Peace Process: ‘Breakthrough imminent’
No separate identity for PLA
Maoists to abide by NA norms
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KATHMANDU, OCT 30 -
Describing the current level of negotiations among the parties as tantalisingly close to an agreement on all contentious issues relating to the integration and rehabilitation of the former Maoist combatants, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has indicated that a ‘breakthrough’ is imminent within the next few days.
“Parties are involved in concrete and serious negotiations to resolve the remaining issues,” Bhattarai said. “We will soon reach an agreement.”
Bhattarai, who spoke to the Post on Saturday evening at his official residence in Baluwatar, said that the present engagement among parties has been the most productive and positive since the peace process began five years ago.
In what appears to be a departure from the party’s earlier position, PM Bhattarai said that his party was ready to abide by the standards and norms of the Nepal Army—insisting that exceptions will have to be made on issues such as age, marital status and education. The Maoist party has proposed forming a technical panel to settle the row over rank determination. PM Bhattarai also said that the Maoists had not proposed retaining the separate identity of the combatants.
“We have not proposed retaining the separate identity of the PLA after the integration as suggested by the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML leaders,” Bhattarai said.
PM Bhattarai has been reaching out to opposition parties as well as the hard-line faction of his own party to forge consensus on the disputed issues. The PM is preparing to hold a meeting of top leaders, possibly on Sunday to forge consensus on the disputed issues.
Asked about the issue of power-sharing among the parties, PM Bhattarai admitted that it was an important aspect of the peace process. “I have been proposing different models of power-sharing, including formation of a high-level political mechanism consisting of top leaders of major parties.”
Posted on: 2011-10-30 08:40
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