NEPAL/FILE: Nepali PM calls peace deal with Maoist rebels a "political gamble" and appeals for unity in war-torn nation

Record ID: 349272

  • Title: NEPAL/FILE: Nepali PM calls peace deal with Maoist rebels a "political gamble" and appeals for unity in war-torn nation
  • Date: 9th November 2006
  • Summary: (W3) KATHMANDU, NEPAL (FILE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2006) (REUTERS) BUSLOADS OF MAOIST ACTIVISTS RIDING ON BUSES COMING INTO CAPITAL, SHOUTING SLOGANS VARIOUS PROTESTERS MARCHING MAOIST PROTESTERS AT RALLY, LOOKING AT CULTURAL SHOW ON STAGE CULTURAL SHOW, FEATURING MEN WEARING MAOIST HEADBANDS AND WAVING GUNS PROTESTERS WATCHING, WEARING MAOIST HEADBANDS
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2C45BK42M0R2QRKHB0CEBZMC3
  • Story Text: Nepal's Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala told parliamentarians in Kathmandu on Thursday (November 9) that the peace deal between Nepal's multi-party government and Maoist rebels was a "political gamble".
    Minutes after midnight on Wednesday the interim government and rebels agreed to a landmark peace pact aimed at ending the decade long civil war and at setting a timetable for disarmament.
    The will put rebel arms under U.N. watch, a key move to rescue a faltering peace process to finally end a conflict that has killed thousands.
    The agreement caps two days of intense talks headed by Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda, supported by negotiators from both sides as well as leaders of the ruling alliance.
    The pact says that the monarchy would continue in an almost powerless form until a constituent assembly -- which will be elected in 2007 -- takes a final decision on its fate.
    Koirala appealed to all factions to pull together to make the deal work, "The process should be complete, your cooperation is much needed," he said.
    He also sounded an optimistic tone about chances of the deal sticking, "Today, the international community itself has been astounded, considering their experiences and know-how about conflicts in many other countries , they have never believed it would be solved so soon."
    The assembly will prepare a new constitution which was a key demand of the Maoists to end their revolt which has left more than 13,000 people dead.
    The rebels, fighting since 1996 to topple the monarchy, and the government announced a truce and began negotiations soon after King Gyanendra ceded absolute power following violent street protests in April.
    But a dispute over disarming the rebel army had remained a sticking point because the Maoists had refused to lay down their guns before elections to the assembly.
    After several lengthy rounds of talks and pressure from the international community, the rebels earlier said they had agreed to keep their 35,000-strong force in temporary camps and lock up their weapons under U.N. supervision in return for a pledge from the government to keep an equal number of its arms locked up.
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