PM directs govt's talk team to reach out to armed groups immediately
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the government's talk team headed by peace minister Janardan Sharma to initiate the dialogue process with armed insurgent groups operating in Terai.
The PM gave this direction during a meeting with minister Sharma in Baluwatar Sunday morning. Sharma informed the PM that preparations were underway to bring the armed groups to the negotiating table "within 2-3 days".
Minister Sharma, who also heads the government talks team, said that they are in constant contact with few Terai outfits through a mediator and are trying to establish contact with other outfits also.
He also informed that the issue of talks will be discussed during today’s cabinet meeting and that there would be separate meeting of the government talks team also.
The government had on Friday formally invited all armed groups operating in Terai for talks.
A cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office in Singha Durbar on Friday had also decided to form three-member talks team for holding dialogue with the armed groups.
The government's initiative for talks comes following declaration of ceasefire by some of the armed groups in view of Dashain festival. While declaring ceasefire they also stated that they were ready for talks, but it is not known if the government will hold separate talks with all of them. 14 armed groups operating in eight districts of the southern plains called Terai met in the Indian town of Katihar in Bihar state last week to forge a working alliance to push forward their plans in a more concerted manner. nepalnews.com mk/ag Oct 05 08
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