Feburary 5, 2003

KATHMANDU: South Asia Partnership, SAP, Nepal organised an interaction programme on the topic, peace and good governance for peace talks, here today.

Various political party representatives, intellectuals, members of civic society and non-government organisation office-bearers pointed out the need for a far-sighted approach following the cease-fire agreement reached between His Majesty’s Government and the Maoists.

Coordinator of the CPN-ML (reconstituted) CP Mainali said that his party has taken positive note of the talks and whoever initiated the dialogue should also take responsibility for it.

Independent intellectual Hiranya Lal Shrestha pointed out the need to focus the talks on the Constituent Assembly idea.Ex-minister Sailendra Kumar Upadhyaya emphasised the need to make public the agenda of the round-table conference.

Acting Chairperson of SAP Nepal Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, executive director Rohit Nepali, Prof Dr. Krishna Bhattachan, Dr. Dwarika Nath Dhungel and intellect Khagendra Nath Sharma were of the view that the political parties should be involved in the talks and the suffering by the nationalities as a result of the Maoist struggle should feature also.