We are for a negotiated political settlement: Bhattarai

New Delhi
8 August 2005

The ideologue of Maoist insurgents in Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai
has said that the Maoists were all for a negotiated political settlement and that they were
hopeful of working out a common minimum democratic agenda with political parties. He
ruled out the possibility of peace talks with the King in the near future.

In an interview to The Washington Times, Bhattarai said that almost all the national and
international forces now realised that there could be no viable and sustainable political
solution without the active participation of the Maoists. "This," he said, "had certainly
motivated our party an even more constructive and responsible role in the days to come
for peace, democracy and progress in Nepal."

Asked whether he believed the Maoists could prevail over King Gyanendra's army to
establish a Maoist republic, Bhattarai said: "The Royal Army has been completely
reduced to the defensive, and would have collapsed much earlier if it were not
buttressed by external military aid, particularly from the USA, India, the UK and others."

He asserted that the Maoists "are not attempting a final military victory right now, but are
working for a negotiated political settlement either directly for a democratic republic or
for the election to a constituent assembly." He was hopeful that the Maoists "can work
out a common minimum democratic agenda once we sit down for talks [with political
parties." he, however, ruled out any possibility of peace talks with the King in the near
future.

No comments:

Post a Comment