PRESIDENT ASKSS LAWMAKERS TO ASSEMBLE CONSENSUS GOVT. BY 21 AUG.

PRESIDENT ASKS PARTIES TO ASSEMBLE CONSENSUS GOVT. BY 21 AUG. UPDATE

Kathmandu, 14 Aug.: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav asked political parties in parliament to assemble a consensus government by five in the afternoon 21 August, Shital Niwas announcement said Monday.
Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal resigned Sunday night.
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DEUBA SUPPORTERS ASSEMBLE AT HIS RESIDENCE BEFORE NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST PAUDEL UPDATE

Kathmandu, 14 Aug.: Supporters of Sher Bahadur Deuba gathered at the residence of the three-time former prime minister as they prepare to register a no-confidence against parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Paudel later Monday.
The faction claimed majority support of at least majority 59 of 114 NC lawmakers to oust Paudel and claim the party candidacy for prime minister to succeed Jhalanath Khanal.
Party President Sushil Koirala has asked Deuba not to press the no-confidence motion in the parliamentary party meet.
Neutral NC lawmakers are attempting a last-minute resolution to the Deuba/Paudel tussle.
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FOUR MEMBERS OF AMLYFOUNDDEAD DIN BHIMDUTTA MUNICIPALITY IN KANCHANPUR
Kathmandu, 14 Aug.: Bodies of four members of a family were found at a ward in Bhimdutta municipality in Kanchanpur Monday.
It wasn’t known immediately if the family members from four to fifty years committed suicide by taking poison or were poisoned
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UNDER POLICE PROTECTION CONTRACTORS FILE TENDER AMID MAOIST THREAT
kathmandu, 14 Aug.: With the police providing security to contractors seeking file tender for the construction of a 24-km road linking Kamidada and Taldhunga, an intense competition among contractors for the contract has begun, Manoj Basnet writes in The Kathmandu Post from Kavrepalanchowk.
The proposed road comes under the Rural Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Sector Development Programme (RRRSDP).
After contractors complained of threats against filing the tender, police had been mobilised in large numbers on the District Development Committee premises. The RRRSDP invited tenders for the project worth Rs 230 million a month ago.
After failing in their attempt to grab the contract, bidders having Maoist connections mounted pressure on other bidders on Friday to withdraw their application forms.
There had been an internal agreement between the Maoist-aligned contractors and Maoist leaders to ensure the contract went to the former and that the latter would get five percent of the total tender amount for constructing a party building, according to sources.
The deadline for filing the tender was Sunday noon. Given the police presence, several contractors filed the tender within two hours.
An additional 35 applications were registered within two hours on Sunday, according to Ramesh Rijal, an employee at the District Technical Office. According to him, a total of 50 tender applications and 30 related to rate amendment were registered. Only 15 tender applications were registered on Friday following the threat.
The District Technical Office had sold a total of 118 tender application forms.
Pradeep Bogati, a bidder said that with the police providing security, they could register their bid confidently.
District Police Office Chief, Deputy Superintendent of Police Surendra Prasad Mainali, said, “Contractors have filed the tender with confidence after police security.”
“Now, the participation of several contractors in the tender process has created a competitive environment, while it will bring down the cost of the project,” he added.
A total of 150 police personnel were mobilised in and around the site, while additional personnel were also called in from the Bagmati Zonal Police Office.
Police checked all vehicles entering Kavre district at Panauti, Sanga, Saraswoti Bazaar and the crossroad leading to Bhakunde Besi and Khawa.
“We had not imagined that the submission of the tenders would be done so easily,” Rijal said.
Recalling past experiences when goons used to block them from entering the office and pressure them, he said, “We could work confidently today and the local administration did a commendable job.” He said it was probably the first time that so many bidders had participated in the tender process.
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MONDAY INTERVIEW

