The Himsa Birodh Abhiyan (Campaign against Violence) has called on the Maoists to immediately declare a ceasefire in order to help achieve political resolution and reinstatement of peace.

“The Campaign believes that only a ceasefire will promote a peaceful political evolution under the current context. At a time when the state establishment is bent on suppression of political forces and shows no inclination itself to call a ceasefire, the Campaign believes that a cessation of fire by the CPN (Maoist) can have the result of restraining the state”, the release states.

Saying that it does not seem possible that the 12-point understanding of November 2005 between the Maoists and the political parties can be implemented in the absence of a ceasefire, the Campaign recalls that the four-month ceasefire had the result of partially restoring the political image of the CPN (Maoist), and resuming the ceasefire would have the same effect, the release says.

A ceasefire would also be a natural corollary to the publicly expressed commitment to non-violent political change by the senior-most Maoist leader in a newspaper interview, it adds.