Only Maoist draft of constitution being announced 29 May: Prachanda

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 May: One day before a crucial meeting of the Maoist central committee to finalize the main opposition plans to meet a constitutional and political crisis, Chairman Prachanda said Friday the party was only making public details of the party’s proposed constitution for a republic and federal structure.
He denied Maoists were proclaiming the proposed constitution from the streets Saturday one day after the two-year mandate of the constituent assembly (CA) ends without announcing a basic law to institutionalize an already announced republic.
Maoist leaders had previously said the constitution would be proclaimed from the street.
Prachanda prepared his political report to be presented at the central committee meeting Friday during a two-day retreat at a Dhulikhel resort.
A national security council meeting Friday asked the government to put all security forces, including Nepal Army on high alert, to meet any possible crisis following the failure of parties to promulgate a constitution within by 28 May.
“Government should be prepared to deal with any situation,” Home Minister Bhim Rawal said after the council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.
The council discussed handling the impending crisis as it concluded a constitutional and political crisis will ensue following a failure to promulgate a constitution.
The council concluded violence could break out after 28May.
Chairman Prachanda Thursday rejected government ruling party demands to fix the number of Maoists to be integrated in government security forces as part of a package solution.
“Fixing a figure isn’t possible,” he told reporters in Kavre asking,” Where in the knot” which has first to be ‘untied’.
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“The Upshot: This will [constitution proposed by Maoists that won’t be promulgated 28 May] will be Nepal’s first constitution to acknowledge with great pride the country’s status as a dictatorship.”

(Maila Baje, Nepali Netbook, 20 May)

“ Before western powers preach how Nepal should conduct its affairs, it would do them a lot more good if they find a way to get out of Afghanistan and Iraq besides strengthening their economic. As for India, with all its influence in Nepal, that is could not cajole the parties into writing a constitution and bring the peace process to a logical conclusion in time shows just how easy it is to preach but difficult to do things,”

(B Pun, The Rising Nepal, 20 May)

“It’s also the government’s responsibility to maintain diplomatic decorum. When the government shamelessly shakes the hands of foreigners considering it successful diplomacy, it’s natural for diplomats to offer advice. That’ss what is happening in Nepal right now. This is the result of our failure to resolve issues through talks.”

(Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani, Gorkhapatra, 20 May)
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