Nepal’s latest amnesty scheme of cash and jobs for Maoist guerrillas who surrender with their weapons, may lead to a steady attrition in rebel ranks, but observers say the government must address the root causes of insurgency to stamp it out completely. According to the scheme, unveiled on December 18, the government will guarantee the physical, social and economic security of rebels who surrender by mid-February 2004. What’s more, their families will also be provided security. The rebels can either surrender individually or en masse before the security forces or in front of mobile administrative service teams. According to the prescribed rates, the rebels will get around US $2,800 for turning in an 81-mm machine gun, US $1,400 for a general purpose machine gun, US $700 for an M16 rifle and so on. Full Story