Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Maoists refute reports of importing arms

The Maoists have refuted allegations that they are importing arms from China during the period of ceasefire.
Talking to Nepalnews on Wednesday, central committee member of CPN-Maoist, Suresh Ale Magar, said that the allegation was an attempt to spoil the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Maoists.
He said that the charge was false and baseless, adding, “We are not importing arms from anywhere, let alone China, and we are committed to the 25-point code of conduct signed between the government and the Maoists.”
Magar added that the Maoists had not imported arms from China even during the "people's war" so there was no possibility of importing arms from China currently.
Earlier, during Tuesday’s meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC) parliamentary party, former Home Minister and a Nepali Congress leader Govind Raj Joshi quoted reports as saying that the rebels had procured arms from China and running camps at Kamidada of Kavre, to the east of Kathmandu. He also sought clarification from Home Minister K P Sitaula in this regard.
“We have heard that the Maoists have procured arms from China. This is a serious issue and the Home Minister must come up with the details,” Joshi told reporters after the meeting of the parliamentary party.
When contacted by Nepalnews, spokesperson at the Home Ministry Baman Prasad Neupane said that they did not have any information related to importing of arms. “We did not receive any such information,” Neupane added.
The government and the Maoists jointly signed a 25-point ceasefire code of conduct in the first round of talks between the government and Maoists on May 26 this year, which says both the parties would cease all types of military activities during ceasefire period.

No comments: