Government, Maoist talks begin  

November 13, 2001
2 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

The third round of delayed talks between Government and Maoists began at the Godavari Village Resort in the Kathmandu Valley shortly after 4 PM, negotiators said. 

The resort was the site for the first round of talks in July. The talks first began at the resort and shifted to another resort in Hattiban in neighbouring Lalitpur district, insiders to the talks said. 

The talks began shortly after top Maoist negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara arrived for the negotiations from New Delhi earlier Tuesday. Minister for Physical Planning Chiranjivi Wagle, who is leaving for South Korea Wednesday for a week-long visit, is heading the government delegation.

Facilitators Daman Dhungana and Padma Ratna Tuladhar are also participating in the talks. The third round of talks began after Maoists abandoned their demand for a  republic in the world’s only Hindu monarchy but still insist on an interim government to conduct elections for a constitution assembly to frame a people’s constitution.

The talks were still continuing late into the night Tuesday. The talks aim to end a communist insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in more than six years.

President of the ruling Nepali Congress Party Girija Prasad Koirala is pressing Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba not to succumb into Maoist demandsand adopt a stiff position at the negotiations.