A Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at the party´s headquarters in Sanepa on Thursday concluded that there was no point in extending the term of CA in status quo. [break]The meeting decided that the Maoists must take the ongoing peace process to an irreversible point to pave way for extending the CA´s life for yet another year.
NC has demanded that the Maoist should regroup combatants based on those opting for integration and rehabilitation, bring the cantonments practically under the command of Special Committee through deputation of joint-monitoring teams comprising security personnel and Maoist army personnel and hand over the weapons to the government by May 24.
The NC said maximum 4,000 combatants can be integrated into various security agencies. As another condition for extending CA´s term that is expiring on May 28, the main opposition party demanded that Maoists arrive at consensus on the fundamental issues of the new constitution within five days in order to ensure a timely promulgation of democratic constitution.
CWC member Arjun Nara Singh KC said the meeting concluded that the Maoists must implement the things that can be done immediately within May 24 and also agree on package deal, including a calendar of events for concluding peace process and constitution drafting.
"The controversial seven-point deal reached between the UML and Maoists should be scrapped to pave way for the formation of national consensus government," he said.
CWC member Gagan Thapa said, “Nepali Congress wants to see concrete progress on peace process within next five days for extending the CA´s term. We don´t want to fall victim to the false promises of the Maoists yet again.”
Thursday´s CWC meeting, while endorsing separate proposals on peace process and constitution drafting prepared by two separate panels led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Paudel, decided to publicize the NC´s stance on the extension of the CA´s term through a mass rally that will converge at Khulla Manch on Friday.
“The meeting has also decided to expedite talks with other political parties to resolve the problems facing the country,” said General Secretary Prakash Man Singh.
Altogether 15 CWC members including Bimalendra Nidhi, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Khum Bahadur Khadka, Nara Hari Acharya, Pradip Giri, Dr Minendra Rijal, Man Bahadur Bishwakarma, Dilendra Prasad Badu, Dr Narayan Khadka, Ajaya Kumar Chaurasiya, Nabindra Raj Joshi and Gagan Thapa had put forth their views in the meeting.
NC has maintained that if the term of CA is extended, after the Maoists fulfill the conditions put forth by the party, next three months could be devoted for concluding peace process and the remaining time utilized to expedite negotiations for promulgating democratic constitution.
Though almost all CWC members agreed on term extension if the Maoists fulfilled the demands, Khum Bahadur Khadka said that he would stand against the decision to extend the CA´s term.
Likewise, CWC member Chaurasiya argued that party´s CA members should tender resignation en masse if the current coalition chooses to extend the CA´s term without ensuring concrete progress on peace process.
Most CWC members suggested the party leadership to give priority to constitution drafting and peace process rather than formation of new government at the moment.
Related story
Fulfill 6 conditions before polls: Bhattarai
