Kathmandu, May 12

The talks held between the representatives of Far-west Struggle Committee, which has been waging a movement demanding undivided far-west, and the government Saturday concluded inclusively.

The representatives of the struggle committee who arrived in Kathmandu from far west in three days held talks with the government at the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry.

The talks team of the committee forwarded its demands to the government. The demands include maintaining existing geography of the region intact, investigating the investment of the NGOs and INGOs in the region if it was meant to disturb the communal harmony and taking action against those found involved in such activities, and guaranteeing special privileges to Raji, Rana, Daguara Chaudhari of Kailali and Kanchanpur and Raute, Bhote, Sauka, Byansi, Gurung and Magar of Pahad.

The talks were postponed until Sunday after the government concluded that the team alone would not be sufficient to decide on the serious matter related to state restructuring, according to coordinator of government team, Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula.

After the three-hour meeting, Sitaula informed that the committee representatives forwarded their one-point demand to make the far-western development one province.

"The talks concluded by deciding to meet again after consulting with the top leaders of the political parties," Sitaula said.

Coordinator from the committee Ram Samajh Chaudhari said, "We are sticking to our demand for undivided far west. We will not call off our movement until our demands are met."

He said, "We have strongly opposed restructuring on the basis of ethnicity. Even a single inch of Kailali and Kanchanpur should not be separated from far west."

He further said that the joint struggle of the Tharus and Hills people would continue until the government guarantees the unified far west.

Another member of the committee, Madan Regmi, accused the government of trying to instigate conflict between the Tharus and Hills people.

He urged the government to stop such activities.

He objected that the government remained indifferent for two long weeks when the entire region was shut down.

He also objected to the comment of UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and a few sitting ministers that the movement of the far western people was reactionary.

According to Regmi, Deputy Prime Minister Sitaula apologized on behalf of the government and Minister Barshaman Pun on behalf of UCPN-Maoist party for the comments.