 Nepalâs main political parties rejected on Monday an appeal by the countryâs Maoist rebels for talks to plan joint opposition to King Gyanendraâs seizure of power, saying the guerrillas should stop killing civilians first. Their rejection of dialogue with Maoist guerrillas opposed to the monarchy came as political unrest continued in the country and pro-democracy activists clashed with police. âWe urge the Maoists to stop attacking unarmed civilians, including political activists, and stop extortion,â the top leaders of seven parties said in a statement. âWe appeal to the rebels to create an atmosphere of confidence and demonstrate that they are sincere about talks with the political parties.â
| Yup, sincerity is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Maoists ... |
Earlier this month, the elusive Maoist guerrilla chief Prachanda proposed talks with political parties to discuss the possibilities of common protests against the king to press him to roll back his seizure of power. The rebels -- since launching their violent campaign to set up a single-party communist republic by toppling the monarchy -- have killed hundreds of civilians, including political workers, straining their ties with mainstream political groups. |