According to sources, top Maoist leaders including party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Dr Baburam Bhattarai held a meeting with the commanders till late evening on Monday to fix the number of combatants to be integrated into state forces. "The top leadership has stepped up consultations with the commanders," said a Maoist leader. [break]
The issue of integration and rehabilitation of the combatants has been the major bone of contention in the peace process.
The ruling parties, mainly the Nepali Congress (NC), has been demanding that Maoists fix the number of combatants to be integrated and immediately begin the process to pave the way for a Maoist-led national consensus government.
"The formation of a national consensus government and the conclusion of the peace process will depend chiefly on whether the Maoist party will renounce weapons and transform into a civilian party," said NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who is involved in talks with the Maoists.
Sitaula added that his party mainly wants the Maoists to swiftly complete the process of integration and rehabilitation of the combatants.
The NC leader also said the Maoists will finally lend support to the extension of the Constituent Assembly (CA) term. The ruling parties and the Maoists are holding serious talks to end the deadlock on Tuesday.
Maoists soften stance after Bhattarai prevails in CC
The party has been ready to fix the number of combatants and resolve all issues related to the peace process
-- Maoist leaders
-- Maoist leaders
According to party sources, Maoists have softened their stance to end the deadlock after the decisions of the central committee meeting that concluded on Monday. "Dr Bhattarai´s party-line commanded a majority in the CC. The party will move ahead with maximum flexibility," said a top Maoist leader.
During the four-day CC meeting, party chairman Dahal had floated the idea that the party should not support the CA term extension proposal until Prime Minister Madhav Nepal resigns and until the political parties become ready to amend the Interim Constitution to revert to consensus-based system.
He had stated that the political vacuum in the aftermath of the CA dissolution will lead to a new agreement and the party can also utilize the crisis to prepare for a revolt to seize state power. Senior vice-chairman Mohan Baidya had pushed for an immediate revolt.
But Dr Bhattarai had demanded that the party keep all options open to extend the CA term and end the deadlock. Majority CC members had backed the proposal floated by Dr Bhattarai. "Many leaders now don´t follow individuals. They take sides after deliberating on issues," said another leader.
According to leaders, the party has been ready to fix the number of combatants and resolve all issues related to the peace process. "We are ready to extend the CA term, sort out the PLA issue, and conclude the peace process," said a top party leader.
He said the issues cannot be sorted out in a day or two. "If the prime minister resigns and heads a caretaker government, it will facilitate the process," the leader added.
Dahal hopeful of deal soon
Meanwhile, briefing the media about the decisions of the CC meeting, Dahal also stated that he is hopeful about the political parties striking a deal on CA term extension before May 28.
"Four days are enough to reach consensus. Enough discussion has been held. There can be consensus even in four minutes," said Dahal, hinting that his party will be flexible enough to end the deadlock.
"The CA should not be dissolved; it must be kept alive," he said, adding that CA has already gone into a "state of coma" and it is meaningless to extend the term without forging consensus. Dahal said a six-month extension of the CA´s term will be enough for writing a new constitution.
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