Nepal Maoists end parallel governments for peace

KATHMANDU, Jan 18 (Reuters) Nepal's former Maoist rebels today dissolved the parallel governments and courts they had opened in areas under their control, another key step in a peace process aimed at ending a decade-old civil conflict.

Earlier this week, the former rebels took their seats in a newly created interim parliament and began handing in their arms in the fast-moving reconciliation process to end a war which has killed more than 13,000 people in the Himalayan nation.

Today, the Maoists said their parallel governments would be replaced by joint interim local governments to be set up with the consensus of the government. But they remained cautious.

''Any effort to reverse the right decisions of the people's governments and people's courts will be against the historic (peace) agreement,'' Maoist chief Prachanda said in a statement.

The Maoists, who began fighting the monarchy in 1996, set up ''people's governments'' in the vast swathes of the rugged countryside after effectively driving out the central administration from the villages.

They also opened ''people's courts'' that delivered quick, but often crude verdicts in cases that would take more time to settle under the normal legal system.

These parallel administrations were responsible for implementing Maoist laws and also collected ''taxes'' from people.

But they often intimidated people, extorted money, and prevented activists from mainstream political parties from campaigning, human rights groups say.

Prachanda urged Maoist cadres to end their administrations and help set up interim local governments with the ruling alliance to prepare for constituent assembly elections this year.

Three days earlier, 83 nominees of the former guerrillas took their seats in the interim legislature following a peace deal struck with the government in November.

Yesterday, the Maoists, who declared a ceasefire nearly nine months ago, began locking up their arms under United Nations supervision.

They are expected to join an interim government ahead of elections for a special assembly to prepare a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy, which the Maoists want abolished.

The UN plans to send up to 186 monitors to help enforce the peace pact, and also help the Himalayan nation with the assembly elections, which are expected to be held in June.

Reuters LL DB2347