Senior leaders of the CPN-Maoists have said that they will not sit for talks unless their demands are fulfilled.
Speaking at an interaction at the Reporters Club on Friday, Maoist politburo member Matrika Yadav said that the government should release all the political detainees and publicize the whereabouts of the people who went missing in the hands of the State.
Yadav charged the coalition government of seven political parties for failing to move ahead as per the aspiration of the people and mandate of the popular movement.
He alleged that as most of the political detainees were detained and people disappeared during the period of the so-called democratic government, they feared to release them and publicize their whereabouts.
Notwithstanding the view of the seven political parties, Yadav further said that mediation of some reliable international agency is a must during the talks between the government and the Maoists. “As the political parties are not honest, international mediation is a must to make the talks results oriented,” Yadav stated.
The seven political parties have ruled out any mediation during the talks between the government and the Maoists.
On the issue of extortion, Yadav said they are not extorting money from people but are taking donations voluntarily given by the people.
“Some elements of the palace are extorting people to defame us but we are not forcing any people to give donations,” Yadav said while answering journalists.
Meanwhile, Yadav informed that Maoist supreme Prachanda will lead the team to hold talks with the government and the Maoists.
“Mahara might come to create conducive environment for talks but our chairman Prachanda will led the team for talks this time,” Yadav said, adding, “The talk will be held between Prachanda and Girija for it to succeed.”
He informed that the Maoists will shortly announce the talk team headed by Prachanda.
He said that the news about the formation of the three-member talk team headed by Mahara is just a rumour.
When asked how they could verify the quantity of weapons they have while keeping it under the supervision of the UN or any other reliable international agencies during the election of the constituent assembly, as per the 12-point understanding with the seven political parties, he said that the matter will be resolved through mutual understanding.
Yadav, who was released from Nakhu jail on Thursday after 26 month long detention also added that they agreed to leave the jail without the release of all other political detainees after Maoist supremo Prachanda assured them of immediate release of all political detainees.
Speaking at the same programme, another central committee member of Maoist, Suresh Ale Magar said that the government is hesitating to release Maoist detainees.
“The government, which was formed following the reinstatement of the House of Representatives (HoR) without any constitutional provision is hesitating to release Maoist detainees citing the same constitution, which is a conspiracy hatched against people,” Magar added.
He also reiterated that Maoists will not hold talks with the government before releasing all the political detainees and publicizing the whereabouts of the disappeared people.
He also said that Maoists will join the interim government to ensure free and fair election of the constituent assembly. He however pointed out the need of dissolution of the parliament and present constitution to go for the interim constitution.
He also defended the violence they had committed during the decade long insurgency, saying they were compelled to after the then government neglected their 40-point demand.
He urged the government to move ahead as per people’s aspiration and mandate of the people’s movement regardless of the comment from different quarters.
Speaking at the same programme, rights activist Padma Ratna Tuladhar urged the Maoists and the government to make the talks result oriented.
“Previous talks failed as the Maoist talk team concentrated in the speeches and addressing mass meetings while the government talks team headed by the ministers concentrated on their ministries, so this time both the sides have to form talk teams that will concentrate only in talks,” he added.
He also urged the government and the Maoists to sign human rights accord before sitting for talks.
Leader of civil society, Dr Sundar Mani Dixit urged Maoists to sit for talks only after bringing Army under the parliament, release of all political detainees and after publicizing the whereabouts of the disappeared people.
Krishna Rai, coordinator of the Society of the Families of the Disappeared Citizens by the State, urged the Maoist leadership to pressurize the government to publicize the whereabouts of the people, who went missing by the state.
She said that the government formed after the popular movement and due to the people’s power should publicize the whereabouts of the disappeared people and allow family members to meet them.