December 03, 2005

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday said the peace process should start during the one-month period of the extended ceasefire declared by the Maoists.

Addressing a gathering of party cadres of the eastern region in his hometown Biratnagar, Koirala said, “The one month ceasefire period must be utilized in initiating peace talks with the Maoists. I call upon the King to move to this direction.

“If he fails to do so,” the NC strongman warned, “He will end up fueling the conflict.” Koirala claimed that the King had failed to move towards peaceful resolution of the crisis. The King, he said, must not forget his ‘background’ and that his anti-democratic steps were further distancing him from the people.

The NC president further said the recent understanding between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists was focused on restoring peace in the country. “The Maoists have also agreed to come to the peace process and the seven parties would make all necessary efforts in the next one-month ceasefire period.”

He added that some quarters had been trying to highjack the emerging peaceful environment but the parties were resolute on bringing their negotiations with the rebels to a logical conclusion.

Addressing the mass, NC vice-chairman Sushil Koirala said the Maoists had shown positive inclination towards peaceful resolution of the crisis by extending their three-month long ceasefire by one more month and the royal government should now reciprocate.

NC general secretary Ram Chandra Poudel said the ongoing movement of the parties would defeat the guns of the both sides – the state and the Maoists.

More than 10 thousand people participated in the NC gathering despite obstructions from the local authorities. Over 260 buses carrying NC activists from neighboring districts were stopped at various places by the security personnel. However, the NC mass meeting went peacefully, reports from Biratnagar said.