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NEIGHBOURS: NEPAL
INTERVIEW: SHER BAHADUR DEUBA
"I Am Very Serious About A Dialogue With
The Maoists"
Though Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is preoccupied
with the problem of making peace with Maoist guerrillas, he was surrounded
by a gaggle of Nepali Congress MPs seeking berths in his ministry when
he spoke to Associate Editor Farzand Ahmed at his north Kathmandu
residence. Excerpts:
Q. What is your priority?
A. To
have a dialogue with the underground Maoist leaders who are waging a "people's
war" in the countryside.
Q. So you want peace, not war.
A.
I believe it is in the interest of the people, country and social reforms
that peace be restored. To stop violence a dialogue is necessary. For
a dialogue congenial atmosphere and mutual trust are needed. I am very
serious about this.
Q. Will your government agree to the demand
for constitutional changes?
A. Let
us first agree to sit together. We will talk. Willingness on both sides
to talk to solve the problems is important.
Q. The Maoists seem to have confidence in
you. They demanded that you be made prime minister. Any reason?
A. They
did not say that I should be made prime minister. My party has elected
me the leader. But I am sincere, this may have created their confidence.
Q. Do you expect them to be flexible?
A. I
don't want to enter into a dialogue with doubts in my mind.
Q. G.P. Koirala's supporters were opposed
to talks. Will
they cooperate?
A.
Nobody is opposed to talks. I am confident of everybody's support.
Q. What are your other priorities?
A.
To fight corruption, speed up development and alleviate poverty. But let
me settle down first.
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