Three-party task force meet begins

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 9 Dec. Six members of a task force of three main political parties met again Wednesday to prepare a recommendation to end a six-month political deadlock.
The meeting ended inconclusively Tuesday.
The task force has to submit a recommendation by Wednesday.
Major parties will have to make major concessions for an agreement.
Maoists are demanding a debate on a resolution in parliament condemning a ceremonial president for retaining sacked Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Ruling parties contend a ceremonial president can do no wrong.
The president acted on the request of 18 political parties.
nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“After Girababu’s tenure, the party’s responsibility will rest on my shoulders.”

(Sher Bahadur Deuba, Kantipur, 9 Dec.)

“The inner purpose for forming a high level political mechanism is to extend the deadline for promulgating a constitution or to come out with a document like a constitution within the 28 May 2010 deadline. The purpose is also to restore lost credibility of top party leaders and form a government of their liking.”

(Ghatana ra Bichar report, 9 Dec.)

‘He [Prachanda] feels threatened [while traveling outside the Valley]. It’s good to feel the threat.”

(Unnamed security official telling Janaastha Prachanda informs home ministry of travel plans outside Valley after an alert, 9 Dec.)

‘Don’t talk about this publicly. I am revealing this because you are party leaders. After Jhalanath Khanal’s request [to Indian leaders] not to mistrust Maoists after coming into the political mainstream, they presented some letters [exchanged between Indian and Nepali Maoists] for the mistrust.”

(Surya Bahadur Thapa, Nepal newsmagazine, 9 Dec.)

‘It’s our responsibility to prepare a draft [constitution] incorporating the recommendations and directives of the constituent assembly and concepts of subject committees. But we haven’t been entrusted any responsibility so far by completion of such committee discussions.”

(Chairman of main constitution drafting committee Nilambar Acharya, Nepal newsmagazine, 9 Dec.)
nnnn