PM ALSO SAYS TIME FOR UNITY GOVT.

PM ALSO SAYS TIME TO FORM UNITY GOVT.
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.:Stating that there has been considerable progress in the peace process in recent days, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai on Saturday proposed top leaders of the three major parties to begin forming a national unity government.
In a meeting among the three parties—UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML—at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, Bhattarai emphasised on the need of a national consensus government to complete the peace and constitution making processes.
He said the scrapping of the Cabinet’s decision to legalise conflict-era property transactions, the farewell of Maoist combatants opting for voluntary retirement and the letter sent by the government to
the Nepal Army to begin the integration process, all have created an atmosphere conducive to national consensus.
While the PM’s proposal was not discussed in detail by leaders of the ruling and opposition parties in the hour-long meeting, Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said the parties are still divided on the candidate who would lead a national unity government. “The prime minister put forth a proposal for national unity government. He says such a government should be led by him and I say that it should be under me,” Poudel told reporters.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said his party wants to see the peace process concluded and that there has not been much discussions on the change of guard. “The trust level between the parties has increased after the government sent a letter to the Army with the seven-point agreement and the decision of the special committee as the basis,” Sitaula said. “We have taken it positively and we expect that the integration process will start before the end of Falgun (March 13).”
The three-party meeting focused on extending the deadline for the resolution of outstanding issues of constitution making. Parties have decided to request Constituent Assembly Chairman Subas Nembang to revise the calendar that stipulates that all contentious issues be resolved by Sunday. As per the current schedule, the parties must refer contentious issues like federalism, forms of governance and judiciary for a majority vote in the CA from Monday.
Talking to reporters, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said discussions among the parties were positive, in the sense that they will help promulgate the new constitution within the May 27 deadline.
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said parties will seek a month-long extension of the deadline to resolve contentious issues of constitution making. In Saturday’s meeting, leaders agreed not to refer the issues for a majority vote.
“That will be a wrong option and will only encourage parties to take their positions. We cannot complete constitution making if we deal with intricate issues on the basis of majority and minority,” Sitaula said.
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TALKS ON UNITY GOVT. GAIN MOMENTUM
Kathmandu, 12 Feb.: Discussions on forming a national unity government are finally picking up some pace, although uncertainty about its leadership and composition persists. Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai feels that progress in the peace process has vindicated his position—making him the ideal candidate to lead an all-party government, Kamal Deb Bhattarai writes in The Kathmandu Post..
But the Maoist hardliners want to see him exit Baluwatar for failing to implement party policies. UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, whose views will ultimately set the course, has flip-flopped as to who should lead the next government.
Despite some confusion, the political parties seemed to have arrived at a stage where they see common interest in forging a power-sharing agreement as the country enters the final phase of peace and constitution-drafting processes.
“The country is headed towards formation of a national consensus government irrespective of which party or individual leads such government,” said Haribol Gajurel, a Dahal loyalist.
The ongoing Standing Committee (SC) meeting is making effort to articulate a clear position on leadership of the national consensus government. Saturday’s meeting ended inconclusively as the hardliners demanded the PM pronto.
A Bhattarai supporter said Dahal has neither fully backed the present government nor openly spoken about PM’s resignation. “Dahal has not paid any attention towards transforming the present government into a national consensus one,” said a top leader close to Bhattarai. Dahal’s dedicated effort, the Bhattarai camp says, will bring the NC into the incumbent government.
Maoist Politburo member Haribol Gajurel said the issue of change of government could be decided only after consultations with other parties. “Dahal has begun a process to form a national consensus government realising that without such government, peace and constitution cannot be concluded,” he said. On Friday, SC members urged Dahal to make a clear position on government change in consultation with the opposition and Madhes-based parties. The Maoists are holding talks with Madhesi parties on Sunday.
Lack of clarity within the Maoists has had a knock on effect on the position of other parties too. Though publicly Nepali Congress leaders appear unwilling to change the government now, they are pitching for either leading or joining the government as peace process inches closer to an “irreversible point.” Madhesi parties have started lobbying for a consensus government, provided that there is a clear agreement on the
leadership.
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