Maoists to hold roundtable with around dozen organisations

The Maoists are preparing to hold roundtable meeting with around one dozen ethnic and regional organisations and other interest groups from Thursday.

"We are holding the roundtable to end the current political impasse in the country," said Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. According to him, the Maoists will discuss issues of common interest as well as their 22-point demands at the roundtable.

The organisations invited for the roundtable include Limbuwan groups, dissident group of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), ethnic organisations and leftist outfits.

Meanwhile, Federal National Democratic Forum, a network of Limbuwan, Khumbuwan and other groups, have asked the Maoists to first walk out of the government to have an effective roundtable meeting.

On the other hand, other political leaders have criticised the Maoists for trying to hold roundtable on their own.

Senior UML leader Jhal Nath Khanal said it was 'meaningless' to hold roundtable by the Maoists. He urged the Maoists not to try to seek resolutions outside of eight party alliance. nepalnews.com sd Sep 12 07

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