The calendar of events has already been amended for over 14 times and this will be a third extension after the CA term was last extended for six months on November 30, 2011.[break]
The parties have this time agreed to extend the deadline for a maximum one month after holding discussion at Sunday´s Constitutional Committee meeting. The agreement was made during a meeting between the three party leaders and Speaker Subas Nembang at Nembang´s residence at Baluwatar Saturday evening. The three parties had met earlier in the afternoon before meeting with Nembang.
Talking to media after the three-party meeting, NC Vice-president and Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Paudel said they decided to amend the CA calendar after holding consultation with Speaker Nembang“ "The May 27 deadline to promulgate new constitution will remain unchanged despite this amendment," he said.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said they need more time for arriving at consensus on the contentious issues so they are seeking the new amendment. Sources said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had proposed a longer extension, of at least a month, for resolving the contentious issues through consensus, arguing that repeated amendments to the calendar would send negative message to people.
According to a previous amendment in the CA calendar of event, the parties had agreed to resolve the remaining issues of contention through voting in the CA from February 13 to 17. Likewise, the parties had agreed to bring out a draft constitution by February 27 and take the first draft constitution to the people from March 6 to March 28 for seeking their opinion.
NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula said there is no possibility of promulgating a new constitution if the contentious issues were resolved through voting process in the CA.
The parties have yet to arrive at consensus on issues related to system of governance, state restructuring, electoral system, judiciary, and citizenship. "New constitution will be promulgated within the stipulated deadline of May 27 if the Maoists accomplished fundamental tasks of the peace process by mid-March. Whether the peace process will move ahead smoothly is still a matter of concern," argued Sitaula.
PM sends letter to army for integration
Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai at the three-party meeting briefed the leaders about the government letter to the army on integration. He said the army has been asked to cooperate with the integration process in line with the November 1 seven-point agreement.
"The prime minister informed us that he sent a letter to the army as per the agreement reached at Gorkarna meeting to expedite the peace proces,” said NC leader Paudel.
The prime minister also proposed formation of national consensus government to deliver peace and new constitution. Asked if the prime minister proposed who should lead the consensus government, Paudel added, "He [Dr Bhattarai] has staked his claim to the leadership of the consensus government and so have I."
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