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Big 2 issue clarion call to Maoist party

KATHMANDU, JAN 07 -
Concluding that the ruling UCPN (Maoist) and the government have been trying to delay the peace process and go for elections keeping their arms and armies intact, the two major opposition parties have demanded immediate implementation of the seven-point deal.

A joint meeting of the top brass of the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML on Saturday decided to unite all the non-Maoist forces, including the Madhesi Morcha and fringe parties, in the parliament and speak up against the intentional dillydallying in vacating the cantonments and handing over the weapons to the government.

Many in the NC and the UML believe that the Maoists are trying to strategically use the Supreme Court ruling as a means to dissolve the Constituent Assembly (CA) and go for elections, while keeping their arms and armies intact. As per the court order, the CA was extended for the “last time” until May 27, 2012. If the parties fail to promulgate the constitution within the extended deadline, the court said, the assembly will be automatically dissolved and there should be fresh elections.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat, who also attended the meeting, said the Maoists were conspiring to delay the peace process on various pretexts. “They [Maoists] want to go for fresh elections keeping intact their arms and armies, which is not acceptable to us,” said Mahat.

The two parties also accused the government and the Maoist party of abusing “power” in meeting the partisan interests, including while dealing with the disqualified combatants. They said the government—Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction—has overruled the Special Committee by signing an agreement with the disqualified combatants following their protests two days ago.

NC leader Bimelendra Nidhi said doubts would not be cleared unless the Maoists were ready to immediately bid farewell to the combatants opting for voluntary retirement, hand over those choosing integration to the Nepal Army and bring the weapons under the government control.

On January 1, the Special Committee had endorsed an action plan to start bidding farewell to the combatants choosing voluntary retirement within a week and complete it within 20 days.

“We don’t see any reason behind the delay,” said UML leader Bhim Rawal, who is also a SC member. The Maoists, however, have argued that the process has been delayed as there are several contentious issues, including ranks of combatants to be integrated into the Nepal Army and the bridging course for them. Of late, Maoist leaders, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have insisted that the peace process would not move forward unless the NC agreed to go for directly elected executive presidential system in the new constitution.  “There is nothing left to be decided now. Everything is clearly mentioned in the past deals,” said Nidhi. “The Maoists should implement them word by word.”

Though the NC and Maoist top leaders shared very cordial relations until a few days ago—as they were even optimistic of forming a unity government under Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s leadership—it suddenly soured after the government and the Maoist leadership failed to implement the past deals, including the Nov 1 seven-point pact on completing the integration and rehabilitation process.  Whatever hard they appeared, both the NC and the UML have, however, maintained restraint over demanding resignation of PM Bhattarai. Though individual leaders, including Jhala Nath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal remarked that a non-functional PM should resign, the joint official statement of the parties urged Bhattarai to deliver on his commitments.

Speaking at the joint meeting, some leaders dubbed PM Bhattarai’s statement that he would not think of resigning even in dream ‘a totalitarian mindset’.

Some UML leaders have also urged they should think of alternative to Bhattarai in the soon to be formed unity government. Rawal said an all-party meeting scheduled for Sunday would take a call on whether to demand Bhattarai’s resignation or not. “We should form a national consensus government but the decision on this issue will be taken only after discussing with the other political parties,” said Rawal.

‘PM should quit’ Pressure seems to be gradually mounting on PM Baburam Bhattarai to resign as the opposition leaders are increasingly disenchanted with his leadership.

Some UML leaders and Maoist hardliners have demanded his resignation. While UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Saturday demanded Bhattarai put in the papers for failing to keep his words  on peace, and PLA integration, Maoist Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya told his party’s Central Committee that PM’s immediate resignation would be the only condition to compromise with and support Dahal. “Bhattarai has no rights to stick to power as the state mechanisms have been weakening day by day,” said UML Chairman Khanal, at a function in Lalitpur.

Posted on: 2012-01-08 09:06

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