House adjourned till Friday; leaders still hope for a breakthrough
The special session of the interim parliament has been adjourned until 11 am Friday with the leaders still hoping for a political consensus.
Speaker Subas Nemwang in his notice stated that the House had been adjourned after a request from the parties as they were still engaged in discussions on the Maoist proposal, which seeks a parliamentary proclamation to establish republican order and adopt fully proportional election system.
Before announcing the adjournment, Nemwang had held a meeting with representatives of the parliamentary parties of seven political parties.
Altogether 26 lawmakers have commented on the proposals filed by the Maoists and the UML. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is expected to put the government’s view on these proposals tomorrow before the House takes a decision.
Meanwhile, top-level leaders held series of bilateral and multilateral meetings throughout the day. However, there were no indications of a breakthrough during these meetings.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with Nepali Congress (NC) leaders, Maoist chairman Prachanda said intensive discussions took place on the two issues raised by his party and informed that the parties agreed to continue with their efforts for a consensus by tomorrow.
According to him, the Maoist proposal will be decided by a parliamentary voting Friday itself if the parties fail to arrive at a compromise. The Maoist chairman also claimed that parties in the parliament that are in favour of republican order and proportional election system would vote in favour of the his party’s proposal.
Peace minister and NC vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel told reporters that his party has not changed its stance on the two demands of the Maoists.
Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash, the semi-underground general secretary of CPN (Unity Centre – Masal), who has been ‘intermediating’ between the Maoist chairman and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, said that parliamentary voting on the Maoist proposal is quite likely with no breakthrough in sight.
Sources meanwhile said the NC leaders today put a proposal before the Maoist side that they were ready to announce republic from the House under the condition that the republican order would be implemented only after it is endorsed by the first meeting of the CA. The Maoist side ‘rejected’ the proposal, insisting that the country should become a republic right away. nepalnews.com mk Nov 01 07
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