UML urges Maoists to resume peace talks

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: Communist Partly of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal today appealed to the Maoists and the government to resume peace negotiations — and put an end to violence, killings and confrontation. He also called for his party’s greater role in relieving the country of the crises. “The Maoists should be committed to seek a peaceful resolution to immediately lay down their arms,” Nepal said addressing the 27th Central Committee meeting which took off here on Sunday. “The government too has to keep the option for talks open in order to seek a political solution.” Nepal also tabled a political report, which delved into current situation of the country. It is the common people who are bearing the brunt amidst the armed confrontation between the Maoists and the security forces, the report said, according to UML sources. The report also recognised that the security operations of late have become more effective, however, the security contingent lack adequate military hardware and logistics. The general secretary also took stock of the current crises and the 21st session of the parliament. “The report criticised both the government and the ruling Nepali Congress for their double standard in seeing through the constitutional amendments,” said Radha Krishna Mainali, standing committee member, quoting Nepal. “He also emphasised the need to put the constitutional amendments into effect in the forthcoming session to resolve the Maoist problem and bring the situation under control.”

Meet on mountains’ development opens

KATHMANDU: Over 500 participants including scientists, policy makers, development experts and mountain peoples and thousands of others across the world are participating on a live discussion on key mountain issues in a five-day global conference on mountains that began on Monday in four cities ofAsia, Africa, Europe and South America. The first global video conference, High Summit on mountains, is taking place simultaneously in four cities of the world including Kathmandu. It is being webcast to the global audience through interactive web broadcasting. The website for the livebroadcast is www.asiahs.org. Over 100 participants from 14 countries of Asia Pacific region are converging in Kathmandu for the five-day deliberations namely Asia High Summit-2002. The other cities include Nairobi in Africa, Milan in Europe and Mendoza in South America. The high-tech summit seeks to develop realistic policies and strategies for mountain development. A global policy documentand four regional policy documents with supporting guidelines will be produced at the end of the conference. The Asia High Summit-2002, a transcontinental multi-conference is being organised to mark the International Year of Mountains (IYM)-2002.