Prime Minister Changes Tack (25 September- 1 October)

The UCPN (M) on 25 August, 2011 had submitted a proposal with commitment to complete most of the activities of the peace process within 45 days if national government was formed under its leadership. Though there was no national government, the government was formed under the leadership of its vice-chairperson Baburam Bhattarai. After being elected prime minister, Bhattarai expressed his commitment to complete most of the works of the peace process within 45 days. Then keys to the containers holding arms were handed over, but the peace process could not move ahead.

During the 66th General Assembly of the United Nations, Bhattarai told the international community that he is focused on completing the peace process and drafting of the constitution. However, immediately upon his return, he changed his tenor. At the airport, he said, “I had said that most of the peace process would be completed 45 days after consensus between the political parties”. This statement of the prime minister was interpreted by the Nepali Congress, UML and other parties as the UCPN (M) and the prime minister backing away from its earlier commitment, and this created further mistrust between the government and the opposition parties, with no progress in the peace and constitution-drafting process

Meanwhile, the opposition parties demanded the resignations of the Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari who had said that the 22 Tarai districts could secede if they decided and Land Reforms Minister Prabhu Shah who was implicated in the murder of Kashinath Tiwari of Birgujng. The peace and constitution-drafting process took a backseat after the opposition parties escalated their protests against the ministers of being charged in a criminal case and having given statements against national integrity.

Major Developments

September 25	Nine central committee members of the Dalit Janajati Party submitted an application to the speaker Subash Nemwang demanding removal of Bishwendra Paswan from the CA saying that he has been removed from the post of the chairperson of the party. Rastriya Prajatantra Party issues a 6-point statement which concludes that the peace process has not made any progress due to government’s failure to create an atmosphere of trust, and demanding the return of the captured property by the UCPN(M), dissolution of the paramilitary structure of the YCL, fixing of the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated and announcement of rehabilitation package among others
September 26	Senior Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba warns that he will go against imposing of majority decision by party president Sushil Koirala. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai returns after attending the 66th General Assembly of the United Nations. He clarifies that he had never committed to complete the peace process alone within 45 days. He claims that it can be done within 45 days after consensus between parties. Nepali Congress and UML conclude that the prime minister changing the 45-day timeline on the peace and constitution-drafting process as continuation of UCPN (M) tendency of deceit and obfuscation. Defence Minster Sharat Singh Bhandari warns that the 22 districts of the Tarai could decide to secede. Prime Minster Bhattarai clarifies that the internal disputes within the UCPN (M) will not have any effect on the peace and constitution-drafting process. Meeting between Prime Minister Bhattarai and CA Chairperson Subash Nemwang. Prime commits to try to gain consensus among parties regarding peace and constitution-drafting process.
September 27	Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai intensifies political meetings. He separately meets the President Ram Baran Yadav, UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, vice-chair Mohan Vaidya, and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala. UML demands immediate removal of Defence Minster Sharat Singh Bhandari and Land Reforms Minister Prabhu Shah.
September 28	Nepali Congress senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba resigns from the central committee membership after no resolution on the dissolution of the working committees of the sister organisations. Mohan Vaidya faction of UCPN (M) launches street protests demanding removal of the Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari. Senior leaders of Nepali Congress and UCPN (M) meet at the prime minister’s residence in Baluwatar and decide to complete the peace process soon.
September 29	Meeting of the standing committee of the UCPN (M) requests not to interpret statement of the Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari with the four-point agreement reached during the government formation. Meeting of the Council of Ministers. Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari clarifies that he could not even think of against national unity, integrity and sovereignty. MJF-D holds a press conference and defends Bhandari’s statement as being flawed in language and presentation but not in its substance. UML chairperson Jhala Nath Khanal returns from India trip, stresses formation of national government to complete peace and constitution-drafting process.
September 30	Vaidya faction of UCPN (M) takes out torch rallies in various places in country demanding the resignation of Defence Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari.
October 1	UCPN (M) chairperson states that the peace and constitution-drafting process should be used as preparation for a new revolution and class struggle. He says that the present transition should be completed successfully to achieve the goals of socialism.