Nepal’s Maoist insurgents and interim government signed a landmark peace accord on Tuesday to end a decade of violence that has claimed at least 12 500 lives in the impoverished Himalayan nation.
There was applause from hundreds of politicians, diplomats and journalists as rebel leader Prachanda — whose name means ”the fierce one” — and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala signed off on a deal that formally brings the insurgents into the political mainstream.
Under the deal, the rebels are to end their ”people’s war”, join an interim government and enter Parliament. They must also place their arms and their troops, who control large swathes of the countryside, under United Nations monitoring.
Once deadly foes, the multiparty government and Maoist rebels have observed a ceasefire for more than six months after they cooperated in April to organise mass protests that forced King Gyanendra to restore Parliament and end direct rule.
The peace deal leaves the king facing an uncertain future, with the strongly republican rebels vowing they will continue to campaign — albeit peacefully — until Nepal’s almost 240-year-old monarchy is abolished.
Some of the parties in the coalition, however, favour a ceremonial role for the king, who is revered by many as a Hindu deity.
The rebels say they have abandoned violence and are undergoing a major political makeover, but they are also under pressure to put an end to activities such as alleged forced recruitment. — AFP
