Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba again asked Maoists to desist from statements against Nepal’s monarchy and stop forcible extortions from the public as government readies itself for the second round of talk with rebels to end a bloody communist insurgency.
Deuba at a public meting in the capital Saturday accused rebels of breaking an agreement to stop violence during on-going negotiations. Security forces have been put on full alert to deal with Maoist pressure tactics despite talks to end an insurgency that has claimed more than 1,800 lives in nearly six years, the Home Ministry said in another statement Saturday.
The statement comes ahead of the second round of talks between the government and the rebels to end the communist insurgency. But the venue and date for talks have not been publicized after the first round of probing talks in the capital nearly a fortnight ago.
The security forces will deal sternly with Maoist acts of extortion and other acts of violence that government says the rebels are continuing nation-wide despite an agreement to end pressure tactics while talks are continuing to negotiate a peace.
The Home Ministry has asked Maoists to stop such acts as rebels plan to hold a mass meeting in the capital September amid fears of violence. The government is in a dilemma whether to permit meeting as peaceful protests are permitted in a democratic dispensation.
Opposition members of parliament and sections of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s ruling Nepali Congress Party have asked the government to stop the public rally as Maoists call for a republic, an interim government and elections to a constituent assembly to introduce sweeping changes in Nepal.
National parties represented in parliament have asked the government not to compromise on constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy in negotiations with the government.
The Home Ministry warning Saturday comes 24 hours after similar warnings by Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, one of the negotiators in the government team with the rebels. The Home Ministry asked the rebels not to disturb the peace in the country.
Maoists have not officially reacted to latest government reactions. In a rare incident, unknown people in a taxi shot and injured a policeman in the capital Friday ahead of the Maoist mass meeting in the capital.