Parties in talks to form mechanism

KATHMANDU, DEC 22 -
The major political parties have agreed in principle to form a powerful cross-party mechanism , involving the UCPN (Maoist) as a core member, to guide constitution-writing and the larger political process without infringing upon the Constituent Assembly’s jurisdiction.

Leaders say the mechanism will be one of the five components of a new political agreement which is currently being discussed. The proposed package deal aims to end the stalemate over the formation of a new government, convening the first meeting of the CA and bringing the UCPN (Maoist) on board constitution-writing.

The mechanism , they say, will be formed right after a new government is in place, the time when the High-level Political Committee (HLPC) will be dissolved.

Sources said the new cross-party body would fill the vacuum left by the HLPC and also address concerns that any political body outside the Assembly could raise. The decisions made by the mechanism need to be endorsed by the all-powerful Assembly.

“Negotiations are ongoing. All the major parties have agreed in principle to form a cross-party mechanism , save some differences. We hope to strike a deal within a week, paving the way for the first CA meeting,” said an NC leader. Though the NC, the CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist) have conceptual agreement to form the body, they are yet to agree on its mandate, leadership and jurisdiction.

The UCPN (Maoist) has claimed leadership of the mechanism arguing that since it would not join the government, having Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at its helm will ensure “amicable power-sharing necessary for drafting a constitution on time”.

In the first CA, Dahal led a cross-party mechanism called dispute-resolution subcommittee and the Maoist party wants a similar body in the new Assembly. According to leaders privy to the developments, the mechanism would try to accommodate the parties that are outside the government and the CA such as the CPN-Maoist that boycotted the polls.

“The new mechanism will not override the jurisdiction of the sovereign CA. Instead, it will guide the overall political process through all the hitches that may come across,” said UCPN (Maoist) leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

Unlike the rotational leadership model adopted for the HLPC, the new mechanism , the Maoist leaders have demanded, should have a permanent leader.

Shrestha said it might not be possible to settle all the contentious issues inside the CA, adding that the new mechanism should be a permanent one so that it will be able to take up key contentious issues.

NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat, however, said the mechanism should reflect the strength of the parties in the changed context.

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