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Maoists' stress on republican setup

Kathmandu: Maoists would not only lay down their weapons but would even destroy them if a republican setup is established in Nepal, the chief peace negotiator of the rebels has said.

``We will destroy our arms if the political forces of Nepal would agree on setting up a republican state,'' Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who is also spokesman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said here.

The management of arms, which the Seven Party Alliance is making a big issue, is not a difficult task to settle, he told a programme organised by Nepal Ex-Army Republican Front, and accused the parties of not being ready to go ahead as per the 12-point agreement signed last year between them and Maoists. The People's Liberation Army of the Maoists are ready to stay temporarily in the camps under the United Nations' supervision during the Constituent Assembly elections, Mr. Mahara said, according to a report in National News Agency (RSS). He, however, said the presence of U.N. peacekeeping forces would never be acceptable, adding that the rebels would accept the arrival of the civilians from the United Nations to help in the peace process.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Amik Serchan has said the handing over of arms by the Maoists alone would not solve the problem. There should be political understanding for resolving the crisis, he said. — PTI

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