Nepal ex-rebels get allowances in political deal

Kathmandu, May 21: Nepal's government will pay an allowance to former Maoist guerrillas and improve conditions in camps housing them, a minister said today, meeting a major demand of the former rebels and averting protests.

The decision came days after the Maoists threatened to take to the streets to press for better access to water, electricity, roads and communications in camps where more than 30,000 of their former fighters are housed.

The move is expected to pave the way for much-delayed talks between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the ruling eight-party alliance, which includes the Maoists, to set a date for this year's constituent assembly elections.

''We have decided to give them 3,000 rupees (46 dollars) as monthly allowance,'' junior labour minister Ramesh Lekhak told Reuters after a cabinet meeting. ''Living conditions in the camps will also be improved.'' The former Maoist fighters have been living in 28 camps monitored by the United Nations under a November peace deal that ended their decade-long civil war, which killed more than 13,000 people.

But they had been complaining camp living conditions were tough and the government was not doing enough to improve them.

Senior Maoist leader Ananta said the former rebels, who had refused to allow the U N to verify if their fighters had children in their ranks until conditions at the camps changed, would now allow the world body to start its work.

This will also include identifying those who had joined the Maoists after the peace process began last year to boost their numbers.

The Maoists want early elections to a constituent assembly to decide the future of the monarchy, which they would like to see scrapped.

They want parliament to declare the country a republic if the polls are delayed and have threatened to launch street protests this week to press their demand.

The Maoists have locked up nearly 3,500 weapons in metal containers under the peace pact and have got five cabinet positions in the interim government in return.

Reuters>