Leaders regret 'wasting' three long years
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KATHMANDU, NOV 04 - In a rare show of solidarity, top leaders across the political spectrum on Thursday regretted wasting three long years bickering with each other and squandering the historical opportunity offered by the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in April 2008.
If the mood in the parliament was anything to go by, there was unanimous voice that the politics of consensus evident in the early stages of the pace process needed to be revived and the spirit of the 12-point agreement signed in 2005 should again be the guiding principle of new politics.
In emotional speeches in the parliament, leaders of major parties admitted they had deviated from the task entrusted on them by the people to complete the peace process, write a new constitution and take the country towards economic prosperity. The CA has been extended thrice and a fourth extension looms as promulgation of a new constitution looks impossible within the November 30 deadline.
"We failed to demonstrate unity of purpose and keep promises that we had made in the 12-point agreement, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the Interim Constitution after the Constituent Assembly elections," said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in what appeared as a belated mea culpa.
"We were fixated on forming and toppling governments and deviated from our goal to draft the new constitution," the leader of the largest party in parliament said, drawing applause even from opposition lawmakers.
"He demonstrated a rare political courage in making a win-win political deal possible," said Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, in an uncharacteristic generosity towards the ruling party leader.
"We were successful in signing the agreement by demonstrating an unprecedented unity and set an example to the world after the Maoist party showed seriousness and other parties reciprocated with flexibility," he said, referring to Tuesday's four-party deal. Poudel, who has often taken deeply partisan positions in parliament, drew widespread praise from party leaders and the media for his speech on Thursday.
The leader of the opposition also offered a word of caution, saying that success will depend on the implementation of the agreement. "Let us not repeat mistakes of the past and limit this agreement to papers," he said and appealed to the parties to demonstrate a will to conclude the peace and constitution making processes.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal said it is now the responsibility of the major parties to work together to implement the progressive agreement that has some challenging deadlines.
The parties have committed to complete the regrouping process, dismantle the paramilitary structure of the Young Communist League and return property seized by Maoist cadres during the conflict to the rightful owners within November 23.
Chairman of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik) Bijay Kumar Gachhadar lauded the unity demonstrated by the major parties and urged them to take smaller parties on board to complete the peace and constitution making processes.
The NC expressed serious reservations over criticism made by Maoist hardliners on those standing in favour of Tuesday's agreement. The party's Parliamentary Party Leader Poudel claimed that 99.99 percent of the people support the conclusion of the peace process and urged hardliners to stop instigating the Nepali people.
Dahal dismissed speculations that the rift in the Maoist party was "just a public stunt." He said the "ongoing debate" was normal in the party formed from the sacrifice of hundreds of people.
Posted on: 2011-11-04 03:52
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