During a bilateral meeting with the Maoists Saturday afternoon, the NC asked the Maoists to come up with a concrete work plan with a timeframe to accomplish the remaining tasks of the peace process as agreed in the three-point deal, before forming the new government. [break]
NC leaders argued that since the prime minister has already stepped down as per the agreement reached on May 28 it is now the turn of the Maoists to come up with a concrete work plan for concluding the remaining tasks of the peace process including management of the cantoned combatants, return of seized properties and disbanding the paramilitary structure of the YCL (Young Communist League).
According to NC Vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha, the Maoists begged for NC support to form a national consensus government under their leadership, saying that both the process of forming a new government and completing the remaining tasks of the peace process can be taken ahead side by side.
The Maoists argued that they already agreed to passage of one-third of the total budget and formation of a State Restructuring Commission, following the resignation of the prime minister. “Other remaining things can also be taken ahead simultaneously with the formation of a new government,” Shrestha quoted the Maoists as saying.
During the meeting, the Maoists repeated that that they were not in a position to determine the number of combatants to be integrated into the security agencies as demanded by the NC. They asked NC leaders not to land them in trouble by asking them to determine the numbers without learning about the interests of individual combatants.
NC leaders had asked the Maoists not to link the peace process with the formation of a new government. They said they cannot trust the Maoists as they failed to abide by past agreements.
Talking to media after the meeting, NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said they forcefully raised the issue of completing the remaining tasks in the peace process including management of Maoist combatants. “They [Maoists] said they have taken our demand seriously,” he said.
Poudel said they have agreed to hold further negotiations to arrive at a consensus before the July 7 deadline given by President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for forming a national consensus government. “The issue of government leadership is as it was before,” he said. “We will hold a further round of negotiations.”
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha told media that they held serious negotiations on the issues of forming a national consensus government and government leadership. “We have agreed to form a national consensus government by arriving at consensus on all contentious issues,” he said.
According to Shrestha, they told the NC that a majority government would not help conclude the peace process and promulgate a new constitution.
Maoist-UML meet
Senior leaders of the Maoists and the UML held a separate meeting to arrive at consensus on forming a new government, but failed to make substantive progress.
UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and senior leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari reached the residence of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Saturday morning to hold talks on government leadership. Maoist leaders Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai were present during the meeting.
Dr Bhattarai argued that the current trend among senior leaders to present themselves as prime ministerial candidates would complicate the political deadlock. "Reaching a political consensus would be impossible should each leader eye the post and seek to make himself the consensus candidate," said Dr Bhattarai.
The Maoist vice-chairman, who is seen as a strong prime ministerial candidate, argued that his party being the largest in the legislature-parliament should naturally lead the new consensus government, and that would help the completion of the peace process and constitution-drafting.
He said only a Maoist-led consensus government would be able to complete the peace process. "We should attempt till the last hour to form a consensus government," he said.
After the meeting, Khanal said the parties are having problems with the formation of a national consensus government due to differences over who should lead it. "But we will sort out the issues through talks," he said.
The UML chief argued that the disputes would be resolved within the deadline given by President Yadav. The deadline for formation of a consensus government expires Wednesday.
Maoist-MPRF meet
The Maoists also held talks with the Madhesi People´s Right Forum (MPRF) at Singha Durbar on Saturday.
After the meeting MPRF Co-chair Jaya Prakash Gupta said his party would lend support to a Maoist-led consensus government, but he argued that the Maoists should also address the issues related to the peace process as demanded by other parties.
On the occasion, the Maoists asked MPRF to support them in forming a new government. Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha told media that they have asked MPRF to forge an alliance of progressive forces to not let regressive forces gain sway.
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