Surkhet, September 16:

Unilateral ceasefire has paved way for restoration of peace, says Dr Mahat.

Encouraged by the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists and the decrease in Maoist activities in the rural areas of the mid-western region, the pro-parliament political parties are preparing to launch their movement for ‘total democracy’ in the villages. CPN-UML, Surkhet, has decided to launch pro-democracy campaigns in the villages after the completion of the party’s district council meetng on September 23 and 24. UML district secretary Rishi Prasad Sharma, however, said it has not yet been decided whether to launch programmes in the villages alone or with other parties. The Nepali Congress and the Nepali Congress-Democratic are preparing for joint village campaigns. The local leaders of both parties said they have agreed to launch joint campaigns, but were waiting for a green light from the parties’ central authorities.

Surkhet NC-D member Shiva Prasad Gautam said the party cadres will be mobilised in villages because the Maoists have expressed their commitment not to harm political cadres from any party and let them carry out political programs in villages against autocracy. Moreover, the cadres are very enthusiastic to go to the villages in the changed scenario, Gautam added.

“This will also be a test of the Maoist commitment,” he said. Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, Surkhet district unit chairman Bam Bahadur Shahi said the Maoists will let other parties to extend their agitation into the villages for their own benefit, as they want to gain support of the political parties for their decade-long movement. However, the activists of the parties have some reservations about going to villages and believing in the Maoists’ word because of their past behaviour.

District vice-chairman of the Peoples’ Front Nepal, Ratna Bikram Pyasi, said the party cadres have not faced any difficulties to go in the villages even when the Maoists had not announced ceasefire. “We will go to villages along with other parties to protest against the royal takeover, but we have been going to villages with our separate campaign and would continue to do so,” he said. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress central member Dr Ram Sharan Mahat today said that the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists has paved the way for restoration of peace and democracy in the country. Speaking at a programme jointly organised by the Central Rural Development Bank, Panauti and Women Power, at Kavre, he said there is no alternative to democracy in Nepal and that the government and the Maoists must move ahead to embrace peace and democracy.

“If the Maoists agree to take to the streets as the political parties have done for their cause, peace will be reinstated in Nepal in no time,” he added. Dr Mahat said the programmes launched with an objective of reducing poverty through Rural Development Bank has been effective. He added that these banks, established only in 1991, have proven to be very useful for the poor because other commercial banks demand large collateral for loan. Senior Assistant of the Bank, Jit Bahadur Shrestha said that 5100 women from 1020 different groups have engaged in the Rural Development Bank, established some five years ago, in Kavre. The Bank has made an investment of Rs 10.5 million so far.

Use truce to deliver peace: NHRC

Pokhara:

The government, political parties and the civil society all should use the ungoing unilateral ceasefire declared by the Maoists, as a chance to restore peace in nation, said Sudip Pathak member of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Speaking in a programme organised by Nepal Human Rights Organisation in Pokhara today Pathak said a chance like this will not be available again and again. “The problem will be more complicated if we fail to take this chance to restore peace in the nation,” he said. The government has to declare ceasefire as per the peoples’ desire,” he said. “The NHRC is ready to play the role of a mediator between the government, political parties and the Maoists to initiate talks. — HNS

Declare truce: Swiss rep

Mahendranagar:

Re-presentative of the Swiss government, Professor Dr Gunthar Byakral, who has been closely following the political developments in Nepal, has said actual ceasefire is yet to be declared in Nepal. Speaking at a programme on ‘Strengthening of democracy in the present phase of conflict’ organised by Ganeshman Singh Foundation in Mahendranagar today, he said the declaration of unilateral ceasefire by the Maoists was a positive step, but added that the one-sided truce would not help improve the situation if the government, for its part, does not announce a bilateral ceasefire. — HNS