Kathmandu: Top leaders in Nepal on Monday
moved closer to finalising a key draft resolution to be
introduced in the Parliament that would end the political
deadlock, which has derailed the peace process in the country,
a news report said.
Nepali Congress president G P Koirala, Unified CPN
(Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML chairman
Jhala Nath Khanal will meet tomorrow to finalize the draft of
a Common Resolution Motion in a bid end the current stand-off.
A meeting attended by Koirala, Prachanda Khanal today
at the Prime Minster's Office arrived at a decision to this
effect, nepalnews online said.
CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who is a member
of the three-party task-force to prepare the resolution
motion, said he was hopeful that the meeting of the top
leaders will be able to finalize the Common Resolution Motion.
The political parties are deadlocked over the Maoists'
demand to rectify the decision of President Ram Baran Yadav,
who reinstated General Rukmangad Katawal, the then Army Chief
dismissed by Maoists Prime Minister Prachanda in May.
The Maoists, who have around 40 percent of the seats
in parliament, argue that the president's move was
unconstitutional and has compromised "civilian supremacy" over
the military.
The Maoists have been adamant that the resolution
should categorically mention the "unconstitutional" decision
of the President, a move opposed the Nepali Congress and UML.
However, the Maoists have shown some flexibility and
want the resolution to symbolically state that the President's
move was "erroneous", the report said.
UCPN-Maoist leader Narayankaji Shrestha said told the
media that political parties are close to a breakthrough and
an agreement is likely tomorrow when the top leaders meet.
Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that
minor disagreements remain on the wording of a draft
resolution.
Political tensions have been high in Nepal since a
government led by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
resigned earlier this year amid a dispute with the nation's
president over the army chief's refusal to incorporate former
Maoist rebels fighters into the military.
The Maoist party has launched a month-long third phase
of its protest programmes from November 22 to December 22 for
the enforcement of "civilian supremacy" in the country.
The Maoists today stepped up pressure on the 22-party
coalition as it declared two new "autonomous" regions, taking
the total number to six in a bid to set up a parallel
government in the country.
UCPN-Maoist supremo Prachanda inaugurated the Sherpa
"autonomous" states in Solukhumbu as Maoist general secretary
Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal' opened the Kirat 'autonomous' region
in Khotang in eastern Nepal, according to a private
television.
The former rebels declared Kochila 'autonomous' region
and Limbuwan 'autonomous' regions yesterday after declaring
two other 'autonomous' regions on Friday.
The Maoists have also nominated the coordinators for
these 'autonomous' bodies in a bid to set up parallel
governments in the country, a move that could deepen the
political crisis. It has sparked fears that the unilateral
move of the Maoists could derail the fragile peace process,
which has already stalled due to the political crisis.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 14, 2009, 20:34