Agreement between the GoN and Liberation Tigers of Terai Eelam (LTTE)

Country/entity
Nepal
Region
Asia and Pacific
Agreement name
Agreement between the GoN and Liberation Tigers of Terai Eelam (LTTE)
Date
21 Feb 2009
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government/territory
Peace process
Nepal related-local processes
Parties
On behalf of LTTE: Ramlochan Thakur ‘Swamiji’, Coordinator
On behalf of GoN Talks Team: Janardhan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, Coordinator
Third parties
-
Description
An agreement in which principles for negotiation between the Government of Nepal and the LTTE are agreed and the LTTE agree to suspend violent activities in order to participate in the negotiations.


Local agreement properties

Process type
Formal structured process
Rationale
While there was no one primary institution, or procedure driving these agreements, it was formal. UN Nepal and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction archives points out that all the governments between 2007- 2010, formed dialogue teams led/ coordinated by the Minister of Peace and Reconstruction, despite the Ministers changing along as per the shifts in the government coalition. The Dialogue or talk teams formed also formally called different armed groups for talks, and talks were organised in different rounds.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale
Despite groups like these linked to violence and criminality, their demands were framed around inclusion, in particular greater autonomy for the Terai region. Thus, it sought to strengthen and reaffirm the CPA’s commitment for state restructuring and inclusion.
Name of Locale
Tarai
Nature of Locale
Region
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
27.039338, 84.874213
Participant type
Central state actor
Local armed group
Mediator, facilitator or similar
No mention of mediator or similar

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List

No specific mention.

Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.


Agreement between the GoN and Liberation Tigers of Terai Eelam (LTTE)

On February 21, 2010, the first round of talks between the Talks Team of the GoN and the Talks Team of the Liberation Tigers of Terai Eelam (LTTE) was held in a cordial atmosphere in Birgunj.

With the belief that the institutional development and strengthening of Nepal’s progressive transformation and of the federal democratic republic can take place only through a new people-centric constitution and embracing the principles of sovereignty, integrity, national interest and national unity, an agreement was reached on the following points.

1. The GoN shall provide security to the members of the Talks Team of the Liberation Tigers of Terai Eelam (LTTE) during the period of dialogue.

2. The LTTE shall suspend its violent activities and shall not engage in any unlawful activities.

The GoN shall treat the group leaders and activists as political actors.

3. The LTTE shall make available to the GoN a list of its activists being held in jail and of those against whom cases have been filed, and the GoN shall gradually release them after investigations.

4. Political assemblies, rallies, workshops, seminars and nation- building programmes may be conducted freely and peacefully in coordination with the District Administration Office concerned.

5. Initiative shall be taken for bringing the other agitating political groups to the negotiation table for establishment of sustainable peace in the country.

On behalf of LTTE:

Ramlochan Thakur ‘Swamiji’, Coordinator

On behalf of GoN Talks Team:

Janardhan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, Coordinator