NEW DELHI, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- There is guarded optimism in Nepal that talks may soon be underway to end the country's Maoist insurgency.
Last week the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninists) General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and his deputy, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, held discussions in New Delhi with other Nepali political leaders, including Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala.
Upon his return, Nepal told reporters that the country's seven mainstream political parties were optimistic that they would be able to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream.
Nepal demurred when asked directly if he had met with Maoist leaders in New Delhi, telling a Himalayan Times reporter, "We do not need to go to India to meet the Maoists as the same can be done even in Nepal."
Of Nepal's 10 leftist political parties only the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninists), the sole communist party in the country following a moderate political course, and the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party had seats in the legislature before King Gyanendra dissolved it on Feb. 1, when he declared a state of emergency.
Nepal said, "They (Maoists) have also said that they will be ready to lay down arms to the United Nations if all agree for an election to a constituent assembly. Our party's latest round of talks with the Maoists has helped create an environment conducive to holding further talks with other political parties as well."
Nepal ruled out a reconciliation with the monarchy, however, noting that Gyanendra's "roadmap is against democracy and peace which the international community is also very much well aware of. It is the people's movement that can defeat the king's autocracy."
