[Time is running out. Now it's less than week for the CA to expire.The contending parties look pretty much adamant.Efforts by the foreign countries, the EU in particular, to mediate proved ineffective in view of strong contrary stand taken by India. Evidently an extraordinary situation will arise if the CA term is not extended by the Parliament by May 28. And this would call for endorsement of the motion by the still reluctant UCPN(M).A constitutional vacuum cannot, however, continue. An extraordinary situation would necessarily trigger off some extraordinary resolution. There is, apparently, no prospect of any Army takeover, let alone revival of the Monarchy.The Supreme Court, in the event of the "crisis" eventually materialising, is likely to come up as a critical interlocutor.Those who are holding "power" will, however, have an edge over their rival, more so in the context of the Maoists' repeated failure to trigger off a much pined for Janandolan III and thereby overpower and overthrow the incumbent regime. Even an extraordinary "solution" is now unlikely to do that given the widespread perception that the Maoists are equally, if not even more, responsible for the looming constitutional impasse.The Maoists going back to the jungles is also as unlikely as a military takeover.] I/III.http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/6241-ca-chairman-asks-parties-to-forge-consensus-by-monday.html CA chairman asks parties to forge consensus by MondaySunday, 23 May 2010
Constituent Assembly (CA) chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang has urged the political parties to forge a consensus by Monday to enable the CA to proceed and complete the process for Constituent Amendment before May 28. The CA chairman said, the process of constitution amendment cannot be completed before May 28, if the process does not start on Monday. In an interview published in Kantipur daily on Sunday, Nemwang said, I have asked the parties to come up with at least a tentative agreement by Monday so that we can begin the process of constitution amendment. The details can be worked out later, he said. Nemwang also said, the parties need to decide which of the two bills for constitution amendment to proceed. Two separate bills for constitution amendment, one from the government and one from a UML lawmaker, have been tabled at the CA secretariat. Nemwang said, there is a parliamentary practice of giving priority to a government bill. Both bills can't be proceeded simultaneously. The parties need to agree on which bill to proceed as there isn't sufficient time for proceeding another bill if the first one fails. Chairman Nemwang denied the claim of some of the government ministers that the government would still continue even if the CA's term is not extended. There will be a question on the legitimacy of almost all institutions of the state including the CA, the legislative parliament, the government and the President after May 28, if CA term is not extended before that. Nemwang urged the parties to forge a consensus for CA term extension, as failure to do so would create suitable ground for dictatorship. 'The nation will enter a dark tunnel whose entrance can be seen, but the exit can't be seen if the CA term is not extended,' said Nemwang. II. http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/6247-maoists-reject-uml-plea-to-support-ca-term-extension-.html Maoists reject UML plea to support for CA term extensionSunday, 23 May 2010 Unified CPN (Maoist) has rejected CPN (UML)'s latest call for support for the extension of Constituent Assembly's term, Sunday. UML leaders Jhala Nath Khanal, Ishwar Pokhrel and Bharat Mohan Adhikary had gone to Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence in Nayabazaar, this morning, to try and convince the Maoist leaders for CA term extension. However, the Maoist leaders refused to support for CA term extension without assurance of the PM's resignation. We requested the Maoists not to argue on CA term extension and that the other issues could be resolved on mutual consent, said UML leader Adhikary. They refused to do so saying, have the PM resign first, then only we can discuss on other issues, added Adhikary. III. http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2010/05/22/top-story/hope-dims-as-d-day-nears/208550/ Hope dims as D-day nears KATHMANDU, MAY 22 - Five days remain for the Constituent Assembly (CA) deadline to expire but little is the chance of compromise among the parties. Also, the ruling parties appear to be hardening their stance against the main opposition UCPN (Maoist). While the CPN-UML hinted on Saturday that it was conditionally ready to discuss power sharing if the Maoists agree to extend the CA term and bring their combatants under the Special Committee, Nepali Congress (NC) dug in its heels. Saturday’s talks between NC and UCPN (Maoist) ended inconclusively as neither found a meeting point. Given NC’s efforts to bolster the government, to the majority it is NC’s position which matters more than the UML’s as the latter is divided on whether or not to continue governing. In Saturday’s negotiation, the Maoists said they would agree to term extension if the parties agree on adding “consensus system” in the Interim Constitution, but NC demanded all issues be addressed in a package and said that until then neither the prime minister will resign. “There is no point discussing a national unity government unless the Maoists turn into a civilian party,” NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said. The ruling parties are mulling dissolving the CA if the Maoists nix term extension. “If they want, the CA will be dissolved,” said an NC leader. “We won’ accept pre-conditions.” In the face of ruling parties’ avowed willingness to dissolve the CA citing Maoist provocation, the Maoists fear a situation where the ruling parties will keep governing after the CA is dissolved. Maoist leader Dev Gurung pointed to NC leader Ram Chandra Poudel’s remarks a couple of weeks ago and said it was an “indication of the underlying strategy of the ruling parties.” The Maoists argue the NC pitch on dissolving CA and calling fresh polls means it is calling the shots by proxy. “NC has been keeping the government afloat even though a faction of UML has urged the prime minister to resign,” argued Gurung. Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "humanrights movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/humanrights-movement?hl=en.
