The government and the Maoists have finally delineated the works and responsibility of the ceasefire monitoring committee formed some 10 days ago.

The meeting of the monitoring committee members and member of talks teams of both the government and the Maoists held at the peace secretariat on Monday also nominated Prof Birendra Prasad Mishra, former chief election commissioner, as the chief of the monitoring committee. Earlier, Dr Devendra Raj Pandey, who was named the coordinator of the committee, had withdrawn from the committee.

Mishra told Nepalnews on Monday that they will start working after a meeting on Tuesday. “It is late. The work should have begun earlier because controversies regarding the violation of code of conduct have arisen.” Mishra added, “Our efforts will be to make both sides abide by the code.”

He said they will also finalise the modalities of the working procedure based on the mandate they are given.

In the 17-point working guidelines formulated during today’s meeting, the committee has been given the responsibility of reporting violations of the code of conduct across the country.

The guidelines also mentions that reports given by the committee will be documented. The committee is empowered to form necessary sub-committees at the local level to carry out works extensively.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara

Krishna Bahadur Mahara (File Photo)
Talking to media persons after the meeting, coordinator of the Maoist talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara said there would not be much problem with the issue of violation of code of conduct because the national mission has been set – to hold the election of constituent assembly in free and fair manner.

Krishna Prasad Sitaula

Krishna Prasad Sitaula (File Photo)
Home minister and coordinator of government talks team Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the government will be most flexible in regard to the efforts for restoration of peace in the country.

Subodh Raj Pyakurel, Krishna Pahadi and few other members of the 31-member committee had renounced themselves as monitors. The committee was formed on June 15 after the second round of talks between the government and the Maoists.