THT 10 YEARS AGO: Maoists extend truce by a month

Kathmandu, December 2, 2005

Responding ‘seriously’ to what they termed ‘national as well as international requests’, the Maoists today announced the extension of their unilateral ceasefire for one more month beginning tomorrow. The three-month ceasefire announced by the Maoists on September 3 “keeping in view the desires of the Nepali people” was due to end tomorrow. “We have decided to extend the ceasefire for a month following serious consideration of the positive requests coming from national as well as international communities to extend the truce,” a statement issued by Maoist chairman Prachanda said today.

“We hope that this decision would help support the struggle against autocracy,” the statement said, hoping this would further accelerate and pave the way for a peaceful movement to strengthen the drive for democracy and give a new direction to find a political way by pressing the demand for elections to the constituent assembly, as “agreed” by the seven-party alliance and the Maoists. The statement said the Maoists have announced the extension of ceasefire despite the fact that the “autocratic feudal elements” have compelled the Maoists to retaliate. “The Royal army tried its utmost to resort to violence during their three-month ceasefire.” Prachanda, however, warned that it would not be possible to prolong the period of ceasefire if the autocratic and feudal elements continued to resort to their present tactic.

Let Matrika Yadav undergo health check, govt ordered

Kathmandu, December 2, 2005

Following a hearing, the Patan Appellate Court today ordered the Jail Department to let a detained politburo member of the CPN (Maoist), Matrika Prasad Yadav, undergo a health checkup at the earliest. A division bench of judges Laxman Mani Risal and Nanda Raj Adhikary issued the order. Observing that Yadav and his colleague, Suresh Ale Magar, have been awaiting a court verdict on a case that has charged them with role in the murder of former chief of the Armed Police Force, Krishna Mohan Shrestha, there is no need for the court to decide whether to release them on bail in an arms smuggling case.

Pleading on behalf of the Maoist leaders, Yadav and Ale Magar, advocates Surendra Mahato and Gopal Siwakoti Chintan said the government had charged the two Maoist leaders with smuggling arms and ammunition because it wanted to keep them in detention by hook or crook. Yadav, who has been suffering from ulcer and sore throat, had complained to the bench today that the government had not made arrangements for a health check-up despite repeated requests for the same.