Govt, Maoists fail to sign peace accord

The government and the Maoists failed to finalise the peace accord, which was scheduled to be signed today.

Maoist talks team member Dev Gurung told Nepalnews that some clauses in the draft of the peace accord presented by the Peace Committee, including clauses on human rights, came in the way of consensus.

Hectic discussions between the government and Maoist teams on Wednesday and Thursday morning ended inconclusively.

Gurung said the peace accord would be signed while finalising the interim constitution on November 21.

"We asked only to include provisions related to ceasefire but they insisted on the existing provisions in the draft," he said.

He also informed that discussion would continue on the draft and there would be a consensus by the time the eight parties finalise the interim statute. "We have agreed to finalise both the peace accord and interim constitution together since many provisions in the draft need be included in the interim constitution," he added.

After the two sides failed to finalise the accord, Maoist chairman Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Parsad Koirala held discussion at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar to re-schedule the timeline agreed on November 8. The meeting was still underway till 1:45 p.m.

Meanwhile, Prachanda postponed his visit to New Delhi to attend the November 17-18 'leadership summit' to be organised by Hindustan Times, a leading Indian national daily.

The Maoist supremo, who was to leave for Delhi today, is set to fly tomorrow, according to Maoist sources.

nepalnews.com ia Nov 16 06

Related News
- Govt-Maoist meeting fails to finalise draft of peace accord

Have your say ! (Registration required)