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Armed Terai outfits ready for talks; announce ceasefire during Dashain

Amidst calls from the government to come to the negotiating table, armed forces operating in Terai have announced that they would hold talks with government and also declared a ceasefire during Dashain festival.

A report from Janakpur said a meeting of the 14 armed outfits being held in an undisclosed location in Indian state of Bihar decided to hold talks with the government if the latter sends a formal invitation for it. However, details of the meetings are still vague, but it has been learnt that the meeting that began a week ago concluded yesterday night after reaching to a 15-point agreement.

The armed outfits who claim to be fighting for the rights of Madhesi people also said the government should first address their demands before inviting them for talks.

Although the armed outfits in Terai haven't come clearly on what they want the government to really do, but it is learnt that they are all unanimous in their demand for an 'autonomous Madhesh state' including greater rights for Madhesis in their affairs.

The armed outfits have also declared a ceasefire keeping in view the Dashain festival, assuring that they won't carry out any armed activities during the period and if the government call them for talks their top leaders would be ready to come into the negotiating table.

The meeting also decided to unite all the underground armed outfits operating in Terai under a single umbrella, but since there are still some differences regarding who will head it the armed outfits have only agreed to forge a working unity for the time being They have said that they would make public the decisions of the meeting by organising a press conference.

Earlier, the Jwala Singh faction of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha and Goit led Akhil Terai Mukti Morcha (ATMM) had already announced ceasefire during Dashain festival.

Meanwhile, a report says that due to the antipathy between the armed outfits operating in Terai and political parties in the government 54 people have been killed in the past five months in eastern Nepal. According to the eastern regional headquarter of Armed Police Force (APF), the armed outfits in Terai account for the death of 30 people, the most number of deaths.

The APF eastern headquarter also said that these outfit are engaged in killings and abduction in eastern Nepal district such as Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari and Siraha apart from extortion and collecting donations. nepalnews.com ag Oct 03 08