PRESIDENT EXPRESSES REGRET AND CONCERN AT ‘UNEXPECTED CA DISSOLUTION’ Kathmandu, 28 May : President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has extended best wishes to all the Nepalis in the country and abroad on Monday on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the republican political system by the Country, RSS reports. He has also paid tributes to the known and unknown martyrs who gave up their life in course of the struggle for liberation from feudal culture and autocratic rule and for establishing the democratic republic. "The unexpected dissolution of the Constituent Assembly constituted after a big struggle and sacrifice is a matter of serious concern and regret for all of us," the President stated in his message, adding- our six decades old dream of making Nepal even more peaceful, graceful and prosperous through a democratic constitution framed by the representatives of the people has again remained incomplete and all have felt disheartened with the constitution not coming from the Constituent Assembly even in four years. There is no alternative to steering the country´s politics ahead on the path of democracy by making an evaluation of the shortcomings in the past. In this context, the Interim Constitution, 2007 shall also guide us in the days ahead. I expect that our political forces and individuals would remain specially conscious in the coming days realizing the reality that the democratic achievements made from time to time in the past could not be institutionalized and consolidated, the President said. "The country has already internalized achievements and features such as the republic, the inclusive democratic system of governance, federalism and secularism secured through the People´s Movement 2006/07 and the Interim Constitution, 2007, and no one can go back from these achievements," the Head of the State said in the message, making special plea to all the people in the country to maintain mutual brotherhood and social goodwill in society and the nation at this hour of political transition. Nnnn ________________________________________ PRESIDENT SAYS HE’LL PLAY NECESSARY ROLE Kathmandu, 28 May:: President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said Monday that he would take necessary steps after holding consultations regarding the recommendation of the Prime Minister to go for a fresh Constituent Assembly elections, Ram Prasad Dahal writes in The Rising Nepal.. Speaking with the leaders of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, ruling Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Loktantrik and Rastiya Janashakti Party after the dissolution of the CA and the government’s announcement of fresh elections, the President said that he would do the needful after looking into the matters. "I heard your views. I will play necessary role after studying the matters," NC vice president Ram Chandra Poudel quoted the President as saying. Sources at Shital Niwas said that the President objected to the procedures to announce the elections and appraise the President of the move before the expiry of the CA. Poudel, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat and Prakash Man Singh from the Nepali Congress, chairman Jhalanath Khanal, Madhav Kumar Nepal, K. P. Oli, Bidhya Bhandari and Agni Kharel from UML, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani from Rastriya Janashakti Party, Uprendra Yadav of MJF-Nepal, Sarat Singh Bhandari of MJF-Loktantrik met the President to complain about the government’s election move. The leaders asked the President to remove Dr. Baburam Bhattarai from the post of Prime Minister as the interim constitution 2007 had no provision to have a prime minister who is not a member of parliament. "The constitution should be amended before announcing the CA elections. But the PM announced elections without making the amendment," Poudel said. The election announcement is unconstitutional and irrelevant. The PM has lost legal authority to continue in office, he added. CPN-UML chief Khanal said that PM Dr. Bhattarai’s move was against democracy. "On what basis was the election announced at a time when we have no Election Act?" he questioned. "It was an intention to spread anarchy in the society." Khanal said that they would seek constitutional and political remedies to oust Prime Minister. Likewise, Upendra Yadav said that the decision to announce election was unconstitutional as the PM announced it when the CA term was yet to expire. "It is the Maoist ploy to capture the state power," he said. The leaders issued a joint statement asking the PM to step down to give a way out to the country. What the leaders said Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ (10 pm, Singha Durbar, after 3-party meet) Now we are running out of time. We have failed to forge agreement despite hectic discussions. Therefore, possibility of building constitution by the evening has ended now. We cannot save the CA. I am going for my party’s Standing Committee meeting to discuss whether we should go for state of emergency or transform the CA into a Parliament to carry on works about constitution. CP Gajurel (9 pm, CA building premises) As the largest party, our party and as its chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ should take the moral responsibility of the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly without promulgating the constitution. As a leader, I am sorry for the failure of the CA. However, as a CA member I fulfilled my duties. In fact, all the CA members did so as they presented reports