While some CWC members expressed dissatisfaction arguing that the party´s top leadership chose to make an ´agreement on credit´, majority felt that the deal, that gives a last opportunity to test whether the Maoists are really committed to conclude peace process, should be taken in positive light. [break]
NC CWC member N P Saud said the NC relented from its stands on peace process and constitution drafting on ´credit´.
“The agreement fails to address our 10-point demand. It neither mentions a clear timetable for detaching Maoist combatants from their arms, nor addresses fundamental issues of constitution drafting process,” he said. “The agreement keeps everything in status quo. The only good thing about the agreement is that the term has been extended only for three months.”
Another CWC member Arjun Prasad Joshi said the agreement fails to mention specifics related to peace process even though the Maoists had already agreed at the negotiation table to end dual security of their leaders and put all their arms in one place and regroup their combatants right away. “I am surprised why Nepali Congress pulled back instead of reaching a concrete agreement on these issues,” he said.
Joshi claimed the Maoists had gradually shown their willingness to agree to the 10-point demand of NC during negotiations. “I will raise this issue during a CWC meeting on Wednesday,” he said.
Despite disagreements on specifics related to the peace process in the agreement, most CWC members welcomed the eleventh-hour deal as it saved the CA. “No one would have been benefited from the constitutional void. Who would promulgate the new constitution after dissolving the elected CA? How would you go again to people for constituent assembly election?” he said.
Another CWC member Ajaya Kumar Chaurasiya lauded the agreement saying NC reached a deal for the cause of democracy, stepping back from its stance. “The deal per se is not bad if the Maoists prepare timeframe and work towards concluding the peace process as per the spirit of the agreement,” he said.
Echoing Chaursiya, CWC member Pushpa Bhusal said overall content of the deal is good though does not specifically mention the issues related to peace process. “It is not necessary to mention all the details about peace process in the deal. We have done that right since 12-point agreement. We can resolve the problems facing the country if the deal is sincerely brought into implementation,” she said.
CWC member Badri Pandey said the five-point deal is a common commitment for peace and democracy. “Of course, there are certain ambiguities. But if all the parties concerned sincerely implement the agreement, this can be a stepping stone for concluding peace process and constitution drafting process,” he said.
NC CWC meeting on Wednesday
Nepali Congress (NC) has called its Central Working Committee meeting for 1 pm, Wednesday. According to the party´s chief secretary Basanta Kumar Gautam, the meeting will dwell on issues related to the ongoing peace process.
The meeting comes in wake of the party supporting the extension of the term of CA for three month even as the 10-point demand put forth by the party was not met by ruling Maoist party. Many CWC members have voiced their dissent over the party´s position during CA extension negotiations.
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