By Sudeshna Sarkar, Kathmandu: The Nepal government headed by King Gyanendra offered amnesty Tuesday to all Maoist rebels surrendering by Jan 13.
The official media reported that the home ministry had begun legal procedures to grant amnesty to all "terrorists who surrender with or without arms by January 13."
The ministry said the decision was taken in view of the "growing trend of those involved in terrorist activities: to surrender to security forces and the local administration."
Since the banned underground Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire from Sep 3, the royalist government was under mounting pressure to reciprocate, both at home and from the international community.
The government has continued operations against the guerrillas, resulting in the death of over 30 rebels and sympathisers since the truce. Its reaction was to announce civic elections instead and sustain a steady propaganda in the official media about mounting desertions in the rebel rank and file.
The state-run newspapers and TV channel issue daily reports about Maoists surrendering before the authorities and denouncing their former party. The government also announced it would start maintaining records about Indian and Nepali citizens crossing the border by road at the Nepalgunj-Rupaidiya transit in midwestern Nepal.
India is said to have mooted the idea to keep track of crossovers of Maoists and anti-social elements across the open border between the two countries.
Last week, the Maoists reportedly kidnapped an Indian businessman, Sukharam Garbyal, from Darchaula district in farwest Nepal. It was reported that though Garbyal was released, his unnamed assistant died while trying to escape the abductors. The state media said his body was recovered from the Kali river in the farwest.
The home ministry has asked Nepalese citizens to maintain proof of their identity while using the transit.
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