Rebels refuse to extend Nepal truce The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2006 KATMANDU, Nepal Nepal's Maoist rebels said Monday that they would not extend their four-month unilateral cease-fire that was to end at midnight. The rebels' truce started Sept. 3 and was later extended by a month in response to public pressure. The announcement on Monday came after rights groups and political parties here had asked the insurgents to extend the cease-fire. "We have found out that the rebel leaders are holding consultations whether to further extend the cease-fire," Jhanath Khanal, a leader of the Nepal Communist Party-United Marxist Leninist, said early Monday. "We have asked them to prolong the truce by at least another 15 days and give the government another chance." The Royal Nepalese Army had not matched the cease-fire and called it a ploy by the militants to buy time to reorganize. On Monday afternoon, the Maoists said they would not extend the truce because the military continued to press its campaign against them. "The royal army is surrounding our people's liberation army, which is in defensive positions, to carry out ground as well as air attacks on us," the rebels said in a statement. "Therefore, we are compelled to go on the offensive not only for the sake of peace and democracy but for the sake of self-defense." Political groups in the capital had awaited the rebels' decision with some hope of success. The European Union and the United Nations secretary general, Kofi Annan, had issued statements urging the Maoists to extend the cease-fire in their "people's war." In November a group of seven opposition parties, four of which were removed from power by King Gyanendra in February, reached a 12-point agreement with the Maoists. The agreement was intended to get Gyanendra to step aside and restore multiparty democracy in this impoverished Himalayan country. Under the cease-fire, the rebels pledged not to attack military or civilian targets in hopes of reviving peace talks but said they would continue to defend their positions. They have, however, continued to block highways, extort money and kidnap villagers for indoctrination sessions. Political parties said that the rebels were being provoked by the government's refusal to join the cease-fire and its description of the militants as terrorists. "The government statements and attitude is angering them," said Pradeep Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal. The rebels have agreed with the country's seven main political parties to step up their opposition to the administration of the king, who dismissed a provisional government and seized absolute power early last year. The rebels, who claim to be inspired by Mao Zedong, have been fighting to topple Nepal's monarchy and establish a communist state. More than 12,000 people have died in the decade-long insurgency.