Four leading parties discuss committee formation amid differences

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 24 Oct: Amid deep differences, leaders of three ruling parties Friday started a dialogue to form a government committee to coordinate activities between ruling coalition.
The Nepali Congress leaders also joined the CPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Madesh Tarai Janatantrik Forun (MTJF) to form another committee to discuss integration of PLA with PLA opposed by non-Maoist parties.
Maoists are pushing the candidature of their senior leader Mohan Baidya Kiran for the job of coordinator of the ruling coalition while CPN-UML is pushing the candidacy of former General-Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal.
CPN-UML, MTJF along with the Nepali Congress oppose the mass integration of the PLA is the committee that, according to the constitution, must include the main opposition.
Maoists insist there’s a clear provision for integration in past agreements and the constitution denied by other parties.
The differences cropped up because of the vague agreements signed by seven parties with Maoists in an effort to get the former rebels into the political mainstream in 2005.
Nepali Congres leaders Tuesday vehemently opposed propose integration.
‘We suspect Maoists have support of neighbouring China for this [appointing Nanda Kishore Pun Army chief.]…. We object to it,” Chief Whip Shovakar Parajuli said.
He said Maoists are planning to send the chief of the PLA to China for an officer level training to prepare his for the job.
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba even claimed there’s no mention of integration in agreements and only words ‘security agencies’ have been used.
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Former king, Koirala meet?

Kathmandu, 24 Oct: Former King Gyanendra and Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala have met twice for discussions and on Monday at Nirmal Nibas for a feast, Nepalpatra reports.
The meetings took place against the backdrop of Koirala’s claim the former king and Chairman Prachanda could together.
The leader who considered the king and the army enemies of democracy and signed an agreement for integration of two armies is now shedding crocodile for the army.
Political pundits say the meetings are an attempt to improve relations.
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Cart before the horse, govt. UNMIN signing agreement

Kathmandu, 24 Oct: Twenty-one months after UMNIN came to facilitate the peace process government and the NN agreed last week to sign an status of mission agreement, Annapurna Post reports.
The agreement has been sent to the cabinet for approval.
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