Big 3 to iron out issues in HLPC meet
KATHMANDU, DEC 11 -
Three major political parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)—have agreed to resolve all issues, including demands put forth by the Maoist party, through the High-Level Political Committee ( HLPC ).
In a meeting on Tuesday at the Office of the Peace Trust Fund at Babarmahal here, top leaders of the three parties agreed to revive the HLPC , a cross-party mechanism formed before the formation of the Khil Raj Regmi
government.
The parties agreed to hold the first post-election meeting of the mechanism on Wednesday, and the leaders said they will look into the Maoist demands for an independent probe into alleged election irregularities, amendment of the Interim Constitution to revive consensus politics and a renewed commitment to the 12-point understanding reached in 2005.
The parties are likely to keep intact the representation of Madhes-based parties in the HLPC , irrespective of their reduced strength in the new CA this time.
After the November 19 election, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) has emerged the fourth largest party, leaving behind all Madhes parties.
However, the major parties are unlikely to welcome the RPP-N in the political mechanism.
The HLPC , according to leaders, will remain a “legitimate political body” until the first meeting of the CA.
“Parties that played a vital role as members in the HLPC in the past will attend tomorrow’s meeting, irrespective of their strength in the new CA,” NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula told the Post.
Hinting at the likely exclusion of the RPP-N in the mechanism, Sitaula said, “Some new parties (that have now emerged strong) should take the upcoming HLPC meeting positively as it is being held to create an environment conducive to convening the CA.”
Cross-party leaders said the HLPC has been revived by keeping in mind the need for an all-party consensus to amend the Constitution to call the first meeting of the CA. Article 69 of the constitution states that the prime minister will call the first meeting within 21 days of the final election results.
As the government is now chaired by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, who is not a prime minister, the government is preparing to amend the constitution so the head of state can call the CA meeting.
The UCPN (Maoist) has objected to such a move, and is saying that such an amendment should be made after addressing its demands.
While NC leaders said the Maoist demands must be addressed in the CA, according to Sitaula, the demands for probe into alleged election fraud and statute amendment to revive consensus politics are unlikely to be addressed.
Sitaula said drafting a new constitution on time is not possible without cooperation among the major parties.
“The UCPN (Maoist) is a signatory to the 12-point understanding and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and as such, the NC is ready to take the party into confidence,” Sitaula said.
“Parties have agreed to discuss all contentious issues in the HLPC , while there has not been any positive development so far,” said senior UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
Three major political parties—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and UCPN (Maoist)—have agreed to resolve all issues, including demands put forth by the Maoist party, through the High-Level Political Committee ( HLPC ).
In a meeting on Tuesday at the Office of the Peace Trust Fund at Babarmahal here, top leaders of the three parties agreed to revive the HLPC , a cross-party mechanism formed before the formation of the Khil Raj Regmi
government.
The parties agreed to hold the first post-election meeting of the mechanism on Wednesday, and the leaders said they will look into the Maoist demands for an independent probe into alleged election irregularities, amendment of the Interim Constitution to revive consensus politics and a renewed commitment to the 12-point understanding reached in 2005.
The parties are likely to keep intact the representation of Madhes-based parties in the HLPC , irrespective of their reduced strength in the new CA this time.
After the November 19 election, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP-N) has emerged the fourth largest party, leaving behind all Madhes parties.
However, the major parties are unlikely to welcome the RPP-N in the political mechanism.
The HLPC , according to leaders, will remain a “legitimate political body” until the first meeting of the CA.
“Parties that played a vital role as members in the HLPC in the past will attend tomorrow’s meeting, irrespective of their strength in the new CA,” NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula told the Post.
Hinting at the likely exclusion of the RPP-N in the mechanism, Sitaula said, “Some new parties (that have now emerged strong) should take the upcoming HLPC meeting positively as it is being held to create an environment conducive to convening the CA.”
Cross-party leaders said the HLPC has been revived by keeping in mind the need for an all-party consensus to amend the Constitution to call the first meeting of the CA. Article 69 of the constitution states that the prime minister will call the first meeting within 21 days of the final election results.
As the government is now chaired by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, who is not a prime minister, the government is preparing to amend the constitution so the head of state can call the CA meeting.
The UCPN (Maoist) has objected to such a move, and is saying that such an amendment should be made after addressing its demands.
While NC leaders said the Maoist demands must be addressed in the CA, according to Sitaula, the demands for probe into alleged election fraud and statute amendment to revive consensus politics are unlikely to be addressed.
Sitaula said drafting a new constitution on time is not possible without cooperation among the major parties.
“The UCPN (Maoist) is a signatory to the 12-point understanding and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and as such, the NC is ready to take the party into confidence,” Sitaula said.
“Parties have agreed to discuss all contentious issues in the HLPC , while there has not been any positive development so far,” said senior UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
0 comments
Write Down Your Responses