Kathmandu, July 24: Nepal Maoists today sent a letter to the government saying they were ready to sit for next round of talks provided their pre-conditions were fulfilled which include release of imprisoned rebels and restriction of troop movement outside their barracks. The government has received a letter from the Maoists today in response to a letter it had sent to them last week urging to sit for the third round of talks, information and communication minister and spokesman of the government's dialogue team Kamal Thapa said.
He, however, did not elaborate what pre-conditions the Maoists had included in the letter. The government will make its view public after thoroughly studying the content of the letter received from the Maoists, he was quoted as saying in a media report. However, informed sources said the major pre-conditions laid down by the Maoists include releasing the Maoists from jail, restricting Army movement outside their barracks and guaranteeing full security to the members of the talks team.
The Maoists reply came a week after Thapa wrote a letter to the Maoist chief negotiator Baburam Bhattarai asking him to resume dialogue. The peace talks were stalled following conclusion of the second round of talks held between the government and the Maoists in Kathmandu on May 9.
During the second round of talks the Maoists and the government representatives differed over the issue of restricting Army movement, which caused delay in the talks. Bureau Report