Kathmandu, October 10, 2007

With special session of the interim parliament slated to begin tomorrow, the proposals put forth by the Maoists, who have 83 lawmakers in the interim parliament, are heading towards nowhere with the NC committed to vote against both the motions while the positive attitude demonstrated by the CPN-UML may not serve any purpose.

The interim constitution has a provision that any significant proposal like the one the Maoists have come up with can be passed only with two-thirds majority, something that does not appear to be the case given the position taken by the NC, which has 112 members in the 330-member interim parliament.

The session will last for four days before proroguing only after taking the motions registered by the CPN-M to their logical conclusion. The latest session of interim parliament was demanded by the CPN-M following deadlock over its demand for all-out proportional representation and early republic from interim parliament.

The CPN-Maoist today registered the motions demanding election based on all-out proportional representation and early republic, which must be declared from the interim parliament.

Essentially, pushing the proposals through the interim legislature require amendment in the interim constitution. The proposals will be the only agenda of the special session of the interim parliament.

Govt failed to implement agreements: Martin

Kathmandu, October 10, 2007

Ian Martin, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General today said the current crisis in Nepal has resulted due to the failure to implement agreements on certain key issues.

Addressing a press conference at his office today, he stressed that the UNMIN had to take a decision on the immediate future of its electoral personnel, while standing ready to provide whatever support is requested when the constituent assembly polls are rescheduled.

According to him, the lack of progress within the government to discuss the future of Maoist combatants, in ensuring adequate conditions in the cantonments and commencing serious parleys on security sector reform have all contributed to the Maoist concern that the government is not fulfilling its commitments.

“This is a moment when the political parties, civil society and all Nepalis should not just consider a new election date, but should focus on sustaining and deepening the peace process as a whole and develop a road-map of measures that are necessary to create the conditions for credible polls,” he said. He, however, refused to provide clear opinion on the electoral system. “These are for the Nepalis to decide, just as this entire peace process has been a Nepali process,” he said.