Parties may not unlock statute deadlock timely
Major political parties are highly likely to miss the deadline to resolve the contentious issues concerning the constitution drafting process. The Constitutional Committee (CC) should settle all outstanding issues, other than the state restructuring, by January 29 in accordance with the CA’s revised calendar.
The drafting committee of the CA met on Sunday but made no headway in endorsing the agreements reached among parties at the Dispute Resolution Subcommittee headed by UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Maoist hardliners have been disclaiming the understandings made by the Dahal-led subcommittee, further complicating efforts to narrow down the differences.
During Sunday’s meeting, CC Chairman Nilambar Acharya drew the attention of leaders towards the fast approaching deadline. He stressed that the parties should either endorse the deal reached at the subcommittee or be prepared to make a list of contentious issues and refer to the CA for majority vote.
According to the current calendar, the CA should vote on contentious issues to prepare the first statute draft on the basis of majority vote in case consensus cannot be forged by next week.
Top leaders put forth their opinions on wide range of issues, including fundamental principles of the constitution at Sunday’s meeting. Rastriya Janamorcha Party lawmaker Chitra Bahadur KC said the first draft will not come out unless parties reach an agreement on whether they will uphold “communist” or “capitalist” principles in the constitution. CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said the new constitution will be progressive and democratic both.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the new constitution will uphold the principles of democracy and capitalism. Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel argued that his party will not compromise on core values of democracy and urged the Maoist party not to create “confusion” among the people by portraying NC as a status quoist force.
“The argument that the Nepali Congress has not made any concession in constitution writing is just a propaganda. There will be a significant difference between the 1990 constitution and the new one that is going to be promulgated.” He said the constitution would institutionalise achievements of republic, federalism and inclusiveness but the party will not make any compromise on democratic values.
Altogether 22 lawmakers aired their views in the CC meeting. Non-Maoist lawmakers called on Dahal to answer why his party’s lawmakers are disavowing the issues already settled by the subcommittee. In response, Dahal said discussions were yet to take place within his party on some of the issues resolved by the subcommittee.
“There is deadlock everywhere. The peace process is not moving forward and the parliament has been obstructed by the opposition parties,” said a senior official of the CA. “There is no hope for meeting the deadline.”
The constitutional committee is yet to endorse a dozen of contentious issues settled by its subcommittee and find a meeting point on forms of governance. Amid the standoff between parties, the next CC meet is scheduled for Tuesday.
Posted on: 2012-01-23 10:13
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