Press Statement (Feb 10, 2003)

Statement

The cease-fire announced by the government and the Maoist recently and the initiation for peace talks has raised ray of hopes among the entire Nepalese, as the country had been reeling under violence. First of all Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal heartily welcomes the initiation for peace talks.

The recently halted internal conflict has killed thousands of people. Thousands of people are living a life of refugee in India and other countries. Even the internally displaced people have been leading an extremely difficult life. Children are becoming helpless and are orphaned. Landmines and improvised explosive devices have killed a great number of people, wounded and mutilated them. It has also been adversely affecting farming, trade and movement of people. Linkages between villages and between villages and district headquarters have become completely severed. The family members of those who are killed are bereaved, hungry and are living insecure life. Villagers are compelled to sell their property for the treatment of the wounded. The amount supposed to be invested in construction and development is being spent on bullets, gun, mines etc.

The only way to resolve all these pressing issues is to establish long-lasting peace through peace talks. Therefore, the NCBL extends heartfelt wishes for successful peace talks.

The NCBL strongly believes that it would create conducive environment to signing the Mine Ban Treaty, putting a complete ban on the production, transfer, stockpiling and use of landmines, to detecting planted mines, to deactivating them and to provide treatment and rehabilitate the wounded.

Besides, the NCBL urges both the government and the Maoist to give up their stance, transparency and be sincere and it also appeals all the parliamentarians, government bodies, all political parties and the civil society to contribute from their part to make the peace talks successful.

Purna Shova Chitrakar
Coordinator