Andhra peace talks hit block

Three naxalite emissaries pull out of negotiations

Three Naxal emissaries, negotiating between Maoists leaders and the government of Andhra Pradesh, pulled out of talks today, snapping the last link between the two sides.

The CPI(Maosits) and other extremist bodies had announced their withdrawal from peace talks on January 17, protesting against fake police encounters and combing operations. The emissaries, however, had continued to negotiate.

The three emissaries, Varavara Rao, Gadar and Kalyana Rao, said they were pulling out of the talks as the Congress government was adopting "fascist methods" to suppress the Maoist movement and continuing with "fake encounters and harassment of Naxal cadres".

"It is very clear that the Congress government has slammed the door on the talks and started implementing fascist policies. Its talk of continuing the negotiations is a farce," the emissaries said in a statement in Hyderabad.

They also alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched in certain political circles to foist false cases against them.

Pointing out that they continued to play the role of Maoist emissaries even after Naxal organisations had pulled out of talks, they said, "This was in the hope that the government would create a conducive atmosphere for continuing the peace talks.

"We argued that Naxalite leaders can come for talks if the government creates a congenial atmosphere similar to the one that had prevailed before the first round of negotiations. But, we were disappointed with the government's response."

Both the Andhra Pradesh government and the central government have come under considerable pressure from Opposition parties and allies to find a solution to the problem of growing Naxal violence in the country.

In the current session of Parliament, several MPs had pointed out that Naxalism was emerging as the single-biggest threat to internal security of the country.

While replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha in the winter session of Parliament, Home Minister Shivraj Patil had even said the Naxals had to be treated with kid gloves since they represented a class of society that had gone astray due to their marginalisation.

However, all this notwithstanding, the emissaries claimed over 80 Naxalites and their sympathisers had been killed in encounters since January this year.

"We also understand that moves are on to impose a ban on Maoist organisations in 8 states where Naxalite movement is strong," said an emissary.

The Naxal emissaries had played an important role in the first-ever direct talks between the Andhra Pradesh government and the Maoist leaders in October last year. But the peace talks ran into rough weather with the government insisting on Maoists laying down arms while the Naxalite organisations asserting their right to carry weapons.

Blaming the government for the collapse of talks, the emissaries said: "Before elections, they had promised to hold unconditional talks with Naxalites, but after the first round, they changed their track and suddenly came up with the condition that Maoists must lay down arms."

Referring to an October 30 state Cabinet decision, which stipulated that Naxalites should give up arms for the second round of talks to begin, the emissaries said: "This marked the beginning of change in policy and a return to the fascist ways. Restrictions on meetings of revolutionary parties, false cases, arrests, combing operations and fake encounters followed soon."

The emissaries said though they would cease to mediate with the government on behalf of Maoist organisations, their efforts as "revolutionary writers and public spirited citizens would continue to find lasting peace."