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Nepal celebrates end of decade-long civil war

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Nov 22, IRNA
Nepal-Peace accord-Celebration
The Nepalese government declared Wednesday a public holiday to celebrate the signing of a landmark peace agreement between the seven parties and the Maoists that formally brings to an end their country's 11-year-old armed conflict.

The government issued a circular that all government offices, schools and colleges will be closed to celebrate the historic peace accord that aims to put an end to the insurgency that has claimed 15,000 lives, a PTI report said here.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chief Prachanda yesterday signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to restore permanent peace to the country and build a new Nepal by holding constituent assembly elections.

Under the agreement, the Maoist army will be confined to seven temporary barracks and their arms will be locked in camps under UN supervision. The Nepalese Army will also have to confine their soldiers to barracks and lock up their weapons.

The Nepalese Army will not use their weapons against the Maoists and the Maoists will have to stop their extortion, abduction, intimidation, recruitment of new militants and issuance of threats.

Those who possess arms or use arms will be punished under prevailing law.

The government will supply food and other essentials to the combatants once they are in the cantonments. The cabinet has approved Rs 10 crore for this purpose, official sources said.

The two sides also agreed that the king will be stripped of all powers and royal palace property will be nationalized.

Constituent assembly elections will be held by June, 2007 in a free, fair and fearless manner.

The two sides will also make public the records of people killed or who disappeared in the course of the war within 60 days.

The Maoists will be included in the interim government within a two-week period.

On November 7, the seven-party alliance and Maoists signed a peace deal to bring the Maoists into the political mainstream and to hold constituent assembly elections.

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