Maoist leader says he is open to talks

Kathmandu, Oct 25: In response to caretaker Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand's call for peace talks, the top Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal or "Prachanda" has said his party is "open to resolving issues through talks." "Our party is always open to resolving issues through talks and we are ready for holding talks among all the political forces," Prachanda said in a statement dated Oct. 24 faxed to some local newspapers in Kathmandu today. "There are only two options available before us: either to hold dialogue with all the political forces including king, political parties, Maoist organisation, intellectual community and the king or to launch decisive historical struggle," the statement said. If our struggle is suppressed through the help of Nepalese army and foreign support we will be compelled to launch a decisive struggle, he warned.
In an apparent softening of stance on the monarchy, it said "now the ball is in the king's court".

Prachanda has also called to safeguarding the achievements of the people's movement of 1990 which restored multiparty democracy in the country.

The Maoist leader has held different governments in the past 12 years responsible for dragging the country to the present crisis.

One of the major issue to be included in the dialogue will be drafting a new constitution by holding election to the constituent assembly, the statement signed by Prachanda said.

The king has to make some sacrifice for moving the country forward in a peaceful manner, he said.


Bureau Report