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Kathmandu Sunday February 17, 2002 Falgun 05, 2058.
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ALL-PARTY MEET
Deuba formally pleads for emergency ratification
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Feb 16: Less than a week before the
House of Representatives deals with a crucial vote on the state of emergency imposed in
the country in November, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday formally requested
leaders of the opposition parties to help him ratify the state of emergency.
His request came at an all party meeting held at
the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar. The meeting was called to
discuss the ratification of the state of emergency, which needs the support of the main
opposition CPN-UML.
However, the opposition leaders, who were
adamant that some conditions for socio-economic reforms, national consensus and
constitutional reforms be met, turned down the request. All this, after his fellow leaders
in the ruling Nepali Congress (NC) party "played spoilsport", according to
government sources.
Even before the meeting started at around 4
p.m., sources in the government said, NC General Secretary Shushil Koirala, Govinda Raj
Joshi, Mahantha Thakur, Chakra Prasad Bastola and Ram Baran Yadav insisted that
"issues other than the ratification of emergency be banned."
Emerging out of the meeting hall, the opposition
leaders said they reiterated they would support the Prime Minister only if he heeds their
demands for constitutional amendments, radical socio-economic reforms and national
consensus for "minimum national programme".
The House is scheduled to decide on whether or
not to ratify the state of emergency—imposed since November 26, 2001—on
Thursday, February 21. The House needs to ratify it with a two-thirds majority within
three months, according to the constitution.
The ball is now in the CPN-UML court as the
ruling Nepali Congress party with its 113 lawmakers only enjoys a simple majority. To
ratify emergency and prolong it for another three months, it needs the support of UML,
which commands 69 seats in the Lower House.
Minister for Physical Planning and Works
Chirinjiwi Wagle, told newsmen at the Prime Minister’s official residence, Baluwatar,
that the meeting reached a "kind of consensus" to resolve the present crises
through radical socio-economic reform measures so as to "politically disarm" the
rebels.
"Theoretically, there are no differences
between us (political parties)," he said.
He added, "But we have got to take the
proposals up to our party, because there is a need for interaction among the government
and the party…The government can take a firm decision only after we hold
consultations among ourselves."
Asked when the ruling party’s central
working committee would hold such consultation, he only said, "Soon; as soon as
possible."
Leaders like KP Sharma Oli of CPN-UML and Surya
Bahadur Thapa of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RRP) emerged from the meeting hall even
before it reached a conclusion, and said it was "inconclusive one and merely a tea
party".
"The government has not been able to
justify the rationale behind imposing, or prolonging, the state of emergency," UML
leader Oli told reporters. "And although we have put forth our demands, the
government does not seem keen to take immediate steps. The ruling party itself is
confused."
Said RPP Chairman Thapa: "The meeting ended
abruptly, without any outcome. Nepali Congress has backed out from it earlier stance to
chalk out minimum national programme on the basis of national consensus."
The previous all party meet had agreed to a
three point agenda: It had agreed to form a task force comprising representatives from all
the parties; release workers of all the parties except the underground Maoist party who
were arrested after emergency was imposed; and issue directives to better-manage the state
of emergency in accordance with Article 115 (7) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of
Nepal 1990.
The two-and-half-hour-long meeting ended at
6:30, and was participated by leaders of the ruling Nepali Congress, UML, RPP, Nepal
Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, Nepal Sadbhawana Party, Nepal People’s Front
and United People’s Front.
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