Former communist rebels join govt in Nepal

Six former communist rebels were sworn in to Nepal’s new government today as part of a landmark peace pact that ended a decade-long insurgency.

Five former Maoists were appointed ministers, while a sixth was given a junior minister portfolio in the new government to be headed by Girija Prasad Koirala.

The swearing-in ceremony was broadcast live on national television.

The six former insurgents were sworn in along with 20 other ministers and junior ministers by a visibly pleased Koirala, 84, who was re-elected by Parliament earlier today as prime minister for a sixth time.

The inclusion of the former rebels is part of a peace process that began last year when the Maoists agreed to give up their armed campaign to rid Nepal of its constitutional monarchy and join an interim government.

The landmark agreement on the formation of a joint government was finalised late Friday in a meeting involving Koirala, leaders of the seven ruling coalition parties, and Prachanda, the leader of the former rebels who goes by a single name.

However, the announcement of a new cabinet snagged on a dispute between Koirala’s Nepali Congress party and the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist, a mainstream political party not affiliated with the former communist rebels, over which party would be second-in-command in the new government.

Koirala met with leaders of the seven parties and the former rebels Sunday morning at his official residence to try to work out the differences.

Jhal Nath Khanal of the Communist Party of Nepal United Marxist-Leninist later said his party backed down, allowing the Nepali Congress to take the No 2 slot.

The government and rebels signed a peace agreement in November, halting an insurgency that killed more than 13,000 people.

Since then the rebels have locked up their weapons, confined their fighters in UN-monitored camps and joined parliament.

The interim government is to hold elections later this year for a special assembly that will rewrite the constitution and decide whether Nepal will continue to have a king.