Saturday, 15 February 2003 |
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Nepal's Maoists mark anniversary with warning over ceasefire KATHMANDU, Feb 13 (AFP) - The leader of Nepal's Maoist rebels Thursday warned that a breakdown in a ceasefire with the government could lead to a return to violence. "Trickery and conspiracy of any sort to jeopardise the basic wellbeing of the people, country and the people's war force will compel us to break the ceasefire at any point and resume our armed campaign to reach a decisive point," Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachanda, said in a message marking the seventh anniversary of the Maoist struggle to overthrow the monarchy. Last month the government and the guerrillas announced a ceasefire and said they wanted to enter into peace talks. "There will be no compromise of any sort at the negotiating table at the risk of the welfare of the people and the country," Prachanda added in the statement faxed to news organisations. He said the Maoists were taking the peace talks in a very serious and responsible manner. "Our readiness to take part in the talks with the government is our party's war strategy. "We will be extremely pleased if the people gain their rights simply through talks," he said. Analysing the Maoist struggle, which began on February 13, 1996, he said: "The people's war has achieved an unbelievable and marvelous height towards the direction of forming a new Nepal based on equality, liberty and justice by dismantling the old Nepal of discrimination and injustices." He also paid tribute to the party leaders and members killed over the past seven years. More than 7,800 rebels, members of the security forces and civilians have been killed during the insurgency, according to army figures. The anniversary was celebrated in Kathmandu, by the pro-Maoist All Nepal National Free Students' Union-Revolutionary who held a public meeting attended by about 2,000 students and youths. Around 150 riot police watched over the gathering, but there was no trouble, witnesses said. Prior to the ceasefire any such meeting would have been banned by the authorities. |
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