The Constituent Assembly is set to expire on August 31. No substantial progress has been made on the peace and constitution process in accordance with the five-point deal made on May 28 to justify yet another tenure. The opposition parties are clamouring for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal’s resignation, while the ruling coalition seems divided on the political course. Amid this chaos, the resounding rhetoric has been about the need to form a national consensus government. After weeks of deliberation and bitter infighting among different factions, the Maoists have unanimously endorsed party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai as its prime ministerial candidate. Bidushi Dhungel and John Narayan Parajuli of The Kathmandu Post spoke with Bhattarai about the state of intra-, inter-party negotiations, issues in the peace process, and his relations with Dahal. Excerpts:
What stands between parties in the formation of a national consensus government?
Talks are going on between major political parties for forming a national consensus government to complete the tasks of peace and constitution. So far, progress has been positive. We need a few days to take a concrete decision.
Are the Maoists holding out on progress in the peace process for leadership of the next government?
Absolutely not. The questions of peace, constitution and a consensus government are interrelated. Peace and constitution drafting are the goals, and in order to achieve them, we need a national consensus government as the means. That’s all we’ve been saying for a long time.
So the Maoists are flexible insofar as the leadership is concerned?
There must be a national consensus government. That is the basic principle of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. We followed this principle until the CA elections. But when the Maoists came out as the largest party, other political forces found it difficult to digest this reality. They insisted on changing the provision for consensus to majority government. And for the last three years we experimented with three majority governments, all failing to deliver on peace and constitution. Now, with this bitter experience, we must move to a national consensus government.
Easier said than done. But what about the government leadership?
In a national consensus government, the largest party leads. That’s the basic principle. And the Maoists are not only the largest party, but are more than twice as big as the second largest party in the CA. Maoist leadership should be a naturally accepted position. There have been debates, but we hope ultimately our position will be accepted. Also, since we are the major stakeholders in the peace process, it will be easier to implement the peace process. It is only logical.
In run-up to the last extension, the parties, including the Maoists made a commitment to the people for progress on the peace process by August 31. Only a few weeks remain till the deadline, and very little has been done.
All the parties made commitments, not just
the Maoists; all parties must cooperate. We can only have peace if all sides cooperate. On our part, we are looking for an honourable solution
to the integration process. We want the ex-PLA to be integrated into the security forces. Various proposals have been floated. We are ready to sit down and negotiate.
So what’s stopping the peace process from moving forward?
There are two things: one is a difference in approach to the whole idea of integration among parties. And the second is mutual distrust.
What can be done to remove this trust deficit?
Different parties will have different ideologies but we need to agree to work together for the common good of the country. And if we all honestly honour the past agreements, I think we can definitely remove our prejudices. On our part, we need solid commitments on past agreements and that will create a conducive atmosphere to move ahead.
So the relationship between parties is improving?
Yes. There has been an increasing realisation between leaders that if we fail on peace and constitution, we will all be the losers, so all parties and leaders are making a sincere attempt now.
Describe your relations with your party leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
In a democratic, radical communist party, debates are natural. We believe in the process of dialectical materialism, and struggle and transformation goes on; giving life to the party. As for my personal relations with Chairman Prachanda, they were already cordial. Though we debate at times, we agree on ideology and political lines.
Are you fully confident that your party Chairman is behind you in your bid for the premiership?
Yes, my party Chairman is fully behind me. I am 100 per cent sure. I have been assured and reassured time and again and I believe him.
There is a public perception that in the last few months that you have compromised on your ideals and made a tactical alliance with the hard-line faction of the party for the post of prime minister
That is totally false. As a person, I have never aspired for any post. My goals are to complete the peace and constitution process and to turn Nepal into a prosperous and developed country. For these, I am ready to work in any capacity; I don’t need any post. So our internal party debate was never based on this—it was on what the party line should be. I have always believed in the line of peace and constitution. This is something that I have been consistent with, unlike other leaders. I said that a democratic radical communist party must follow the idea of collective leadership— this was another issue of debate in the party. But after the last Central Committee meet in July, we have agreed on peace and constitution under a collective leadership. I am very happy with that.
Are you the new PM then?
My party has put forward my name as a candidate for the PM of a national consensus government and if the opportunity is granted, I am ready to serve. But I don’t aspire to it personally, just for the sake of the post. But if I can deliver on peace and constitution, then I’m ready to take the position.
How will your prime ministership be different to the past three ones?
Because this government will be a national consensus government. We will take all the parties into confidence and win over the confidence of the international community as well. It will be fundamentally different to the past governments.
And for the average Nepali, how will your leadership be different?
Nepali people face poverty, unemployment, degradation, gender inequality and so forth.
These need to be addressed. But for this, first, we need political stability. And for stability, we need to finish the peace and constitution process
to prepare ground for future economic development. But in the meantime, we can offer the people some temporary relief measures from price hikes, corruption and other issues that affect the people on a daily basis.
Some say you are a deeply ideological communist leader
I thought I was perceived to be the opposite. As (Finance) minister, many were apprehensive earlier about whether my policies would be socialist and unfit for market economies. But I tried to strike a balance between the private and public sectors and in fact prioritised the private sector in accordance to the stage of capitalism that Nepal is in, not the future socialist stage.
What about issues in the peace process— how should it be expedited?
On the issue of integration, there is no misunderstanding within the party. We believe there should be integration. Those that choose rehabilitation and discharge should be given an honourable package and those that are fit to for the security forces, and fulfil the standard norms of the security forces should be integrated into the Army. We are ready to discuss on the complete norms, package, numbers, ranking and we are ready to move forward with the process as soon as possible.
Are the disqualified combatants being supported by the Maoist party and being used as a bargaining chip?
That is totally false. In fact, we suspect that
there are certain people; unscrupulous
international elements and local NGO’s that have instigated these people against our cause. We want to clarify this.
What’s your verdict on this current government?
I don’t want to blame anybody. A majoritarian government cannot deliver. It is not a matter of personality, but of system. If I was leader of majoritarian government, I would have met the same fate. That’s why we need a national unity government.
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