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Govt sop for Maoists: Surrender, get amnesty
KATHMANDU, DEC 19 - With a view to persuade the Maoists to give up violence, the government has announced the ‘surrender and amnesty’ policy.
Besides the provision of employment and security, the government has assured financial assistance ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 200,000 to the Maoists who surrender their weapons.
Unveiling the policy, government spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Kamal Thapa today, said, "The government appeals to the Maoists to make use of the opportunity," adding, "We assure them of providing security and employment."
According to the policy, the government has set up an Investigation and Probe Centre at Sundarijal in the capital and a rehabilitation centre in Dhakal Tar of Tanahu district.
Minister Thapa informed that the Investigation Centre would probe into the applications filed by the Maoists in order to find out the genuine ones.
The Rehabilitation Centre in Tanahu will provide shelter to a maximum of 1000 Maoists who feel insecure staying outside. The four-page policy also states that the government will grant amnesty to the Maoists who surrender within February 12, 2004.
The surrendered Maoists will be provided jobs, training and even loan for foreign employment, the policy mentions.
The Maoists, according to the government policy paper, could surrender to the Local Administration or Royal Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force security bases or Mobile Service Camps. They can come individually or in group.
Thapa also said that the government would appropriately award those who provide information about the Maoists, their weapons and sensitive materials kept on secret locations to the security forces. "The name and address of the informants will be kept confidential," he said.
"After their surrender, free medical treatment will be provided to those who have sustained injuries or have become handicapped during their terrorist activities," he said.
Following the surrender, the government will also begin a process of withdrawing the cases filed against the Maoists in various courts, the policy paper states.
Thapa also expressed the government’s commitment to human rights. "We appeal to everybody to cooperate with the policy and help contain violence," he said.
Despite all such actions intensified against the Maoists, minister Thapa claimed that the government was still committed to peaceful solution to the problem through negotiation. "Doors are always open for talks," he said.
He also claimed that the Maoists would in no way achieve their goal. "The Maoists have failed both militarily and ideologically," Thapa said. "So I urge them to take this opportunity quite seriously."
While affirming to the government’s concept of Civil Military Campaign, Minister Thapa said that the government would provide logistic support along with adequate training to those who want to fight Maoists in the villages.Posted on: 2003-12-20 02:18
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