Towards Deadlock
Increasingly, the government is heading towards deadlock in its talks with agitating parties like MJF
By SANJAYA DHAKAL
The fourth round of talks between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) ended inconclusively on Sunday.
The sudden demand for parliament dissolution, which was presented by the MJF during the third round of talks, was met with sudden proposal by the government to expand its talks team by including a Maoist member. The government side proposed to expand its team (currently three member: Ram Chandra Poudel, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Ram Chandra Yadav) by including UML leader Jhal Nath Khanal, Maoist minister Dev Gurung and Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat.
For the MJF leaders, the government proposal seemed very suspicious. It is no secret how bitter the relations between the MJF and the Maoists are. Frequent clashes between cadres of the two leading up to the Gaur massacre have poisoned the relations between them.
Maoist leaders have minced no words in describing MJF as criminal groups and have even demanded banning them. As such, the MJF leaders refused to enter into further talks on Sunday.
The MJF chief Upendra Yadav accused the government side of not paying serious attention to their demands and not doing enough homework.
Besides, the MJF also added a new demand calling for amendment in the CA Member Election Act, 2007. The MJF leaders claimed that a provision in the Act, which states that a party contesting the election in less than 20 percent of the total number of seats need not require to field candidates in an inclusive manner, is against regional parties.
At the meeting MJF reiterated its demand for the dissolution of Parliament soon after the Election Commission publishes election schedule, guarantee of federal system of governance along with rights of self determination as well as proportional representation based election system.
Meanwhile, the talks between the government and the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) have progressed to crucial stage. After the government agreed to NFIN demands for guaranteeing minimum representation of ethnic groups, the two sides have inched closer to sealing a deal. The two sides were preparing for crucial talk on Tuesday (August 7).
Reports have said that as the government has agreed to comply with NFIN demand to ensure minimum representation of each of the listed ethnic community, the NFIN climbed down from its demand for fully Proportional Representation (PR) based election system for the forthcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) elections. The government has agreed to ensure at least one representation of 59 listed ethnic communities and has also agreed to look into ways to accommodate 30 other groups. The two sides are working on the modalities to realize this goal. On the other hand, the NFIN, too, agreed to accept the Mixed election system if the government guarantees proportional representation of various communities and regions through this system.
Rayamajhi Commission Report Publicised
Eight months after it was presented to the Prime Minister, the government, on August 3, publicized the Rayamajhi Commission report. Home Minister Krishna Sitaula tabled it at the parliament.
However, moments after publicizing it, Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula indicated that the government would not take action based on the report’s recommendations. He told reporters that the government has already taken necessary action against those named as guilty in the Rayamajhi Commission report.
The commission was formed 15 months ago to probe allegations of repression against the Jana Andolan. “Previous cabinet committee had recommended actions to different ministries. I don’t think any action is pending now,” he said, adding that even the security personnel named in the report have been penalized appropriately.
The report, which documents widespread human rights abuses and misuse of state coffer to suppress last year's mass uprising, recommends legal action against 202 persons.
The probe commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Krishna Jung Rayamajhi had submitted its report to the government on November 20 last year. Reports say that the Rayamajhi commission report asks the government to formulate necessary laws to take action against then chairman of Council of Ministers (the King), and the cabinet members. It has also named 71 Nepal Police personnel including its then chief for action. Likewise, it has named 20 Armed Police Force personnel including its then chief for action. It has named 25 Nepali Army personnel including its then chief for action. The current army chief is also named in the report for action.
