Talking to the media after the meeting, Mangal Pandey, talks team coordinator of Madhes Mukti Tiger (MMT), said they asked the government to sincerely implement the agreement reached in the past.
“We have also asked the government to declare the cadres killed recently in police action as martyrs after forming a high-level investigation team into the killing,” said Pandey. “The government is positive about our demands.”
At least four senior leaders of armed groups were killed in police ´encounters´ in various Tarai districts.
Others participating in Monday´s meeting were Nabin Jha of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha, Jaya Prakash Yadav of Madhesi Virus Killers and Gajendra Mandal of Tarai Samyukta Janakranti Party.
Pandey said that they will put across their demands at Tuesday´s meeting.
Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong said they are near agreement with the four armed groups. “There is no ground to doubt the government´s commitment on the past agreement,” he added.
Chemjong said that government is ready to hold talks with the armed groups operating in various parts of the country if they choose to settle their demands through negotiation. He hinted that the government would go tough on those snubbing the government´s talks offer.
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