PM Nepal continues consultations with party leaders

Kathmandu, 13 May: As the county heads towards a political crisis as it’s certain a constitution won’t be promulgated by the 28 May deadline, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal Thursday continued discussions with leaders of parties represented in the constituent assembly (CA), parliament.
He held discussions with leaders of seven more parties Thursday.
Nepal got the support of 10 parties Wednesday to extend the two-year tenure of the CA that ends in another 15 days through an 8th amendment to the interim constitution.
Two biggest ruling parties -Nepali Congress and UML—are agreed the CA tenure should be extended.
Main opposition Maoists haven’t taken an official decision.
NMKP Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya Wednesday called for presidential rule.
“The interim constitution which was signed by all parties has envisaged the presidential rule by imposing emergency. It’s constitutional,” the Bhaktapur-based communist splinter group leader said.
The parties wasted two years attempting mainly to seize and retain power
The constitution can’t be promulgated in another six months through an amendment to the interim constitution if fundamental differences between parties persist.
Maoists want the imposition of a communist system opposed by other parties.
The parties by agreeing to extend the CA tenure are usurping the right on people to elect assembly members regularly through elections.
A constitution has to be promulgated to institutionalize a republic declard by an unelected self-appointed parliament.
Premier Nepal heads a main committee to celebrate Republic Day for three days beginning 28May.
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Nepali Congress to recommend Girija Prasad Koirala replacement

Kathmandu, 13 May: The parliamentary party board of Nepali Congress meets Thursday to recommend a person to the vacant seat in the constituent assembly/parliament following the death of Grija Prasad Koirala.the name.
The central committee will meet later to endorse the recommendation.
Names of Manmohan Bhattarai, Sushil Bhandari and Ram Chandra Pokhrel have been recommended by Sher Bahadur Deuba, Sushil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel respectively, Kantipur reports.
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UNMIN mandate extended for four months

Kathmandu, 13 May: A meeting of the UN security council overnight in New York extended the mandate of the UNMIN for another four months until 15 September.
The government agreed only to a four-month extension the sixth time; previously, mandates were extended for six months.
Ruling parties aren’t happy with the working of UNMIN with Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari accusing it as a ‘tail’ of Maoists.
With the accusation, which UNMIN asked government to retract, UNMIN will find it difficult to operate in Nepal.
Government hasn’t retracted Bhandari’s charge.
Nepali Congress even pushed for taking Nepal Army off the observation list of UNMIN by reducing the mandate.
Government agreed to extend the mandate after heavy international pressure.
UNMIN is a front mainly of western donors.
Neither the Maoist combatants have been resettled in six months as envisaged in the comprehensive peace agreement not a constitution will be promulgated by the 28 May deadline.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“It is dangerous thing to argue that national consensus was impossible until the Maoist party is a civilian party. Nobody asked about our being civilian party when we led the government last year as it is clear that our party became a civilian party with the signing of the CPA and now we are the largest party through the election of the constituent assembly.”

(Chairman Prachanda, The Rising Nepal, 13 May)
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