HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Leaders call demand for constituent assembly irrelevant

Kathmandu, Nov. 20 (RSS): Major political party leaders of the country have described the demand for a constituent assembly put accross by the Maoists during the government-Maoists talks as irrelevant and improper in the present context.

Now that the Maoists have already dropped their demand for a republic their demand for a constituent assembly is not justifiable, the political party leaders said adding, the Maoists should, therefore, stop demanding a constituent assembly and work for empowring the people and expediting the country’s development within the framework of the existing constitution.

If need be, some improvements and amendments can be made in the Constitution for that purpose, they said.

Stating that the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990 was promulgated not by any particular individual, the Nepali Congress or the left front but as a fruit of the people’s revolution, they said the Constitution has made the people sovereign and guaranteed people’s fundamental rights and freedom, while at the same time, guaranteeing the right of the people, not the King, to elect the Prime Minister.

Which is why, they further said, the Maoists should drop their demand for a Constituent Assembly to break the deadlock in peace talks.

The political leaders, who were speaking at an interaction programme organised by the Reporters Club here today, said if the Maoists are sincere about peace talks they should first stop such activities as abductions, killings, extortion and intimidation. Should such activities continue the government should not remain a silent spectator in the name of peace talks.

Minister for General Administration Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu welcomed the Maoist decision to drop their demand for a Republic and said that their demand for a constituent assembly is irrelevant in the present context.

As the Constitution does not prevent anyone from going to the people with their poilitical ideologies there is no reason why arms should be raised, he said.

Nc spokesman Arjun Narsingh K.C.said as peace talks involve a very difficult process and require patience, the Nepali Congress has not demanded immediate conclusion of the talks, rather it has stressed the need to give continuity to the talks in such a manner as to arrive at positive conclusion.

The party, however, believes that confusion should allowed to continue in the country in the name of peace talks, he added.

Stating that the party has given full mandate to the government but the latter should not remain a mute spectator to such activities as killings, abductions, extortion and intimidation, he said as the government is enjoying the backing of the party and favourable public opinion it should not continue hoping against hope about a positive conclusion in the next round of talks while another party to the talks has not stopped perpetrating terror.

Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the CPN-UML was of the view that the Constitution, which has for the first time in the country’s Constitutional development process devolved sovereignty to the people, should not be scrapped; the Maoists must drop their demand for a Constituent Assembly.

No one is ready to accept a single-party despotic rule nor is there any rationale behind dragging people’s sovereignty into dispute, he said adding, if the country’s serious problems are to be resolved the Maoists should be liberal in practice, while for its part the government should be ready to improve or amend the Constitution after adequate home work.

RPP leader Rabindra Nath Sharma said his party is in favour of constitutional amendments, not a constituent assembly.

Facilitator of the government-Maoists talks Padma Ratna Tuladhar said that talks should be continued until they arrive at a conclusion in favour the country and the people.

Describing as positive the withdrawal by the Maoists of their demand for a Republic, he said as failure to reach a valid conclusion might put the Maoists in difficulty it is essential to extensively discuss the minimum demand put forth by them and find a proper way out.

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