A meeting of top leaders of the three largest political parties on Saturday discussed the troubled constitution-making process at length, and decided to take it to the HLPM. “We are making a last-ditch attempt to reach consensus on constitutional provisions,” said UML chief whip Bhim Acharya. [break]
The constitution-making process has been stalled due to sharp differences among the political parties.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Narayankaji Shrestha and Dev Gurung from the Maoists, Ram Chandra Paudel and Ram Sharan Mahat from the NC, and Jhalanath Khanal and Bhim Acharya were present at the meeting with CA Chairman Subas Nembang.
The Constitutional Committee (CC) of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was supposed to prepare an integrated draft of the constitution by March 5, but the committee missed the deadline as the CA full committee has forwarded the reports of only two thematic committees out of 11, due to differences.
The Maoists say the CA full committee should hold a vote to decide the constitutional provisions and send them to the CC. “As there will be occasions in the future for amendment and compromise, we should go for a vote to speed up the constitution-drafting,” said Maoist vice-chairman Narayankaji Shrestha.
Maoists to ask Army to abide by CPA, political process
Meanwhile, the Maoists have decided to request the Nepal Army (NA) to abide by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and a proper political process for integration of Maoist combatants into the NA.
The Maoist decision comes as a response to the statement by NA´s Department of Public Relations (DPR), which quoted NA chief Chhatraman Singh Gurung as telling visiting UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe that he was against mass integration of Maoist combatants into the NA.
“The DPR statement is against the CPA. But at the same time, it has also stated that the NA would abide by the CPA. So we decided to request the NA to respect the CPA and a proper political process over the issue,” said Shrestha after the meeting of top Maoist leaders Saturday afternoon.
The party has also reached a conclusion that the normal constitution-drafting process should not be curtailed or extended. The meeting also decided to hold serious dialogues with other political parties in this regard.
“The constitution should be promulgated on May 28. And we have decided to hold serious dialogues with other political parties for this,” said Shrestha.
Nembang not to attend functions outside Valley
CA Chairman Nembang has decided not to attend functions outside Kathmandu Valley due to the tightening deadline for constitution-drafting. “As the deadline is fast approaching, the CA chair should be busy in dialogues with the political parties. So he decided to devote all his time to this,” said a CA secretariat official.
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