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VOL. 27, NO. 43, July11 , 2008 (Ashadh 27 2065 B.S.)
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Uncertain Course
Despite the agreement, Madhesi parties are yet to accept the bill
By A CORRESSPONDENT
After more than two weeks of internal discussions, seven party alliance and three Madhesi parties find compromise formula to end the political deadlock. No body knows whether it will end the political impasse.
Following the announcement of Madhesi parties that they study the latest supplementary board before deciding anything on it, three week long political uncertainty continue to exist in the country.
The Madhesi parties have said they would study the latest supplementary bill on constitution amendment registered by the government at the Constituent Assembly (CA) secretariat.
The three Madhesi parties – Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) – are holding meeting on Wednesday ahead of scheduled CA meeting to decide about the bill. Because they needed some time to study the bill, the CA meeting, Tuesday, was deferred till Wednesday.
"We needed time to study the supplementary bill. That is why the CA was suspended on Tuesday," said Rajendra Mahato, president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP). Sarbendra Nath Shukla, leader of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), also said that though the bill was short of their expectation, it would pave the way for the CA process to proceed. Shukla hinted that Madhesi parties would present their own amendment bills and put it before the CA for final decision.
"We will accept the decision of CA," he added. Earlier, the seven parties had prepared a draft of the supplementary bill proposing changes in the Article 138 of the interim constitution. The agreement states that Nepal will be a federal democratic republic by upholding the aspirations of autonomous provinces of Madhesis, indigenous people and people from backward and other regions.
The agreement adds that the detailed definition regarding such provinces would be determined by the CA. Regarding the demand of group entry of Madhesis in the army; the agreement says that the army will be made inclusive on the basis of principle of equality and inclusion. Compiled from reports
In the main time, a meeting of the council of ministers Tuesday approved a draft of the supplementary amendment bill, which was prepared by the three major parties – CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) - to address the demands of the Madhes-based parties.
According to seven-party alliance leaders, top leaders of three major political parties and three Madhes-based parties agreed to use a sentence - the aspirations of the Madhesis including the indigenous and the marginalized groups will be included in the 'autonomous Terai' - in the supplementary bill of the fifth amendment to the interim constitution.
Leaders also agreed to mention the provision of various autonomous states in the supplementary bill. The leaders have also agreed to manage the Nepal Army based on the principle of inclusive and proportional representation. However, United Leftist Front, Peoples Front and Nepal Workers and peasant party opposed it. Government is all set to table the supplementary bill at the CA secretariat this evening, sources said.
Although the county’s major parties agree to end the political deadlock, there is no clear sight in the picture that Nepal will have a long lasting peace. The road ahead is more bumpy and difficult.
