Nepal PM pledges full security to Maoist leaders
Wednesday, July 23 2003 14:01 Hrs (IST)
Kathmandu: In a bid to bring back the Maoist leaders to the negotiating table, Nepalese Prime Minister
Surya Bahadur Thapa has pledged full security to them and the government's commitment to honour
past decisions, including release of three central-level rebel leaders.
Pledging full security to the Maoists liaison office in Kathmandu and all those involved in the dialogue
process, Thapa said the government was very positive about the peace process and eager to begin the
third round of talks.
Maoists closed down their Kathmandu office and their five-member negotiating team went underground
suspecting the government would crackdown against the rebels after security forces interrogated their
office chief.
However, Thapa ruled out the possibility of any "extreme conclusion or action" at the moment.
"Ups and downs are bound to come in the process of dialogue and any extreme conclusion or action on
that basis will be premature," Thapa was quoted as saying by 'The Kathmandu Post'.
He said the government was committed to honour past decisions, including release of three central-level
Maoist leaders.
"The dialogue can proceed towards substantive and political issues once procedural issues are sorted
out," he said, adding even the issue relating to restricting Army movement within 5 km of barracks had
been sorted out informally.
PTI
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