http://kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=73818 Deputy PM urges Maoists to stop atrocities Kantipur Report KATHMANDU, May 16 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs K P Sharma Oli on Monday urged the Maoists to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue and peace by stopping all their activities that impact the peace process adversely. "While the government has been expressing its firm commitment to the six-point agenda endorsed by the seven-party alliance and to the 12-point understanding reached with the Maoists to restore peace, what sort of negotiations do the Maoists want by continuing their extortions, intimidations and recruitment for their militia?" Oli asked. Such activities would not help create a favorable atmosphere for peace talks as the government and the Maoists had spoken about in the past, said Oli, speaking at a function on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the National Democratic Youth Federation, Nepal. What would the rebels say if the state also begins to recruit for the army at this point? he asked. He said that armed Maoists in combat attire were intimidating people, extorting one million rupees from the UML's district level cadres and forcing them to attend Maoist functions. The deputy prime minister said the government has been preparing a code of conduct and would come forward promptly with a negotiation team. CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal also urged both the government and the Maoists to bridge the widening gap and crisis of confidence by abiding sincerely by the ceasefire and the peace process. He said that extortion, intimidation and other activities unfavorable for the peace process should be halted immediately. Nepal expressed dissatisfaction over delayed in the expansion of the government and said it should gain its full size and take immediate initiative towards a constituent assembly by bringing the Maoists to the negotiating table and managing arms. Maoists continue atrocities Despite criticism from all quarters for atrocities they committed even during the ongoing ceasefire period, the Maoists abducted a businessman in Sarlahi district and are still extorting money in various parts of the country. According to a regular press statement of the RNA Directorate of Public Relations, Maoists abducted Shankar Rayamajhi, a local timber trader, from Nayaroad of Sarlahi, Sunday. He was taken towards an undisclosed location following the abduction. Our report from Dolakha says that Maoist rebels are still continuing with the collection of forced 'taxes' from various government and non-government organizations. A district level meeting of the Maoists' district level government also passed a proposal to this effect and made it mandatory for I/NGOs and government organizations to register with their party. Similarly, the Maoists extorted sums of money, ranging from Rs 10,000 to 150,000, from local businessmen at Phidim, district headquarters of Panchthar, on Sunday. Meanwhile in Parbat, Maoist rebels on Friday seized four youths and held them in their "labor detention camp" at Chitre VDC, charging the latter of beating up their cadre. Ishwar Gurung, Nawaraj Gurung, Manoj Thakali and Sainlo are alleged to have thrashed area no.1 secretary Akash while they were in a drunken state.