Maoists offer ceasefire

vIndinaz.com (23 Feb, 2010) — Kolkata: Feeling the heat after the Silda camp attack, the Maoists on Monday offered a conditional ceasefire, asking the government to halt its offensive for 72 days and involve mediators for talks.

maoists_attack_mine Home Minister P Chidambaram had said last week that the government would find “a way out” if the Maoists gave up violence for 72 hours.

On Monday, the government said it had not received any communication from the Maoists and would only agree to an unconditional ceasefire.

Maoist leader Kishenji, in a statement to some regional TV channels in West Bengal, said if state and central police forces ceased operations against them, his group would reciprocate.

“The state and central governments should stop this violence for 72 days… revolutionaries will immediately stop taking revenge,” said Kishenji.

He offered a ceasefire from February 25 to May 7. “It is an appeal to intellectuals, human rights organisations and mass organisations… to mediate between the two sides,” he said.

There was no official reaction from the government but sources said the Maoist move appeared to be a ploy to buy time when cornered.

The sources said the Maoist groups were certain that a crackdown would follow the Silda incident and were, therefore, offering a ceasefire.

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