Nepal government, Maoists set to sign peace accord Thursday

Nov 15, 2006, 12:36 GMT

Kathmandu - The Nepalese government and Maoist insurgents are set to sign a historic peace agreement Thursday, ending more than 10 years of insurgency that has claimed almost 14,000 lives in the Himalayan nation, a senior political leader said.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Wednesday told newsmen, 'The peace accord will be signed tomorrow in accordance with the timetable set out in last week's peace accord.'

The government and Maoist teams Wednesday sat down at a local hotel and gave the final touches to the comprehensive peace accord prepared by the government's peace secretariat.

According to a participant, the peace agreement was approved by the government and Maoist teams after incorporating 'some suggestions from the Maoists.'

The peace accord was drafted by a panel comprising ten mainstream political parties and headed by General Secretary of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel.

The signing of the accord will formally end the Maoist insurgency and pave the way for the Maoists to join an interim government.

The peace accord will also prepare the way for the Maoist Peoples Liberation Army to be camped in seven main and 21 subsidiary camps across Nepal after November 21.

The Nepalese army will also be confined to barracks after November 21.

According to government sources, the government, the Maoists and a United Nations team to help in the peace process will be involved in drawing up the details of arms management after the Maoist army personnel are housed in the cantonments.

The sources said full details of the arms management are yet to be worked out though it has been agreed that the Maoists' arms will be locked up under a single-lock system with the Maoist commanders retaining the key but the UN maintaining an alarm system to alert them if any attempt is made to open the lock.

It is expected that Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and top Maoist leader Prachanda - real name Pushpa Kamal Dahal - will ink the comprehensive peace pact Thursday.

Under last week's peace agreement, the restored parliament will be dissolved and an interim national assembly set up by November 26 and an interim government that includes Maoists will be formed by December 1.