MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEET INCONCLUSIVE

MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEET INCONCLUSIVE; DEVELOPMENT COULD AFFECT OTHER SCHEDULED MEETINGS

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 13 March: The first of three scheduled meetings Tuesday break deadlocks in concluding the peace and constitution process was inconclusive
Meetings of the main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya was postpone indefinitely without a breakthrough as parties maintained their
previous party position.
Acharya said categorically Monday a constitution won’t be promulgated by the
fresh 28 May deadline.
Tuesday was the last day 1-day time extension sought by political players, including the Big Three, to come to an agreement on articles to be included in a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic.
Speaker Subash Nemwang has also convened a meeting of party leaders and whips of political parties in parliament to discuss how and where to send a report of a government appointed state reorganization commission that has suggested a federal; structure to replace a unitary state formed by King Prithvi Narayan Shah.
The commission has made two separate suggestions without an agreement of a
federal structure.
The speaker and parties are toying with an idea to circumvent constitutionally
established procedure to pass a basis law within the deadline as Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattarai has threatened another round of bloodshed claiming more than 50,000 lives f a constitution isn’t announced.
Opposition leader Kamal Thapa has predicted a military takeover either by Maoists
who still have an army but in camps or the state forces after 28 May without a constitution.
A special committee of Maoist fighter integration meets late afternoon to discuss drafting 6,500 former combatants in state army.
The differences at the main constitution drafting committee could affect the day’s last meeting which will be informed 13 of 28 satellite camps housing more than 9,900 fightrs have been closed. by a secretariat under the special committee chaired ex-officio
by the premier.
Opposition have opposed Maoist demand for immediate integration of Maoist
combatants and instead demanded implementation of past promises and pledges by Maoists as well.
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13 APF PERSONNEL INJURED

Kathmandu,13 March: Thirteen Armed Police Force (APF) personnel were injured at Sundarpur in Morang as they were proceeding to Jhapa for a training exercise.
Three are serious.
The vehicle lost control as the driver attempted to save a bullock cart.
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