Govt-Maoist talks begin Thursday

August 29, 2001
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The first round of peace talks between the government and Maoist rebels are to be held on August 30 in Kathmandu to end the six-year old insurgency.

In response to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s call for Maoists to come to the negotiating table by August 30, Chairman of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) Prachanda agreed to hold first round of peace talks in Kathmandu Thursday.

In a press statement issued Tuesday evening, Maoist leader Prachanda said that the representatives of his party would hold first round of talks with the government in Kathmandu. He proposed second round of talks on September 10 in Rolpa and third round of talks on September 25 in Kathmandu.

The Maoist leader, however, demanded that the government fulfill its commitments including release and making public the whereabouts of all Maoist workers and leaders to create conducive atmosphere for talks. Prachanda has also appealed to all to help make the peace talks fruitful and productive.

The Maoist party has already nominated a three-member team to hold peace talks with the government. They include Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Agni Prasad Sapkota and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi. The government has also designated central leader and Minister Chiranjibi Wagle as the convener of the talks with Maoists.