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Journalism of Courage
Nepal’s government scrapped anti-terrorism laws on Monday and withdrew hundreds of cases against jailed communist rebels a day after top rebel leaders met a senior government minister to iron out differences, officials said.
The Cabinet decided anyone arrested or imprisoned under a tough anti-terrorism law imposed by the previous royal government would be freed, Information Minister Dilendra Badu said told reporters after the meeting.
Several Maoist rebels have been freed since the government and the rebels declared a cease-fire and began peace talks in the past few weeks. However, hundreds remain in jail charged under the anti-terrorism laws.
Rebel spokesman Krishna Mahara confirmed that the government had pledged to free 350 of their jailed members and supporters starting on Monday.
The Cabinet decision followed meeting between Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and rebel leader Prachanda and his deputy Baburam Bhattarai at a remote mountain village on Sunday. ‘‘The meeting has cleared all doubts and confusion that appeared to have obstructed the peace talks,’’ Mahara told reporters in Kathmandu on Monday.
He said the two sides have been at odds since the first round of peace talks between the government and rebel negotiators last month—the first since they declared a cease-fire.
Prachanda, whose real name is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, has accused the government and the ruling seven-party alliance of focusing on minor issues rather than key elements of the peace process, such as creating a more inclusive interim government.
The anti-terrorism laws were enforced by the previous government of King Gyanendra to hunt down and prosecute Maoist rebels. Many rebels had been charged with murder, kidnappings and crimes against the state under the anti-terrorism laws.
–BINAJ GURUBACHARYA
