CC Chairman Nilamber Acharya took this initiative with a view to get feedback from the leaders in connection with planning the CC´s course ahead. He has called the committee´s meetings starting Monday. [break]
The CC stepped up its preparations as the CA on Wednesday forwarded seven of the 11 preliminary drafts in total prepared by thematic committees to the drafting committee, which is mandated to settle differences and prepare the first integrated draft of the constitution. The CA had previously sent three other drafts to the CC while political parties have decided not to forward the report of the state restructuring committee, one of the thematic committees, to the CC as they have agreed to form a high-level taskforce to study and resolve issues related to federalism.
Acharya held a joint meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML leaders at his office in Singhadurbar on Friday. Despite Acharya´s plan to hold a joint meeting with the big three parties, Maoist leaders were absent citing their party´s standing committee meeting. "As the Maoist leaders couldn´t make it here today, I will meet them Sunday," Acharya told Republica.
He said he will get feedback from all parties represented in the CA, lawyers and other experts by Monday.
During Friday´s meeting, NC and UML leaders suggested ways to take the CC´s work ahead in a more organized manner.
NC Chief Whip Laxman Ghimire was of the view that the remaining work should be divided into three categories. "Some issues have already been settled. Some others can be resolved without much difficulty, but there are some thorny issues that need serious efforts. So the issues need to be categorized into three groups," he said.
NC leaders also emphasized that top leaders´ regular participation is essential to make the task of drafting fruitful. NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel, lawmaker Radheshyam Adhikari and Ghimire were present at the meeting.
UML Chief Whip Bhim Acharya and lawmaker Agni Kharel also attended the meeting. Kharel suggested expediting the work by forming subcommittees under the 63-member committee. "Such subcommittees must have representation from top leaders from the big three parties to make the drafting work productive," said Kharel.
Two-thirds of CA´s extended term passes
The CA´s drafting committee is preparing to resume its work from Monday, but two-thirds of the CA´s extended tenure has already passed. Failing to promulgate a new constitution within its original tenure of two years, the CA extended its own tenure by one year on May 28 last year.
While the achievements of the CA during its extended tenure have once again left people from all walks of life frustrated, second-rung leaders regularly involved in statute drafting pin their hopes on the top leaders.
"The work done by the high-level taskforce has proved that if the top leaders put in concerted efforts, resolving their differences is no big deal," Kharel said.
CC Chairman Acharya said what the committee achieves in the remaining time depends entirely on the willingness of leaders, particularly those from the big three parties. He urged the leaders not to unnecessarily interlink the issues of government formation and statute drafting. "The give and take over power-sharing should not take its toll on constitution-making," Acharya said.
However, Maoist standing committee member Giriraj Mani Pokharel said the peace process, government formation and constitution writing are interrelated. He said delivering a new constitution is possible if the major parties try to find common ground amidst their differences. "The Interim Constitution is also a document of compromise among the political parties. So we can produce a new statute if we work with the same approach," he said.
CA´s achievements after May 28
The CA has made a little progress after the extension of its term in May last year. The preliminary drafts study committee headed by Kharel identified the disputes pertaining to the thematic drafts and prepared a list of 210 questions. Later, the all-party mechanism and the high-level taskforce settled around 130 disputes. After that, the CA forwarded the remaining seven thematic drafts to the CC, paving the way for the drafting committee to prepare an integrated draft report incorporating the thematic drafts.
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