Maoists to bring JTMM to talks table: DPM Sherchan

January 10, 2007
2 MIN READ
A
A+
A-

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan has revealed that the responsibility to persuade the Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM), a small breakaway faction of the Maoists, for table talks, has been given to the Maoists.

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan (File photo)

Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan (File photo)
Reports quoted DPM Sherchan as telling media persons in Hetauda Wednesday that the government was ready for dialogue with the JTMM and that the government has asked the Maoists the agree the outfit for peace talks.

He also called upon the JTMM to shun violence, abduction and extortion right away.

Sherchan’s statement came four days after JTMM chieftain Jwala Singh announced that his group was ready for UN-brokered peace talks.

Singh said the government should, however, come positively about the 13-point demand presented by his group including the demand to declare Terai region as an autonomous province, delimitation of election constituencies for constituent assembly as per the population ratio and Rs 1.5 million compensation to the families of those “killed by the state” in Terai.

The JTMM, which had split from the CPN (Maoist) few years ago, is involved in individual killings, abduction and extortion in Siraha, Saptari and surrounding districts. Jwala Singh then formed his own armed group (with the same name ‘JTMM’) after an split with the JTMM led by Jaya Krishna Goit.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had also said a few days earlier that the government was ready for talks with the JTMM.