SUMMIT OF BIG THREE TO BEGIN SHORTLY

LEADERS ARRIVE FOR SUMMIT OF BIG THREE; FRESH UPDATE ON CRISIS

By Bhola B Rana


Kathmandu, 28 May: Leaders of the Big Three—UCPN (Maoist), NC and UML have arrived at the International Convention for a tripartite summit meet.
Bodies of the three parties earlier chalked out their positions for inter-party talks
Maoists and UML maintained their respective positions with NC demanding implementation of a 10-point demand described as the party’s “bottom-line”
.NC is demanding surrender of Maoist weapons and formation of a national government with the inclusion of their party.
A meeting of UML standing committee that has just concluded decided to present ‘four to five alternatives’, according to Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam without going into specifics.
‘The ball is in the NC court,” Maoist woman leader Hishila Yami said after a party standing committee. meeting.
Parliament hasn’t met even six after its schedule.
Speaker Subash Nemwang hasn’t announced a business schedule yet for Saturday’s session
”Weapons exchanged for blood won’t be easily stored. If that’s the feeling, it won’t happen,” Prachanda told a public meeting in the capital Thursday.
At least 7,000 police have been deployed around the assembly hall in Naya Baneshwore declared a prohibited area where demonstrations and public meetings have been banned.
Thousands of RPP-Nepal activists and youth affiliated with the UML heading the government have converged in Naya Baneshwore for different purposes.
RPP-Nepal is demanding assembly dissolution while UML youth are pressing for completion of the peace process and constitution drafting.
President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav asked Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal at a meeting Saturday urged national understanding for a resolution.
The one=year extended tenure of the constituent assembly concludes in less that 10 hours at midnight Saturday.
No outlet to what has been described as a crisis by Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal has been found yet.
nnnn