Kathmandu, June 20: Nepali Congress Central Committee meeting began today focusing on the policies and strategies to resolve the Maoist problem.
Party spokesperson Narhari Acharya informed the press that the meeting started discussions on various issues related to the four-year insurgency that has claimed about 1300 lives so far.
According to him, the meeting would draw concrete conclusions on the issues including the policies and strategies, peace and security situation, working strategy of the present government, inter party relations, the basic principle of budget formulation, party activities and the party’s upcoming tenth convention.
Acharya said that party President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala tabled the issues at the meeting. Former Prime Ministers Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi, Central Committee member Narhari Acharya and former Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka also addressed the meeting.
Former PM Bhattarai said that the party should move ahead with clarity of vision to solve the problems faced by the country. According to the spokesperson, Bhattarai suggested that should seek for consensus for resolution of problems.
Ex-PM Deuba who heads a high level committee to recommend strategies for the solution of Maoist problem, informed the meeting about preparation of the proposed peace dialogue with the insurgents and possible problems that might arise during the process.
Home Minister Joshi briefed the meeting on the recent casualties caused by the rebel group and on the peace and security situation of the country.
The so-called “People’s War” waged by the Maoists in early 1996, claimed more than 1300 lives, including 194 police personnel, 223 civilians and the Maoists, the spokesperson quoted the Home Minister as saying.
Acharya further said that some 134 of 1621 insurgents detained in different incidents have been released after the process for the proposed peace dialogue began. The released include high level Maoist activists like Dev Gurung.
The meeting was also informed that 21 of the 217 persons kidnapped by the Maoists were killed, whereas the rebels released 113. However, fate of 83 people is still unknown.
Acharya added that the government has not received any formal demands from the Maoists as precondition for the proposed peace talks.
RSS adds: The meeting expressed sorrow at the killings by the Maoists of Udyog Bahadur Shahi of the Nepali Congress Kalikot, Udayaraj Jaisi of the Tarun Dal, Achham, Amar Bahadur Budha of NC Rolpa, and Police Inspector Navaraj Poudel who died in Jajarkot, Panchkatiya.
The meeting also expressed sorrow at the killing of Chandra Narayan Yadav of the NC Siraha and teachers Rabilal Gautam and Jalapa Gautam of Arghakhanchi.
Also present at the meeting were Basu Risal, Yog Prasad Upadhyaya, Amod Prasad Upadhyaya, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Ram Krishna Tamrakar and Dr Ram Sharan Mahat as invited members. Central member Khum Bahadur Khadka was absent for health reasons.
The next meeting of the working committee will be held at 7.30 am day after tomorrow, Thursday, at the Prime Minister’s residence, Baluwatar.