Prime Minister Lokendra Chand will address the nation over Nepal Television and Radio Nepal at 7:45 PM ( 14:00 GMT) Monday, the RSS said.
Chand is addressing the nation almost 24 hours after Maoists under the governorship of Dr. Baburam Bhattarai formed a five member negotiating team to begin peace talks with the government to end a bloody communist insurgency that enters its eighth year February 13.
The government has appointed Minister for Physical Planning Col. Narayan Singh Pun convener of the official team to talk peace with the Maoists. Chand is addressing the nation as he comes under increasing criticism from his party, the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, for not informing it of events leading up to the last week’s historic announcement of a ceasefire between the rebels and the government and proposed peace talks
The five member Maoist team includes Krishna Bahadur Mahara, head of the first peace talks team, that made an abortive attempt to negotiate a peace 14 months ago with them Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. His inclusion is an attempt to give continuity to the dialogue between the government and Maoists, two other members of the first negotiating team have been excluded.
Military strategist Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal has been included in the Maoist negotiating team.
The government is expected to announced aides to Col. Pun after the rebel move. Maoists have said no central committee member met and talked directly with King Gyanendra before announcing the historic ceasefire.
Rebel strongman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda Sunday night thanked unnamed human rights workers and others who brokered the latest peace talks.