Nepal rebels slam govt as peace talks delayed

Kathmandu, Sep 28: Nepal's Maoist rebels today accused the multi-party interim government of reneging on promises and setting new conditions in a bid to hold on to power as formal peace talks between them were further delayed.

Tourism Minister Pradip Gyanwali, a government negotiator, said the talks that were expected to resume tomorrow had been delayed until after October 7 when the Hindu festival of Dasain ends.

Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held an informal meeting with rebel chief Prachanda today, but no details were released.

The negotiations, between Koirala and Prachanda, aim to resolve differences between the two sides over disarming the rebels and the future of the monarchy before drafting a new constitution.

The differences have stalled the peace process in the troubled country and also delayed the Maoists joining the interim government as some political parties say the rebels must give up arms before becoming a part of the administration.

The Maoists have rejected it and a top rebel leader charged the parties of delaying talks to stick to power they won after weeks of street protests in April against King Gyanendra's absolute rule.

''They don't want any progressive change. The government is dilly-dallying to continue in power,'' Baburam Bhattarai, number two to Prachanda, told Reuters earlier today.

''Monarchy should be suspended, the (state) army as well as the economy should be restructured. These are the key issues that need to be sorted out in the talks,'' he said.

Koirala and Prachanda held their first formal talks in June and the two sides agreed to appoint the Maoists in an interim cabinet that is to oversee elections to a new assembly.

The assembly would draft a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy -- a key demand of the Maoists, whose decade-long war has left more than 13,000 people dead.

But political parties want the rebels to put their weapons away as they fear the rebels could otherwise intimidate voters.

''The Maoists must not continue the politics of guns any more,'' said Ram Chandra Poudel, a top leader of Koirala's centrist Nepali Congress party.

''They should join the mainstream like any other party and win the people's support.''

Reuters

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