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Nepal Government, Maoist rebels begin talks

Ameet Dhakal

Focus now on conduct of constituent assembly elections

KATHMANDU: The Government and the Maoists rebels on Friday signed a 25-point code of conduct and said they would now focus on holding constituent assembly elections.

The code of conduct signed on the first day of the talks held at the Gokarna Resort and Spa in the outskirts of Kathmandu, says there will be no extortions and strike in the education sectors and industries. "People will be allowed to live without any fear."

Recruitments to stop

It also says both the government and the rebels will immediately stop further recruitments in their armies and will not display their combatants in public. Both sides have also agreed to international monitoring of the ceasefire and compliance to the code of conduct.

No differences

Emerging from over five-hour long talks, Home Minister and leader of the government talks team, Krishna Prasad Sitaula said, "We don't have any differences on the political agenda. Now we will focus on holding the constituent assembly elections."

Krishna Bahadur Mahara, leader of the Maoists talks team echoed Mr. Sitaula and said, "Now it's the responsibility of both the government and the Maoists to hold the constituent assembly elections." He also said that the two sides have to agree on the modality and process of the constituent assembly elections.

No going to jungle

"But we won't go back to the jungle to wage war. Be assured of that," said Mr. Mahara.

They also said the next round of talks would be held soon.

Third time

This is the third time that the government and the rebels have sat for talks since the latter began a violent insurgency ten years ago.

Over 13, 000 Nepalis, mostly innocent civilians, have already lost their lives to the bloody war. Both the previous talks ended in deadlock after the two sides could not agree on the issue of the constituent assembly election, the chief demand of the rebels.

The last talks ended in August 2003.

Contentious issues

However, this time around both the sides have already agreed to hold the constituent assembly elections.

But differences remain on the modality and process of such elections. Moreover, there are other contentious issues such as decommissioning of the rebels and integration of their militias in the Nepali Army.

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