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Pushpa Adhikari in Kathmandu
Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Thursday asked the Maoist guerrillas to cease violence and come to the table for talks to find a solution to the insurgency.
In a policy statement to Parliament on Thursday, Deuba reiterated his stand that the Maoist insurgency was a by-product of economic backwardness and lack of government attention to far-flung areas of Nepal.
Maoists have fighting to establish a republic in Nepal. So far the six-year-old insurgency has claimed more than 2,000 lives.
Earlier, after a 39-day ceasefire, Maoists had announced on Wednesday that a three-member committee would negotiate with the government.
The committee is to be headed by former parliamentarian Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
The previous government of Girija Prasad Koirala had come under harsh criticism for not being able to maintain law and order in Nepal, showing apathy towards the slaughter of innocents and clinging to power.
Talks between the government and the Maoists had collapsed last November after Koirala's government released Maoist central committee member Dinesh Sharma and another senior leader Dinanath Gautam. The incident is still termed as a big government conspiracy to spoil the talks.
In his first address in Parliament after assuming office, Deuba had admitted that the Maoist problem was a 'by-product' of economic and social problems and proposed land reforms.
He said, "Until new rules are made, the government has stopped buying and selling of land. The government will form a commission to look after the issue of the downtrodden people."
Deuba said he would seek a solution to the Maoist issue with a national consensus involving all political parties. All political parties in Parliament welcomed his efforts, together with other plans.
But military analysts said the offer of talks could be one of the war-tactics of the rebels to consolidate their position.
"Maoists are using tactical warfare technique like harassing policemen in particular districts, bringing their morale down, taking advantage of their communication gap with the central command and so on," an analyst said.
"Now it is not a season for warfare; hence they are talking about talks and peace, but whether they are serious could be seen if they continue talking about peace until the spring season starts," he said.
Indo-Asian News Service
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