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UML road map confuses parties
- ‘Constitution not yet defunct’
KATHMANDU, JAN 12 - The member parties of the five-party alliance have both flayed and expressed ignorance about the CPN-UML "road map" which the latter drew up as part of efforts to restore the derailed constitutional and political process.
The UML had announced its revised agenda at the end of the Central Committee meeting on Saturday which has come in for severe criticism from the Nepali Congress (NC), Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandi), Nepal Workers’ and Peasants Party (NWPP) and People’s Front Nepal (PFN).The party has mooted restoration of the House of Representatives as one of the major agenda, followed by the formation of an all-party government which would hold a round table conference, including the Maoists.
Moreover, the party had also suggested that the round table conference so held would then form an interim government to conduct the parliamentary polls, with the parliament so constituted drafting a new constitution.
"What we feel now is that the CPN-UML has gone on to admit that the current Constitution has become defunct for all practical purposes.
What we still insist is the 1990 Constitution can still be retrieved and it is not yet defunct," NC Spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC told The Kathmandu Post.
"Constitutional reforms can be undertaken going by the same statute."
He also insisted that the latest policy change effected by the CPN-UML has taken the stress away from common longstanding demand that the House of Representatives be restored in the interest of resumption of the political process.
Moreover, KC also said that what the CPN-UML has said about the need to bring the rebels into the mainstream by working a way out is something which "we all have been saying time and again. Which means there is nothing new on the issue."
"What is also true is the UML has failed to incorporate all aspects of the movement including the letter and spirit of the 18-point common agenda which is related to cut the powers wielded by the constitutional monarch.
But NWPP leader Narayan Man Bijukche expressed ignorance on the issue saying nothing can be said just yet until we hear from them (CPN-UML leadership) as to what is their renewed stance on the outstanding issues. "We can’t go by press reports; let them tell us at the meeting."However, PFN leader Lilamani Pokharel expressed the view that while the CPN-UML has rightly graduated to the need for a new constitution, what is still evident is that the party is a conservative one.
"No real headway can be made until and unless the parties say they would go for a constituent assembly," Pokharel said.
He poked fun at the CPN-UML, questioning the very idea of drawing up a new Constitution after the election.
"Who will guarantee that the rebels would contest elections or let them happen?" he questioned, adding that real socio-economic changes were ruled out until and unless there is a constitution which leaves room for a real land reforms, among others.
Rajendra Mahato of the NSP(Anandi) too said constituent assembly was the best way out.Posted on: 2004-01-13 03:52
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