Nepal government and rebels ready to begin talks

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Nepal’s government and Maoist rebels
said on Friday they were ready to begin their first talks in
nearly three years to end an insurgency that has killed
thousands of people.

Maoist negotiator Dev Gurung welcomed Thursday’s cabinet
decision to free hundreds of jailed rebels and investigate
cases of people reported to have disappeared after being
detained by security forces.

“This has helped ease the atmosphere and build confidence,”
Gurung said. “We are ready to begin the dialogue now. It may
start today (Friday) or tomorrow.”

Pradip Gyanwali, a government negotiator, said the first
formal talks could begin on Friday.

“We have not fixed it yet but the meeting could be held
even today,” he told Reuters.

The first round of talks are supposed to prepare the ground
for a meeting between rebel chief Prachanda and Prime Minister
Girija Prasad Koirala.

Hopes for an end to Nepal’s decade-long insurgency have
been raised since a new multi-party government took power in
Nepal last month following weeks of street protests against
King Gyanendra. A ceasefire was agreed earlier this month.

Nepal’s new parliament has already agreed to a key rebel
demand — the holding of elections for a special assembly to
draft a new constitution and decide the future of the monarchy.

Both sides are preparing for the vote but have fixed no
date.

The insurgency has claimed more than 13,000 lives and
wrecked the economy of the impoverished Himalayan country.
Previous peace talks failed in 2001 and 2003.