Nembang decided to resume the stalled majority-based process through the CA plenary after the political parties failed to arrive at consensus on disputed constitutional issues within the given deadline despite repeated negotiations. Sunday evening was the latest deadline given by the CA chairman to arrive at consensus.
Although the ruling parties have not said anything in public about the chairman's move, the opposition parties are apparently irked by his decision. The opposition alliance led by the Maoists is scheduled to meet again on Monday to chart their future course.
CA Chairman Nembang had adjourned the CA meetings until further notice to pave the way for result-oriented dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties, following requests by civil society leaders and the opposition alliance on February 12. As there was no sign of agreement even after several weeks, Nembang had warned that he would resume the CA if there was no consensus by Sunday.
Talking to a group of media persons Sunday afternoon, Nembang said he decided to resume the CA after the political parties failed to make any headway. He urged the parties to hold further dialogue to reach a conclusion before the CA meets.
"Convening the CA meeting after a week means there is still enough time for political parties to hold dialogue and forge consensus. If the parties succeed in reaching consensus within this period the CA will manage its business accordingly," said Nembang.
The UCPN (Maoist)-led 30-party opposition alliance has been boycotting the CA meetings and venting their ire over the CA chairman's January 25 move towards a majority-based process.
Asked about his plans for CA resumption, Nembang said he will move in line with established norms, the constitution, laws, regulations and existing systems. "It is up to the political parties to decide the next process for the CA. If they are able to reach consensus on content and process, the CA will act accordingly," he said.
However, leaders of the ruling parties claimed that the CA would start a voting process on the questionnaires prepared by the CA panel a few months ago.
While the opposition alliance had urged Nembang not to resume the CA until there was consensus between political parties, Nembang sought postponement of their program of protests in return, said sources close to the CA secretariat.
Nembang also telephoned Ramjanam Chaudari, general secretary of the Madhesi People's Rights Forum Democratic (MPRF-D), a constituent of the Maoist-led 30-party opposition alliance, on Sunday afternoon prior to summoning the CA meeting. However, he could not get reliable assurances from the agitating parties that they would wait any longer.
The ruling parties had been pressing Nembang to resume the CA process after the opposition parties unveiled their second-phase of protests on March 15. Although there were meetings between the ruling and opposition parties during the 'truce-hour' in the CA, they had failed to settle any disputed issues at the time the CA was adjourned.
'CA Chair's announcement vitiated environment for talks'
KATHMANDU: The UCPN (Maoist)-led 30-party opposition alliance has said the announcement of the CA meeting has vitiated the environment for talks with the ruling parties.
The opposition alliance, during their meeting held in Singha Durbar on Sunday, decided not to sit for dialogue with the ruling parties under the existing condition. While alleging that the ruling parties --Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML--had not shown any seriousness in resolving the disputed issues through talks, the agitating alliance has warned that they would make their protests stronger.
"Though we are still in favor of settling the disputes through dialogue, the decision of the CA chairman has disrupted the environment for talks. We will not sit for talks with the ruling parties in the existing situation," said Sadbhawana Party Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna to media persons after the meeting.
The opposition party leaders, however, did not rule out the possibility of talks for consensus on the disputed issues .
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