. The PM's resignation could either give
fresh impetus to peace efforts or lead to further confusion in resolving
the Maoist problem. King Gyanendra accepted the resignation of Prime Minister. |
|
|
The ruling Nepali Congress has chosen former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur
Deuba as the new leader of the Himalayan kingdom. Mr Deuba has said
his top priority will be to end a six-year-old insurrection by Maoist rebels.
Mr Deuba was prime minister once before, in a coalition government that
ruled from 1995 to 1997. |
|
|
The newly appointed Prime Minister Deuba had called upon the Maoist
leader to stop violence and all other offensive activities and come
to the negotiating table to end the six-year old insurgency. Sher Bahadur
Deuba, said the security forces had been ordered to halt their operations
against the rebels. The statement by Prime Minister Deuba said other steps
would be taken soon to create the right atmosphere for talks.
Today
the chairman of Maoist party Comrade Prachanda announced that his group
was suspending all armed action against the government for the time
being. Maoist leader Prachanda said that he has already instructed his
workers to temporarily stop all kinds of offensive acts. Prachanda has
described Deuba's appointment as Prime Minister as a positive move and
appreciated Deuba's priority for solving the Maoist insurgency. |
|
|
The Maoist party leader Prachanda said his party commit itself to
continue the dialogue to find a political solution in the conflict. In
a statement Prachanda called for solidarity of " pro people forces" to
lead the country along the "path of a radical change" . The statement was
timed with the release of 15 jailed Maoists to create an atmosphere for
talks initiated by Nepal's Prime Minister Deuba last week. Prachanda lauded
Deuba for creating a congenial atmosphere for talks. The party leader warned
unidentified elements might try to disturb the dialogue. |
|
|
Government-Maoist
peace talks underway in Godavari, Kathmandu
 |
The
first round of peace talks between the government and Nepal Communist Party
(Maoist) concluded in the Kathmandu valley today with both parties agreeing
to hold next round of talks in the near future.
The
talks was held in Godavari Village Resort, on the outskirts of Kathmandu,
in which government and Maoist representatives put forth their position
and realised the need for continuing the peace talks to end the six-year
old insurgency. |
Negotiators
met for four hours under tight military and police security. At the end
of the talks, a joint press statement was issued agreeing to hold the next
round of talks within a fortnight and halt all forms of offensive activities.
Rebels
suggested Rolpa , their stronghold in far west Nepal, as the venue for
the second phase of the talks.
The
Maoist delegation put forth all their demands including for are public,
interim government and new constitution.
Government
said multi-party democracy, constitutional monarchy, multi-party democracy
and fundamental rights are not negotiable. |
|
|
Hopes
of Nepal breakthrough
 |
-
The Maoists say they are committed to peace Hopes for the peaceful settlement
of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal have increased after the first formaltalks
between the government and the rebels. There has been no substantive outcome,
but the talksare the beginning of the negotiating process. |
The
first face-to-face meeting between the two sideshas helped reduce mutual
distrust and increase crucial confidence. The outcome of Thursday's four-hour
long meeting at the luxury resort, Godavari, on the outskirts of the capital,
Kathmandu, has been welcomed by violence-weary Nepalis.
Hopes
for the peaceful settlement of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal have increased
after the first formaltalks between the government and the rebels. There
has been no substantive outcome, but the talksare the beginning of the
negotiating process. The first face-to-face meeting between the two sideshas
helped reduce mutual distrust and increase crucial confidence. The outcome
of Thursday's four-hour long meeting at the luxury resort, Godavari, on
the outskirts of the capital, Kathmandu, has been welcomed by violence-weary
Nepalis. |
|
|
Maoists
to present agenda in next round of talks
A
leader of the Maoists negotiation team in the peace talks with the government
announced the Maoist delegation would present a written agenda during the
next round of peace talks. The team leader also claimed that the exercise
towards establishing a republic state had already begun. The Abolition
of the Constitutional Monarchy to be replaced by a republic state remains
a The primary goal of the Maoists. The Maoist delegation demands also a
new Constitution and an interim government in Nepal.
A
human right activist, who is representing the cicil society during the
ongoing the peace talks, said, that the Maoist team conveyed greetings
from Prachanda, the strongman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists),
and thanked the Prime Minister Deuba for the peace initiatives. The activist
said also that the talks were in the most civilized and cordial manner
and there were no harsh words spoken by either side during the entire meet.
The biggest achievement was that both side expressed commitment on resolving
the problem through peaceful means. The Prime Minister appeared sincere,
serious and hopeful of the talks and had personally made the arrangement
for the peace talks.
A
industrialist said that the talks have finally given a ray of hope for
peace to return so that lives can go to normal. The government has the
law but the Maoists have the order. Nepal needs to put these two sides
together. |
|
|
Maoists
break cease-fire
Maoists
broke a four-month cease-fire accord with the government to end a bloody
communist insurgency and attacked targets nation-wide including an assault
on a parked M-17 Russian helicopter of the Asian Airlines at Surkhet airport
in the night, aviation sources said. There were no immediate casualty reports.
There were no casualties when rebels exploded pressure coooker bombs at
the Pokhara sub-municipal corporation shattering window panes, an official
of corporation said. In apparently co-ordinated attacks, Maoists also blasted
a police outpost at Majare village in Morang district. Initial reports
said Maoists hit at least nine targets nation-wide including police outposts
and district development offices in Dhankuta, Shankhuwasabha, Chitwan and
Khotang districts. The attacks came after the statement stated by Maoist
strongman Prachanda that three rounds of peace talks with the government
to end the insurgency that has claimed nearly 1,800 lives in nearly six
years were fruitless. The talks were stalled over rebel demands for a republic,
the formation of an interim government and elections for a constituent
assembly to draft a new constitution. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
said the Maoists will be solely responsible for unilaterally breaking the
talks even as he reiterated government was ready for a negotiated settlement
to the dispute. Security forces were kept on full alert after Prachanda's
statement.
Maoists
declare central "People's Revolutionary Government� .
The
underground Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) that has been waging an armed
insurgency for the last six years has declared central "People's Revolutionary
Government� with Dr Babu Ram Bhattarai chief (convener) of the Maoist parallel
government. The decision of formation of central people's revolutionary
government was taken by the central council of the Maoist party that met
in Rolpa recently. Maoist party has already formed village and district
people's revolutionary government in more than 40 districts of the country. |
|
|
Maoists
destroy airport tower and government offices in Solukhumbu .
Maoist
rebels attacked Salleri, headquarters of Solokhumbu district, and destroyed
the Faphlu airport tower and several police and government offices . More
than 2000 rebels first attacked Faphlu airport, destroyed the tower and
took control of the airport. Later Maoists attacked district administrative
offices, police posts and army barracks. Army personnel and police jointly
resisted the rebels. The rebels could not enter into the army barrack.
Solokhumbu is the main tourist area where Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain
peak in the world, is situated.
Government
decides to declare state of emergency
Government
decided to declare a state of emergency nation-wide to quell fresh Maoist
violence that has claimed more than 300 lives when rebels broke a four-month
truce to end a communist insurgency.
The
emergency is being declared because of last week's escalation of Maoists
terror attacks. The emergency declaration that is to be announced for the
first time in 11 years will have to be presented to the 205 member House
of Representatives within 3 months. |
|
 |
|
Nepal
Conflict
|
|
