Government decides to release 68 Maoists from judicial custody

November 9, 2001
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November 09, 2001

KATHMANDU: The government Friday decided to free 68 Maoists from judicial custody after withdrawing cases against them to pave the way for next round of talks with Maoists to end an insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 live six nearly six years.

Government spokesman and Communications Minister Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta made the announcement after a cabinet meeting. The government also decided to withdraw an amended prevention act that gave authorities sweeping powers of arrest and detention enacted earlier this year; the act prepared by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s predecessor Girija Prasad Koirala was approved by parliament.

The Home Ministry will also look into cases of missing Maoists that rebels say are unaccounted for until now.

Maoists demanded the release of half of the 300 rebels in government jails before the beginning of the third phase of talks to end a communist insurgency. Government and rebels started talks to end the insurgency more than three months ago but the third round of talks have been delayed for more than six weeks.

Deuba started  peace talks with rebels in July after assuming office for the second time in nearly five years. Newspapers are speculating the next round of talks will begin before tihar holidays on Wednesday.