Talks between HLPC, CPN-M bloc flounder

KATHMANDU, AUG 25 -
The third round of talks between the High-level Political Committee (HLPC) and the CPN-Maoist-led 33-party alliance broke down on Saturday after the poll-opposing bloc proposed reversing the ongoing political course. The talks were held to forge consensus on the modality and agenda of a round-table conference, another demand being raised by the alliance.

The bloc renewed its calls for the Khil Raj Regmi government to step down and postponement of the Constituent Assembly election scheduled for November 19. The HLPC rejected outright the demands, saying that they cannot reverse the election course.

With Saturday’s development, the chances of parties sitting for a round-table, on which the HLPC had agreed in principle, appears slim, at least for now.

In the talks , the alliance proposed formation of a party-led government, setting a new election date, settling contentious issues of the new constitution and fixing the procedures of constitution-drafting as prime agendas of the proposed round-table. It also said all political parties in the dissolved CA, the agitating parties and representatives of other stakeholders concerned should be invited in the conference.

HLPC leaders termed the demands ‘tough.’ “Talks were inconclusive and there is no meaning in holding discussions with them (alliance partners) as they want the election to be deferred,” CPN-UML leader Raghuji Panta said after the meeting.

Cross-party leaders say the planned election will be adversely affected if the HLPC ponders over the demands. Talks between the alliance and the government had floundered last week after the latter rejected the parties’ demand to cancel the entire poll process.

“The HLPC has made a historic blunder by rejecting our demands,” said CPN-Maoist Secretary Dev Gurung.

On Friday, Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal held extensive discussions with CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya, while on Saturday, UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with Baidya. However, in the these informal meetings, Baidya gave a clear message that his bloc is not going to join the election process under the current circumstances, according to leaders.

In Saturday’s HLPC meeting, NC and UML leaders said there is no meaning in holding a round-table conference as the CPN-Maoist will not join the election.

According to political observers, chances of an agreement between the two sides appear slim, given the fact that the HLPC wants to hold the polls by any means in November.

“Negotiations should, however, continue because the 33-party alliance has just presented it’s bottom-line,” said political analyst Muma Ram Khanal. He said the HLPC is also not in the mood to postpone the polls. Observers say the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal (MJF-N) led by Upendra Yadav gave up several of its demands and came to an agreement as it knew the HLPC will not postpone the polls, no matter what.

Cross-party Leaders said the doors for talks is always open, but that they will not wait for the CPN-Maoist and let the scheduled election suffer. The HLPC now plans to ask the government to initiate process of removing constitutional hurdles as per an agreement with the MJF-N, which states that there will now be a 601-seat CA. The HLPC also plans to hold ‘decisive talks ’ with the Federal Socialist Party Nepal on Sunday and wrap up the talks .

33 parties left fuming

ROSHAN SEDHAI

Accusing the major political forces of violating the latest agreement to hold an all-party round-table conference, the 33-party alliance led by the CPN-Maoist on Saturday warned of stern protests if the big parties shy away from pushing for talks .

The alliance has called for a  rethink on the High-level Political Committee decision to shun the talks and urged the parties to create conducive environment for fresh national consensus.

Earlier in the day, the HLPC refused to sit for the round-table conference in response to the alliance’s clamour for making the November 19 election and the Khil Raj Regmi-led government the agendas of the conference. The major parties are saying the poll date postponement and government replacement are non-negotiable issues.

Organising a press conference, the alliance threatened to come up with stern anti-election activities if they were sidelined. Baidya said an abrupt refusal to hold the conference came as a surprise and suspected “foreign hands” behind it.  “General public witnessed dramatic political developments in the past few weeks. The big parties and their leaders were willing to move ahead as per consensus. It’s unfortunate that things could not move ahead now,” Baidya told reporters at the programme.

He said the unexpected turn of events in the last days generated a sudden optimism and permission among the public while maintaining that his party had shown flexibility for the conference unlike the four parties.

“We showed necessary flexibility by putting the election date and the government as agendas for the conference from our earlier stance of deferring the polls and replacing the government. The alliance is ready to accept the decision of the conference and move ahead accordingly,” said Baidya. An internal meeting of the alliance has agreed to prioritise talks and engage in anti-polls activities simultaneously. A leader of a fringe party said they discussed to come up with protests soon to press the government and the big parties.

“We are not against the election. Our anti-poll activities aim at making the four parties and the government honest towards the talks ,” said Pasang Sherpa, chairman of the Social Democratic Party. Some CPN-Maoist Central Committee members, however, said their party will quit the election  unless the entire political course is altered by announcing a new poll date only after forming a political government. They said talks is one of the strategies of the party to foil the polls.

Labels: Highlight, News