Issuing a joint statement after the meeting held at Singha Durbar for the second consecutive day on Monday, the parties, stating that “the peace process had been obstructed”, urged the Maoists to help expedite the peace process. [break]
The parties made concerted effort to draw the attention of the Maoists over their failure to implement the past agreements on peace and the new constitution.
“Everyone expected that the seven-point agreement reached on November 1 and subsequent understandings reached among political parties would expedite the work related to peace process, constitution drafting and national consensus,” reads the joint statement. “But the Maoists, who had earlier said that they would conclude the peace process if they are allowed to lead the government, have backtracked from past agreements and understanding reached during the government led by themselves.”
The meeting was attended by NC, CPN-UML, Madhesi People´s Rights Forum, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, CPN-ML, CPN (Unified), Rastriya Janamorcha, RPP-Nepal, CPN-ML (Socialist), Rastriya Janashakti Party, Chure Bhawar Ekata Party, Dalit Janajati Party, Samajbadi Janata Party, Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Aanandidevi) and Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, UML leader Surendra Paudel said the joint meeting mainly dealt with the stalled peace process. “The parties expressed concerns over the Maoists failure to implement the past agreements and discussed how we can forge a common position to conclude the peace process and constitution drafting.”
He alleged that the Maoists have raised conditions that are in stark contravention to the agreements and understanding reached in the past to “obstruct peace process”.
NC leader Ram Chandra Paudel said, “Though the agreements specifically mention the number of former combatants to be integrated and that the integration would be based on the standards set by the army, the Maoists are now unnecessarily raising the issue of number and ranks.”
Asked if the joint meeting was an attempt to put the Maoist-led government in a tight spot, UML leader Bhim Rawal said the parties wanted to exert pressure on the Maoists to implement the agreements they have signed. “We expect the Maoists to honestly implement the agreements,” Rawal said.
He dismissed the allegations that the joint meeting was an attempt to form an alliance for a new government led by a non-Maoist party.
Since the Monday´s meeting focused mainly on forging common stance on issues related to peace process, the parties have decided to sit again on Tuesday to discuss various contentious issues in the constitution drafting process.
The parties concluded that the attempt of the Maoists to revive the issues already settled by Dispute Resolution Subcommittee under the leadership of the Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal himself has cast a serious doubt over whether a democratic constitution would be drafted on time.
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