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| Thursday, 22 July 2004 |
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Maoist chairman rules out immediate peace dialogue with Nepali Govt KATHMANDU, Wednesday (AFP) Chairman of Nepal's Maoist party Pushpa Kamal Dahal, alias Prachand, rejected the goverment's call for the peace talks. Dahal's rejection came barely a day after Nepal's new coalition government decided to hold peace negotiations with Maoist rebels who have been waging a bloody "people's war" in the Himalayan kingdom since 1996 that has claimed 9,500 lives. The government's decision was taken at a cabinet meeting last Thursday, according to a government statement released at a media conference here on Monday. "There is no possibility of holding peace talks at the present moment," Dahal said in a press statement released on the rebel's website Tuesday. "We don't seen any possibility of the ceasefire and peace dialogues with this goverment because of its status, style, intention and its position." He charged the coalition government of intentionally publicizing false information in connection with the peace talks, and reiterated rebel demands for a constituent assembly as one of the main conditions for peace talks. "The call of the Deuba-led government is a confusing propogative publicity to lead the country to confusion and misinformation," he said. Prachand's statement came after newly appointed US Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty urged the Maoists to lay down their arms and come forward for the peace talks. Addressing his first press conference in Kathmandu, Moriarty said: "The Maoists should lay down their arms and come forward to hold peace dialogues with the Nepalese government for peace, security and prosperity of democracy in the country." |
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