| Chordaku420 |
Posted
on 28-Aug-03 06:17 AM
Nepal's govt declares Maoists a "terrorist organisation"
27 minutes ago
KATHMANDU (AFP) - Nepal's government declared Maoist rebels an "illegal terrorist organisation" after they pulled out of a ceasefire and peace talks.
AFP/File Photo
"The Maoists have started killing our people, there is no other way but to declare them terrorists," said Finance Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani, who was a government negotiator with the guerrillas.
It means the rebels, many of whom had come out of hiding in recent months, would be arrested on sight and would be dealt with under a draconian anti-terrorist law, officials said Thursday.
The rebels were first declared a terrorist organisation by the government in 2001 when they broke a previous ceasefire.
But the tag was removed earlier this year after both sides entered into a new ceasefire on January 29.
On Wednesday the rebels said the truce was over after the government rejected their key demand of an assembly to redraft the constitution.
On Thursday three people, including a royal palace army colonel, were shot dead by the rebels, another colonel was shot and injured and a bank was looted.
An emergency meeting of cabinet ministers and security bodies late Wednesday decided to step up security, fearing major rebel attacks.
But Lohani said the government hoped the peace process could still be salvaged.
"We have not given up hope. We are still appealing to them to come to the negotiating table," Lohani said.
More than 7,800 people have been killed since the Maoists declared their "people's war" in 1996 aimed at establishing a communist republic.
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