KATHMANDU, Nepal, May 22 (UPI) -- Ahead of dialogue with the Maoists, Nepal has urged the rebels to return seized properties to the general public.
"I urge the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to put an end to the extortion and terror and to return the seized property of the people in order to facilitate the atmosphere for dialogue," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, a senior functionary of the ruling Seven-Party Alliance.
Nepal asked both the government and the Maoists to agree on a code of conduct for initiating dialogue.
"If the Maoists are coming for a dialogue with sincerity, then why should they continue recruiting youths into their militia?" he asked.
Meanwhile, The Indian Express newspaper said Tuesday that a senior Maoist leader had arrived in Kathmandu to meet with leaders of the new government, quoting Krishna Bahadur Mahara as saying the Maoists had high hopes for the proposed peace talks.
"We have come with the message we can establish a peaceful and progressive Nepal," said Mahara upon his arrival in the Himalayan capital.
Mahara is to head a three-member team that will hold talks to prepare for a meeting between Maoist chief Prachanda and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
"We have come with big hopes this time," he said.
