Kathmandu, Sept 27: Welcoming the unilateral ceasefire announced by Maoists during the Hindu festival of Vijaya Dashami, Nepal government today said the rebels should commit themselves to peace by abandoning violence for ever. "We welcome the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists and it is good to stop violence, terror and murder," minister for information and communication Kamal Thapa said. He said the rebels should commit themselves to seek peaceful solution to the problem by abandoning violence and terror for ever to respect the aspirations of the peace-loving people of Nepal. The government has never formally announced war, he said adding its actions were only directed towards containing violence and terror unleashed by the Maoists.
Top Maoist leader Prachanda yesterday issued a statement announcing a ceasefire for nine days starting from October 2 during the Hindu festival.

The Maoists unilaterally broke eight month ceasefire on August 27 after the failure of the third round of talks between the government and the rebels.

The ceasefire announcement came after continuous pressure from political parties and the civil society.

Nepal communist party General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and Nepal Sadbhavana Party President Badri Prasad Mandal had issued separate statements urging the Maoists to declare ceasefire during the festival season.

Bureau Report