UN welcomes the ceasefire, Vice Chairman Bista says “Wait” (11:27 AM)
The United Nations on Monday has welcomed the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoist rebels for a period of three months.
Talking to reporters after the launching of the Nepal Millennium Development Goals progress report 2005 in the capital this morning, acting Resident Representative of the UN system in Kathmandu, Ghulam Isaczai, said, “We welcome it as much as everybody else.”
Isaczai said (the UN) hoped that the announcement of the ceasefire would bring some level of peace and security in the country.
When asked should the government reciprocate to the announcement of ceasefire by the rebels, Isaczai said he could not comment on that.
Vice chairman of the Council of Ministers, Kirtinidhi Bista, however, urged reporters to “wait” when asked for the government’s reaction to the Maoists’ unilateral move for ceasefire.
Dozens of reporters, Kathmandu-based foreign correspondents and photo-journalists followed Bista – who was chief guest at the report launching ceremony-- as soon as he left the function. But his only response was ‘Parkhanus’ (please wait).
The royal government is yet to respond to the Maoists’ move to go for unilateral ceasefire even after more than 48 hours of their announcement.
Reports said His Majesty chaired an informal meeting of the council of ministers at the Narayanhiti royal palace Sunday afternoon to discuss the Maoist proposal, among others.
Senior government officials were, however, tight-lipped regarding the government’s views towards the latest move by the Maoists. nepalnews.com by Sep 05 05
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