UML Apprehensive (October 23—29)

Monday, October 31, 2011
Written By: Bhuwan KC/ Tilak Pathak

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s claim of UCPN (M) and Nepali Congress being close to an agreement close to an agreement on the peace process and achieving a breakthrough soon raised the suspicions of UML leaders. UML leaders always suspected that in any talks without them the UCPN (M) would easily entrap the Nepali Congress, and now they feared that their role would be secondary in the peace process. As a result, UML leaders publicly warned, “The result of an agreement between UCPN (M) and Nepali Congress by sidelining the UML would be disastrous”.

UCPN (M) and Congress have the most disagreements between regarding the principled and political aspects of the peace and constitution-drafting process. There was a talk among UCPN (M), Congress, and UML regarding the peace process; however, in the absence of any consensus, an agreement was reached to seek consensus through bilateral discussions also, which resulted in a meeting between Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Congress leaders at the former’s residence on 26 October.

Congress leaders who are normally aggressive towards UCPN (M) started saying the settings as improving and if UCPN (M) is honest then the peace process would be completed by 30 November, 2011. They said that agreements had been reached on many issues and only the issues of number of Maoist combatants to be integrated and rehabilitation packages remained. Similarly, Prime Minister Bhattarai and other UCPN (M) leaders stated that the Congress has become positive and an important achievement regarding the peace process will be made.

After positive statements started coming out of the formal and informal meetings between Congress and UCPN (M) leaders, UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal publicly suggested Congress to not be deceived by UCPN (M) assurances. He said, “We were sidelined from the talks because we know that UCPN (M) is adept at persuading and deceiving others. The talks between UCPN (M) and Congress alone will not lead to consensus on the peace and constitution-drafting process.”

Then, Prime Minister Bhattarai met with senior leader Nepal on 28 October to discussion the peace process and constitution. The talk held at Nepal’s residence in Koteshwor ended with agreement to seek discussions with parties, with joint talks among the three parties.

Major Developments

October 23 Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai returns from a four-day official visit to India.
Senior UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal asserts that constitution-drafting will not be completed without concluding the peace process.
Congress vice-president Ram Chandra Paudel expresses the view that consensus should be reached before Tihar and says that only the issue of number of combatants to be integrated and rehabilitation package remains to be decided.
October 24 UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal claims the peace and constitution-drafting process would be completed soon.
The chairpersons of CA committees in a meeting with the CA Chairperson Subash Nemwang suggest him to take the constitution-drafting process forward.
October 25 Meeting of UCPN (M) standing committee discusses the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) and internal disputes.
October 26 Meeting of the UCPN (M) standing committee agrees to discuss Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA) and internal disputes in the central committee.
Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba claims that if UCPN (M) performs according to its commitments before the prime minister’s India visit, the peace process would be completed by November 30.
Meeting between UCPN (M) and Congress senior leaders at the residence of UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kumar Dahal to discuss the peace process.
October 27 UCPN (M) spokesperson Din Nath Sharma claims that trust has been developed with Congress on the peace process and it will not affected by the internal rift within UCPN (M).
Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai expresses the belief that there will be breakthrough soon on the peace and constitution-drafting process.
UML senior leader suggests Congress leaders not to trust UCPN (M) assurances and warns that disregarding UML in the talks will have serious consequences.
October 28 Meeting between prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal to discuss the peace and constitution-drafting process.
UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal expresses the hope that if there is a unified draft of the constitution draft by November 30, people will accept the extension of the Constituent Assembly by three to six months.
October 29 Meeting between prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and CA Chairperson Subash Nemwang. Formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on the Disappeared along with the peace process is discussed.
Prime minister Baburam Bhattarai meets his own party vice-chairperson Mohan Vaidya who has been the most vocal opponent to his government and appeals for help in the peace process.
President Ram Baran Yadav and UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal discuss the peace and constitution-drafting process. The President expresses interest in the peace and constitution-drafting process.