Nepal Conflict Prevention with Maoist - January 2006

Mikio Tajima, the Executive Director of Conflict Prevention NGO 'Reconciliation 21' spoke briefly about his recent mission in Nepal. The king dismissed the country's government on February 1 of 2005 because he was dissatisfied with the government's results in battling the Maoist insurgents. He held consultations with a number of potential actors in the conflict. The situation is still unsettled. Mikio outlined how the international community might assist, if and when national consensus might evolve one day in favor of holding peace talks outside Nepal. In this connection, the Japanese government has been urged to offer a site for possible peace talks, preferably in Okinawa.