of their respective thematic committees. It’s the so-called top leaders that made the CA a hostage and caused its failure. The role of foreign powers is also responsible for the failure of the CA. Dr Ram Saran Mahat (talking to reporters at 10 pm) The CA is getting dissolved. The government is heading to declare a state of emergency. The interim constitution has no provision of new election, so we proposed for reforming the present parliament to work on constitution. But the Maoist and Madhesi leaders did not show interest. Except for the Maoists and the Madhesi, all the other parties are for fresh CA election keeping the present parliament. Upendra Yadav (talking to reporters) At the meeting at Baluwatar I asked the leaders of the ruling parties to present what agreement they had made so far. But they said they had made none. I asked them all to move to the CA hall, but they rejected. Then I knew that instead of dwelling on constitution promulgation, the leaders were talking about other issues. Narayan Man Bijukchhe (11 PM, CA building) It is sad that even at this eleventh hour neither the Prime Minister nor the CA chairman has come to inform the House about the latest development. We were called here for 11 am and now leaving this place without any authentic information as to why the CA meet schedule for today did not take place. This is utter negligence towards the CA. nnnn CHAIRMAN NEMWANG ASKS PEOPLE TO BE ALERT TO THWART AUHORITRIAMISM WITHOUT PARLIAMENT Kathmandu, 28 May:: Finally, the term of the historic Constituent Assembly elected originally for two years in April 2008 expired at Sunday midnight as it could not announce the new constitution, Nandalal Kiran writes in The Rising Nepal.. With the dissolution of the 601-member jumbo CA, people’s hope to get the new constitution got shattered. The four years’ political exercise and the huge fund spent in drafting the new constitution turned waste due to incapability of the leaders. The hectic exercises of the leaders of the past three days to promulgate even a preliminary draft of the statute by Sunday midnight yielded no outcome due to differences on the models and names of federal provinces. When UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" the architect of the CA, predicted its inability to accomplish the historic tasks two and half hours before its expiry, the parties tried to find alternatives to address the situation that might arise after the dissolution of the CA. However, they also failed to reach any agreement forcing the government to announce fresh elections of the CA on 22 November. Moreover, the CA and the Legislature Parliament was dissolved without holding the meeting scheduled for Sunday. The CA members, who were eagerly waiting for the assumption of the scheduled meeting, deserted it a hour before its expiry. When all efforts to promulgate the constitution did not work, an emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers decided to go for fresh election although Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokhrel and Minister Parsuram Khapung opposed the decision and decided to quit the government. Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai apprised President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav of the government decision to hold the fresh elections to the CA on 22 November. However, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML strongly opposed the decision of the government terming it unconstitutional. They said the decision was taken without their agreement. The NC and UML leaders also reached Shital Niwas to meet the President following the government decision. NC vice president Ramchandra Poudel said that his party would not accept the decision on elections and warned of a strong movement against it. UML vice chairman Bam Dev Gautam termed the announcement of elections unconstitutional and said that his party would reject it. Minister Khapung said that he would quit the government alleging that the decision was taken unilaterally. Co-chairman of Rastriya Janashakti party Dr. Prakash Chnadra Lohani said that the election announcement was unconstitutional. The term of the CA was extended four times-a year once, three months twice and six months once. Meanwhile, CA chairman Subas Nembang expressed his concerns about the dissolution of the elected bodies. Talking to reporters, he said that he worried whether the country would plunge into crisis and the dictators emerge. He also urged the parties to move ahead learning from their past mistakes. According to him, the leaders shout have turned the CA into a parliament to avoid the problems. "Way out was possible but the leaders did not try to find it," he said. Meanwhile, Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairperson Subas Nembang has said that he was saddened for no promulgation of constitution through the Constituent Assembly (CA) as per the aspiration of Nepali people. ‘I beg apology that constitution was not promulgated due to no consensus among parties at the final hour’, Nembang said. Talking to journalists at own office after the Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to announce the date for the fresh elections to the CA, he further said he had frequently held discussions with the parties to protect the process but it was all in vain and the situation emerged in to the dissolution of the CA. He asked the parties to remain cautious towards the emergence of autocracy in the absence of people elected body, he called on parties to show prudence to steer the country to peace. nnnn