Kathmandu, August 18:

The 12th central committee meeting of the CPN-UML concluded today, adopting a 23-point resolution on current political issues, a statement issued at the end of the meeting said.

To realise the goal of establishing a democratic republic, the party has decided to forge a united front of those parties and organisations who are in favour of the system. The party has constituted a body headed by standing committee member Bamdev Gautam to a conduct a nationwide campaign for democratic republic for three months.

Closing the meeting, party general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said the party rank and file must move ahead to establish a democratic republic through a referendum during elections to a constituent assembly and institutionalise the achievements of the Jana Andolan.

The meeting, however, did not fix a date for the eighth national convention, but agreed to do so after the issue of constituent assembly elections was settled. Central committee member Shankar Pokharel said the date for the convention would be decided in the next meeting.

The meeting strongly condemned the Maoists for murdering Sushil Gyawali of Bansgadi, Bardiya, last night and severely beating up his wife and other incidents of human rights violations by the rebels.

Besides approving the political report of the general secretary with suggestions, the meeting also approved the concept of restructuring the state on a federal system based on ethnic, linguistic, cultural composition and regional autonomy. The party has also added the rights to self-determination to the communities as per the resolution adopted by the United Nations. Under self-determination, the communities will enjoy the rights to enhance their ethnicity, language and culture within the federation.

The meeting unanimously approved the 12 and eight-point understanding between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists.

The party also called upon the parties concerned to reach a consensus on arms anagement, democratisation of the Nepali Army, interim constitution, interim legislature and interim government.

The meeting also called upon the rebels to abide by the 25-point code of conduct and stop all activities that go against the code.