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Nepalese Government, Rebels Agree to Resume Talks
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=140045C:A6F02AD83191E16009299E8F748E2CA19574F7DCC14957C0 Peace process had
raised hopes of ending decade-long Maoist insurgency that has ravaged
the country





Nepal Maoist rebel army cadre perform during a function for rebels
injured and physically challenged during the peoples war during the
ten years of conflict in Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 4, 2006In
Nepal, the government and Maoist rebels have decided to hold talks to
clear away obstacles to a peace process that began in April. The peace
process had raised hopes of ending a decade-long Maoist insurgency
that has ravaged the country.

Officials say the new round of talks will be held before the country
begins celebrations next week for its main annual festival.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist rebel leader Prachanda
held a preliminary meeting on Sunday to prepare for what is being
referred to in Nepal as a "summit."

The talks will focus on crucial issues that have to be sorted out
before a power-sharing deal between the rebels and the government can
be implemented. These include the drafting of a new constitution, and
how to manage rebel arms before the country holds elections.

Ram Chandra Poudel is general secretary of the Nepali Congress, the
largest party in the governing coalition. He says both the government
and the rebels have agreed to allow the United Nations to supervise
their arms, but there is concern over rebel insistence that their
fighters will stay armed in U.N.-supervised camps.

"They have already agreed about monitoring of U.N., but they are not
yet ready to separate their arms from their militants," said Poudel.
"We are arguing - we are demanding - to separate their arms from their
personnel."

Political observers say diplomats, private political organizations and
political parties in Nepal are all uneasy at the thought of allowing
the rebels to stay armed once they join an interim administration.

Officials say the meeting between the rebel leadership and the prime
minister was aimed at restoring trust between the two sides. There
have been bitter exchanges between the two in recent weeks, with both
accusing the other of violating the terms of the truce, and delaying
peace talks.

The government accuses the rebels of continued human rights violations
in the countryside, while the rebels blame the government for not
implementing the power-sharing deal that was reached in June.

Frustration has been rising over the slow pace of negotiations, and
there have been widespread calls in Nepal for the differences to be
settled.

The Maoist insurgency erupted in 1996, aimed at overthrowing the
Nepalese monarchy and establishing of a communist republic. But after
a popular uprising against King Gyanendra earlier this year, the
communists agreed to end the rebellion, and participate in elections
if a new constitution is written.


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