Talk to Maoists, Nepal tells dist UML leaders

Janakpurdham, Nov 28:

General secretary of the CPN-UML, Madhav Kumar Nepal today directed the party’s district level leaders to initiate talks with Maoists at the local level. “I have given directions to them to hold talks with the Maoists at the local level to solve the problems and disputes with them,” Nepal told district level cadres, “The understanding made at the central level may be difficult to implement at the lower levels. Necessary steps will have to be taken to solve that problem.”

“The Maoists in their letter to the party cadres have demanded Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh as donations,” UML Dhanusha district secretary Yog Narayan Yadav told Nepal. “The Maoists have also threatened to take half of the harvest. The understanding made at the central level has not been implemented at the local level.” In reply, Nepal said, “Relations with the Maoists have improved in several districts. Steps have been taken at the policy level. But the situation remains complicated in some districts. We are trying to solve that.”

Emphasising that district level leaders of the seven political parties should hold talks with the Maoists for solving problems, Nepal said more importance should be given to the democratic republic stir. Former chairman of Uma Prempur VDC, Gangai Mahato, alleged that the Maoists

have demanded half of the harvest from the land of the displaced. Mahato has been living in Janakpur with his family after his son, Ram Ashish Mahato, was murdered by Maoists in April. “The Maoists must be put under pressure by the central leadership to remain faithful to their commitment”, Yadav said. “Who would take the responsibility if the Maoists strike back at displaced people in the case of their return to their homes?” Yadav asked Nepal.