Nepal's Maoists to seek foreign funds, more jobs

KATHMANDU, Dec 22 (Reuters) Nepal's Maoist rebels will encourage foreign investment and create more jobs to fight poverty after joining an interim government, a top Maoist leader said today, in his first meeting with international donors.

''We want to bring in advanced technology and capital from outside,'' Baburam Bhattarai, seen as number two to Maoist chairman Prachanda, told foreign donors that provide more than 60 per cent of the cost of Nepal's economic development.

''The only condition is that it should create productive employment in Nepal,'' he told the donor meeting which included representatives of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

The former guerrillas signed a landmark peace deal with the government last month declaring an end to a decade-old conflictthat has killed more than 13,000 people.

The deal envisages the Maoists joining an interim government after storing their weapons under U N lock and key ahead of next year's elections for a constituent assembly.

The legislative body will map out Nepal's political future and decide the fate of the monarchy, which the Maoists want abolished.

Bhattarai said that once in the government, the guerrillas would press for redistribution of land in the country where more than 80 percent of its 26 million people depend on agriculture.

''We think 20-25 per cent of the land can be redistributed if we implement the land holding ceiling of four hectares (10 acres) in the Terai,'' Bhattarai said of the southern plains, considered the impoverished Himalayan nation's bread basket.

Nepalis are currently allowed to own up to seven hectares (17 acres) of land, a key asset in the nation.

Around 31 per cent of Nepalis are below the official poverty line or live on a daily income of less than a dollar.

Earlier yesterday, the Nepali government and Maoist rebels said they would employ retired Gurkha soldiers to begin verifying arms until a full United Nations monitoring mission arrives.

The U N says some monitors could arrive this month but a full mission will take some time. Nepali officials say it could take two months to put in place a complete international team.

Thousands of Gurkhas, a fighting tribe from Nepal's Himalayan foothills known for their fierce fighting abilities, serve the Indian army under an agreement between the two countries.

Gurkhas have also served in the British army for nearly 200 years.

Maoists say slow management of arms would delay the planned assembly elections, their long-standing demand to end the anti-monarchy insurgency.

Ian Martin, personal representative of U N Secretary-General Kofi Annan to Nepal's peace process, said at the weekend that the interim option of using Gurkhas could allow verification of arms to start early.

Reuters SP DB2013