PW names six mediators for talks with AP government

The outlawed People's War on Wednesday named a team of six mediators for holding peace talks with Andhra Pradesh government.

Interestingly, the panel announced by PW secretary Ramakrishna includes retired bureaucrat S R Sankaran, who has been named as chief negotiator by the state government on Tuesday.

In a communication to Home Minister K Jana Reddy, the PW named prominent lawyer and People's Union for Civil Liberties leader K G Kannabiran, eminent journalist Potturi Venkateswara Rao, lawyer and civil rights activist Bojja Tharakam and Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee president Professor S Seshaiah, and human rights activist Professor G Haragopal.

The PW said that Human Rights Forum leader Dr K Balagopal would be its nominee on the committee to monitor the three-month ceasefire announced by the government and the PW to create a congenial and peaceful atmosphere for talks.

Ramakrishna explained the PW wanted Dr Balagopal to be on the team of mediators but he conveyed to PW leadership that as a human rights activist, he cannot be a party to the mediatory efforts because lot of political aspects would come up for discussion.

Balagopal wanted to be on the supervisiory committee for monitoring the ceasefire on both sides. The PW also communicated the names of 30 people who could be on the supervisory committee on ceasefire.