The senior leaders of UCPN (M), Nepali Congress, and UML reached an agreement to carry out army integration as per the seven-point agreement and give the reasonability tot the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC). The meeting of AISC took place as Congress and UML maintained their position that unless there is progress on the peace process, constitution-drafting would not move forward. In the meeting, prime minister Bhattarai submitted the proposal for army integration. The AISC members from Congress and UML accused the prime minister’s proposal of being ‘against the seven-point agreement and prevalent acts and laws’. They also raised suspicion that the prime minister’s proposal might adversely affect the peace process.
There was no progress in another meeting of the AISC. Congress and UML leaders claimed that the prime minister proposal of ‘trying to create another army within the Army, the structure of the directorate not being correct, and rank and standards not confirming’. They argued that promoting by one rank and shortening the training period was against the seven-point agreement. Prime minister Bhattarai asked for some flexibility on the rank to be awarded during integration; however, Congress and UML did not budge from their position.
As Congress and UML were saying that the rank above major could not be given, UCPN (M) chairperson Dahal and prime minister Bhattarai held a meeting with the Maoist commanders. The commanders suggested that there should be no agreement below the rank of brigadier general. At the same time, there was a meeting of UCPN (M) vice-chairperson Mohan Vaidya faction; they accused the prime minister of dragging his feet for his resignation. The faction made preparations to demand for resignation of the prime minister. Meanwhile, former Maoist combatants held a national meeting in Dang, to which even the Dahal and Bhattarai faction raised their objections.
The Vaidya faction held a press conference in the name of United National People’s Struggle Committee and announced that if the prime minister does not resign immediately, it would launch a movement in the streets and the parliament. CP Gajurel, who is also the UCPN (M) secretary, warned that if the prime minister does not resign, it would bring a vote of no-confidence in the parliament. Gajurel also criticised chairperson Dahal accusing him of promising to seek the prime minister’s resignation and not doing anything about it.
The Vaidya faction also made public 20 points that should be included in the constitution. The demands included a directly elected executive president with proportional representation, autonomous regional governance with right to self-determination for the oppressed castes, constitution to be interpreted by and political issues to be resolved by a constitutional court, implementation of revolutionary land reforms with redistribution of land beyond a ceiling to the landless and homeless without compensation to the owners.
After the parties could not find consensus on disputed issues of the constitution, the Business Advisory Committee of the Constituent Assembly decided to extend the deadline by 10 at parties’ request. The Constitutional Committee had no business agenda. Prime minister Bhattarai, who has been expressing his commitment to peace and constitution-drafting, accused the parties of not helping him accomplish those tasks. As the parties could not reach consensus on peace and constitution-drafting, President Ram Baran Yadav called UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress president Sushil Koirala, UML chairperson Jhala Nath Khanal, and Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) to his residence Shital Niwas and inquired about the peace and constitution-drafting process. President Yadav asked the leaders to conclude the peace process and to work seriously to promulgate the constitution on time.
Major Development
March 11 |
The senior leaders of UCPN (M), Congress, and UML meet at Singha Durbar. Agreement to carry out integration as per the seven-point agreement. The leaders said that agreement has been reached to give the responsibility of integration to the AISC. |
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March 12 |
Meeting of the dispute resolution sub-committee of the Constitutional Committee. Discussion on the peace process and constitution-drafting. Congress and UML insist that constitution-drafting can only move ahead after peace process. The meeting is adjourned without entering any agenda. |
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March 13 |
Meeting of AISC. Congress and UML allege that the integration proposal of the prime minister Baburam Bhattarai is against the seven-point agreement, prevalent laws, and all the agreement till date. |
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March 14 |
Meeting of former Maoist combatants in Dang. UCPN (M) general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa claims that the meeting was held to centralise the People’s Liberation Army. |
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March 15 |
Meeting of UML parliamentary party decides to put pressure on the government to work on the peace and constitution-drafting process and directs its leaders not to go on foreign trips until the new constitution is promulgated. |
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March 16 |
Meeting of the Council of Ministers decides to give NRS 20 million to the 11-member team including the son of UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal. |
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March 17 |
President Ram Baran Yadav meets UCPN (M) chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Congress president Sushil Koirala, UML chairperson Jhala Nath Khanal, and Bijaya Kumar Gachhedar of UDMF at his residence Shital Niwas; asks them to work on the peace and constitution-drafting process on time. |
