Maoist, NC leaders trade charges over delay in peace process

KATHMANDU, Jan 8: Leaders from ruling UCPN (Maoist) and main opposition Nepali Congress (NC) have blamed each other for the delay in the peace process and constitution-writing Sunday.

Leader of the main opposition Ram Chandra Paudel speaking in parliament accused the prime minister and the UCPN (Maoist) of violating the seven-point agreement reached among the major parties on November 1 and other past accords related to advancing the peace process.[break]

"On the one hand the government and the Maoist party are dillydallying with their promises on concluding the peace process and on the other hand Maoist lawmakers at the Constitutional Committee (CC) have challenged the agreements reached at the dispute resolution subcommittee," he said.

NC parliamentary party leader Paudel held Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal responsible for not implementing the seven-point deal and other past agreements. "Recent remarks by both the Prime Minister Bhattarai and Chairman Dahal are against the seven-point deal," he said.

He dismissed Maoist allegations that the NC was going back on past agreements and was obstructing the constitution-writing process.

Saying that the NC has not budged an inch from its commitment to federal democratic republic, he accused the Maoists of repeatedly making statements contradictory to past agreements.

Paudel said the Maoist leaders are still hesitant to renounce violence and militarism in politics.

"Some issues need to be resolved immediately such as the combatants´ ranks, which should be determined prior to sending them for bridge course. And bridge courses should be different for different ranks."

- Janardan Sharma

"Since 2007 BS, Nepali politics has always remained divided into democratic and non-democratic camps. And the NC has firmly stood in favor of democracy," Paudel said in parliament. "The key question is whether you choose bullet or ballot to bring change to society."

However Maoist lawmaker Janardan Sharma brushed aside the charges. He said the peace process should be looked from a broader perspective. "Peace process should cover constitution-making and the task of institutionalizing the achievements of the April 2006 movement," said Sharma.

He argued that the Maoist party is for resolving some disputes relating to integration while advancing the peace process. "Some issues need to be resolved immediately such as the combatants´ ranks, which should be determined prior to sending them for bridge course," he said. "And bridge courses should be different for different ranks."

Sharma rubbished Paudel´s argument that constitution can´t be promulgated under the shadow of the gun and said the Maoist arms were already brought under the purview of the government´s Special Committee.

He also said the Maoists wouldn´t accept the Westminster parliamentary model and the new constitution brought by making some changes to the 1990 constitution.

Raghubir Mahaseth of CPN-UML speaking in parliament also blamed the prime minister and the Maoist party for the delay in the peace process and constitution-writing.