CHITWAN, March 4 : UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said it would be difficult to forge consensus on disputed issues in constitution making if the opposition alliance is forced to launch second phase of protests. Dahal, who heads the 30-party opposition alliance, said they are ready to sit for negotiations if the ruling parties assure that the new constitution would be consensus-based. “The ruling parties have to express commitment that the new statute would respect the spirit of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Second, they have to say they will bring new statute through consensus and not through voting in CA,” Dahal told Republica.CHITWAN, March 4 : UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said it would be difficult to forge consensus on disputed issues in constitution making if the opposition alliance is forced to launch second phase of protests. Dahal, who heads the 30-party opposition alliance, said they are ready to sit for negotiations if the ruling parties assure that the new constitution would be consensus-based. “The ruling parties have to express commitment that the new statute would respect the spirit of Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Second, they have to say they will bring new statute through consensus and not through voting in CA,” Dahal told Republica. Stating that they are planning second phase of protests, Dahal said they wish to see the ruling parties create environment favorable for talks before March 6. “It will be difficult to forge consensus after we start second phase of protests,” he said. Dahal said they have so far snubbed talks as Prime Minister Sushil Koirala´s statement did not address their concerns. “We have taken his statement in a positive light. But his statement did not assure an environment we have sought for talks. We have, therefore, asked the ruling parties to further clarify their position on our demands,” he said. Dahal said the opposition parties had not been consulted before the prime minister delivered his statement. “Consensus would have been possible had the ruling parties consulted us before the prime minister delivered his statement,” he said. He argued that the ruling parties´ attempt to bring new statute through voting undermines the mandate of the Constituent Assembly (CA), the “people´s war” and other movements, including the democratic movement of April, 2006. Meanwhile, sharing a same podium at a function organized to mark the golden jubilee of Narayani Bidyamandir Higher Secondary School in Shivanagar on Tuesday, Dahal had urged Prime Minister Koirala to create an environment for formal talks. On the occasion, Koirala had assured Dahal that he would do the needful to bring the opposition parties to the talks table. Speaking at the function, Dahal said, “I am confident that the prime minister is creating environment for talks. I have found him positive,” he further said. Koirala said parties were already close to consensus on all disputed issues and said the new statute will be promulgated through consensus between all the political parties. - See more at: http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=93314#sthash.0IVLHKIO.dpuf
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