Immediate peace talks between the government and Maoists to end a bloody communist insurgency looked bleak as rebels Thursday set tough conditions for the third phase of negotiations.
“The government should release all political prisoners to create an atmosphere for the third round of talks. The government will be responsible if detainees are not released and our conditionalities are ignored,” a press statement released by a three-man negotiating team led
by chief negotiator Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.
Maoists said there are at least 300 such prisoners in jails. The rebels said they do not hold any prisoners even as the government asked Maoists to release more than 140 civilians and
policemen still in their custody.
“We have released all persons in our custody,” a two page statement released by the rebels at a news conference said. The Maoist negotiators arrived in the capital Wednesday as the
government initially suggested Thursday as a date for the negotiations.
There was speculation why the team came to the capital when dates for talks had not been finalized. The conditionalities are: release of 300 activists; make public whereabouts of missing persons; disband the armed police, call the army back to the barracks; abrogate the preventive detention act.
The Maoists also refuted charges they are perpetrating acts of violence while pursuing peace talks.