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Hope in Nepal: Maoists Surface
for Talks KATHMANDU: Leaders of Nepal's Maoist rebels emerged in public for the first time in 16 months on Tuesday to meet leftist political parties spurring hopes that they may be ready to hold peace talks in the Himalyan kingdom. Politburo member of the Maoist party Dinanath Sharma held more than three hours of talks with 10 leftist political groups in Kathmandu. "This is a meeting for making conducive atmosphere in a friendly way and we have been unified to consolidate solidarity against the regressive action and for the development of a way out. Also we have agreed to launch a peaceful struggle to achieve this. We have come here ceasing the warfare for a peaceful way out," Sharma told reporters. The meeting was the first time Maoist leaders have appeared in public since the collapse of the last peace effort in November 2001 that led to a spiral violence in the seven-year revolt in which more than 7,200 people were killed - 5,600 alone in 14 months since the last truce broke down. The Maoists, who model themselves on Peru's Shining Path guerrillas and take their inspiration from the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong, offered a ceasefire in January. But their ceasefire offer raised speculation they may have been dealing directly with the king - who has increased the power of monarchy after being catapulted to the throne by a palace massacare in 2001- at the expense of political parties. Analysts said Tuesday's meeting showed the Maoists were keen to involve the political parties in any peace talks. "I think it is a positive development in the sense that all these left parties are united for a common cause. And moreover such an alliance among the left parties would also promote bargaining capacity vis-a-vis the palace," said Lok Raj Baral, a political analyst. King Gyanendra, who is already head of the army, last year sacked the Government and named his own prime minister. The ceasefire offer raised speculation the Maoists may have made a deal with the king to drop their demand for an end to the monarchy in return for a share in power. Both Maoists and the palace denied any secret deal.
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