Impasse will end Monday: Prachanda
Posted by barunroy on June 7, 2008
KATHMANDU: Maoist chairman Prachanda today said the current political deadlock would come to an end by Monday, as his party had adopted maximum flexibility for consensus. [Inset: Prachanda. Source - Durdesh.net]
“Political deadlock since the CA polls is less complicated than the previous ones. All the political complications will be sorted out by Monday,” Prachanda said, addressing a function organised by the All Nepal Women’s Association (Revolutionary) to honour the 191 women CA members at Baneshwor.
He said the CPN-Maoist, which sacrificed the lives of thousands of its cadres for the establishment of republic and which is the largest party in the CA, must show flexibility to find an amicable solution to the protracted political deadlock. He was referring to yesterday’s party decision to give up its claims on presidential post.
Saying that the Maoists would not remain a stumbling block in power sharing among the parties, Prachanda said, “If problem arises on power sharing, we will give way to other parties to form their government.” He also warned that the entire peace process would derail if responsible parties came up with new pre-conditions going against the previous agreements.
Meanwhile, Maoist and UML leaders today held bilateral talks to find a new basis of understanding between the two parties. Emerging from the meeting held at the UML’s parliamentary party office, UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari told the media that three major parties might break the ice by Monday as the Maoists showed flexibility on key political issues.
He said they discussed the issues of amending the interim constitution, election of president and vice-president, formation of a post-election government, adjustment and management of the Maoist combatants and reining in the unruly YCL.
“The Maoists have shown flexibility on the formation of the government through a universal principle of a simple majority, and they have even given up claims on presidential post,” Adhikari said, adding that those were the Maoist’s major departure from their earlier stances. The meeting was attended by Maoist leaders Dr Baburam Bhattarai and Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Adhikari, Ishwor Pokharel and Bhim Rawal of CPN-UML.
He hoped that the deadlock could end by Monday, paving the way for the formation of a new government led by the Maoists and amendment to the interim constitution on Tuesday’s CA meet. The Maoists are particularly apprehensive of the provision of a simple majority to form and remove the government, as it might lead to instability in the government functioning.
“They need not worry about it as the new constitution cannot be made without their backing,” he said, adding that the major parties should agree on a common minimum programme (CMP) before forming the government. [South Asian Media Net]
