Maoists prepare for Nepal talks

By Charles Haviland
BBC News

There are signs of Maoist confusion in responding to political changes

A senior leader of Nepal's Maoist rebels is in Kathmandu to prepare for proposed talks aimed at ending the country's 10-year civil war.

The rebel's chief spokesman, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, is their most senior figure to enter the city since previous peace talks failed three years ago.

Reports say that Mr Mahara flew in from the western town of Nepalgunj.

Bodyguards travelling with him had to be persuaded not to bring their weapons onto the aircraft.

Hardline demands

Mr Mahara will be heading a three man team preparing the ground for full scale peace talks.

In those talks, the Maoists will be led by their top leader, Prachanda.

Any future peace talks will be led by Prachanda

There is now a general ceasefire in place and Mr Mahara told a Nepalese radio station the situation was better than during past truces, and that he hoped the Maoists would not have to take up arms again.

But Mr Mahara has also echoed his comrades in coming out with hardline demands and rhetoric.

He said all Maoist prisoners should be released before talks and that the parliament, recently reinstated after massive street demonstrations, should be dissolved at once.

The Maoists have always been uneasy about parliament reconvening, a move which they consider to be a distraction.

The multi-party government takes a dim view of such demands.

Another top Maoist has said that the rebels should lead an interim government, but Prachanda himself has quashed that demand.

Meanwhile, industrialists in southern Nepal have begun talks with Maoist-affiliated trade unionists, after complaining that the rebels were subjecting them to large scale extortion.

In general, there are signs of Maoist confusion in responding to the major political changes here, since King Gyanendra's retreat from direct palace rule four weeks ago.