Maoist rebels on Monday night named three negotiators to talk to the Orissa government on the release of two Italian nationals,Paulo Bosusco and Claudio Colangelo,who are in their captivity. They also set a fresh 24-hour deadline for acceptance of their 13 demands,which were conveyed to the state government in a pamphlet on Monday. Responding to the state governments offer for talks to end the hostage crisis,the Maoists named Narayan Sanyal,politburo member of CPI (Maoist) currently lodged in Giridih jail,and civil rights activists Dandapani Mohanty and Biswapriya Kanungo as their negotiators. Three of us have been nominated by the kidnappers to hold negotiations with the Orissa government for safe release of the two Italian hostages, said Mohanty,who was also one of the three mediators during talks with the government after abduction of the then Malkangiri Collector Vineel Krishna last year. The names of the negotiators chosen by Maoists had been conveyed through the media and now the state governments response was awaited,said Mohanty. Earlier in the day,Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reiterated that the government was ready to talk,and issued a fresh appeal to the Maoists to release the Italians. A pamphlet in the name of Sunil,secretary of the Orissa State Organising Committee of the CPI (Maoist),containing 13 of their demands has been received and is being examined, he told the Assembly. He said the Italians were kidnapped by Maoists on March 14 while visiting some areas in Daringibadi tehsil of Kandhamal district,but the abductors had only reported it late on March 17 night through the media. In Daringibadi,students and locals held a rally urging the Maoists to release the two foreigners. The 13-point demand list from Sabyasachi Panda,secretary of Orissa State Organising Committee of CPI(Maoist),included release of his jailed wife Subhashree Das,associate Gananath Patra and a few others. He also demanded the release of anti-Posco leader Abhay Sahoo,who was freed last week. Government sources,however,said they are keeping a close watch on the situation without acceding to any of the Maoists demands. Officials here believe Panda would be forced to release the two Italians after the international community puts pressure on the partys central committee. He cant defy the central committee. If he kills the two Italians,then he would be finished, said a senior police official. With PTI Key demands * Tourists should not be allowed in tribal areas * Stop Operation Green Hunt * Withdraw ban on CPI (Maoist) and other peoples organisations * Arrest and trial of the SP and police officials for murdering Lalit Dehuri and Junesh Pradhan. * Release of Maoist leaders Ashutosh,Kamalakanta Sethi,Sujata,Kishore Jena,Pratap and Majulata who were arrested in connection with Nayagarh armoury loot case * Release of Subhashree Das. * Release of Maoists lodged in Rayagada,Gajapati,Kandhamal,Ganjam,Nayagarh,Sambalpur,Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar jails * No scrapping of ST status to Kotias,Konda Doras,Acha Kuis,Gauda Kuis,Kumbhara Kuis,Saharas,Odia Kandas and Khairas. Grant ST status to those tribals not recognised as ST yet * Release leaders of mass democratic movements like Gananath Patra and withdraw all cases against people participating in Mandrabaku,Nedingpadar,Gudari and Narayanpatna land movements
