The government today announced the code of conduct and powers of the National Truce Monitoring Committee (NTMC) and appointed former election commissioner Birendra Misra to head the team. The decision was made by the peace talks teams of the government and Maoist party after the two sides sat for a meeting in the Peace Secretariat in Singha Darbar on Monday. The committee shall remain active until the constituent assembly forms a new constitution.

The meeting has decided on 18 points as the tasks and powers of the committee with the main responsibility of monitoring the peace process implementing the agreement between the seven party alliance and the Maoists as the backbone of the process. Civil society leader Dr Devendra Raj Pande who was appointed head of the committee had taken his name back along with six others from the 31 member panel.

Stating that the committee would start work from 27 June Misra said, We will attempt to make sure both sides follow the code of conduct. The office has been posted at the former address of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority. Both the Maoists and the seven parties have pledged to help the committee in every way possible.