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Maoists say Nepal truce at risk, appeal to UN

Posted on: Sunday, 11 September 2005, 04:46 CDT

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal's Maoist rebels have appealed to the United Nations for help to maintain peace, saying a ceasefire they announced last week was at risk because the government was trying to sabotage the truce.

Maoist chief Prachanda last week announced a unilateral truce for three months in a move to win the support of the kingdom's mainstream parties opposed to King Gyanendra, who sacked the government and assumed absolute power in February.

"We appeal to the United Nations and the international community to raise a stronger voice for a democratic solution and for the aspiration of the Nepali people for peace," Prachanda said in a statement late on Saturday.

The appeal by the elusive leader came hours after Manfred Nowak, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, began a week-long tour to investigate cases of torture and other rights violations in Nepal.

"We hope our ceasefire announcement will help find a forward moving political solution and peace in the country," Prachanda said.

"The royal regime is instead hatching a conspiracy to sabotage the ceasefire," he said, adding government troops were attacking guerrillas who he said were in defensive positions.

The Maoists have always insisted the United Nations or any other international organization be involved in talks between the government and the rebels. But the government is opposed to third-party involvement.

Nepal's government has yet to match the rebel truce but says it cannot trust the guerrillas who broke ceasefires in 2001 and 2003 after talks failed.

There was no immediate comment from the royalist government but the army says kidnappings by the rebels have not stopped despite the truce.

More than 12,500 people have died in Nepal since 1996 when the Maoists took up arms against the Hindu monarchy. They want to install a single-party communist republic in the impoverished nation wedged between China and India.

Nepal has been in turmoil since King Gyanendra took full control of the nation seven months ago. He said he was forced to act to stamp out the revolt that has also forced thousands to flee and scared away tourists and investors.

Source: REUTERS

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