The Maoist leader in Nepal has given his strongest indication yet that the rebels will not return to violence, BBC Online reports Saturday.
Prachanda (his name means “the fierce one”) said a deal with the new government to hold elections to a constituent assembly meant that they would not go back to war. He did, however, leave open the possibility of mass street protests if the current peace talks failed.
The rebels and the government agreed a ceasefire two months ago after mass protests ended direct palace rule. More than 13.000 people have been killed in Nepal since the Maoists began their insurgency 10 years ago.
– We will not go back to war, Prachanda told the AFP news agency in an interview in Kathmandu, adding: – I am satisfied with the relationship with the political parties – there are ups and downs in relations but basically it is going forward.
During the insurgency, there have been two other sets of peace talks, three years ago and five years ago. But this time, Prachanda said, the situation had changed.
He said this was because the rebels and the new government agreed there should be elections to a constituent assembly (forfatningsgivende forsamling) which would draw up a new constitution.
