Maoists declare nine-day ceasefire in Nepal - Sify.com

Friday, 15 October , 2004, 19:58

Kathmandu: Maoist seeking to overthrow Nepal's monarchy announced Friday a nine-day ceasefire, to go into effect next week, for the country's biggest Hindu festival, Dasain.

"The Maoist party has decided to suspend all military actions from October 20 to October 28 to allow the Nepalese to celebrate the Dasain festival ... in response to appeals of human rights groups and individuals," a Maoist statement said.

Dasain celebrates the worship of the Hindu goddess Durga who vanquished demons and saved humanity. It is the scenic Himalayan kingdom's most popular festival, bringing together family and friends.

The Maoists have been fighting since 1996 to topple the monarchy and replace it with communist rule in an increasingly bloody battle that has claimed more than 10,000 lives.

There was no immediate reaction from the government to the ceasefire announcement.

A group of prominent Nepali civilians headed by retired Supreme Court judge Krishna Jung Rayamajhi set up a peace commission this week and called for a truce for the festival.

Violence has surged here since a peace dialogue and ceasefire collapsed in August 2003, with on average eight people dying daily in insurgency-related incidents.

Prime Minister Sher Deuba has said his government wants peace and is waiting for the Maoists to reply to a recent offer of talks.

But Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, also known as Prachanda or the "fierce one," said in the statement the "inability" to reply to the rebels' demands had "clearly shown the capabilities of the present government."

The Maoists' demand for a constituent assembly, which ultimately aims at seeing the world's only Hindu kingdom being declared a secular republic, has scuttled two previous attempts to reach peace.

A growing number of rebel deaths in "artificial encounters (with security forces) show that the old regime is not at all in favour of a dialogue and peace," Prachanda added.

In the latest violence, the army said, 14 Maoist rebels were killed in three clashes in the east and west of the country overnight.

Human rights groups have accused both sides in the insurgency of brutal human rights atrocities. Sphere: Related Content