Work at the CC, which is mandated to prepare the first integrated draft of the new constitution, has been halted for a month due to obstruction by four lawmakers, who have been accusing the leaders of neglecting the concerns of minority groups.[break]
Acharya called the meeting upon the instruction of CA Chairman Subas Nembang. “Since the prime minister and other top leaders have already talked to the agitating lawmakers, I am hopeful that the CC meetings will face no obstructions,” Acharya told Republica.
The agenda items to be discussed at the CC meeting include the issue of extending the term of the subcommittee formed under the CC and the issue of state restructuring.
The term of the subcommittee formed to settle disputes in constitution writing expired on April 14.
The CC meeting is taking place at a time when the attention of the political parties as well as others is focused on whether the CA term should be renewed again.
With the CA´s extended term expiring on May 28, a host of thorny issues are yet to be settled.
Achievements after May 28, 2010
A quick recap on the achievements made after extending the CA term last year suggests that the constitution making process has not advanced much in terms of procedures. But the leaders have made progress in sorting out disputed points in the contents.
The preliminary reports study committee led by UML lawmaker Agni Kharel has given impetus to the statute drafting process by compiling a list of 210 disputed points from among the preliminary drafts submitted by the CA thematic committees.
While only 30 contentious points are yet to be settled from other thematic reports, the report of the state restructuring issue remains untouched.
The major issues resolved so far include those on judiciary, structure of parliament and the provisions related to management of transitional period.
“The agreement among the parties to adopt independent judiciary and bicameral legislature are major achievements,” Kharel told Republica. The Maoists had earlier insisted that a special committee under parliament should be the final arbiter with regard to interpreting the constitution and the laws while other parties were for an independent judiciary.
Three thorny issues are yet to be resolved. “Defining the form of governance, the electoral model and the issues surrounding the state restructuring are the major remaining tasks,” said Maoist Lawmaker Khim Lal Devkota.
Devkota said, once the leaders agree on these three issues, the statute-drafting process can make a quantum leap.
Related story
Vibrant month of colors: Shrawan (with video)
