PM Koirala, Prachanda discuss position of monarchy, arms management



Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (File Photo)

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda today discussed issues that could not be resolved during the summit meeting between the ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) and the Maoists.

Coordinator of the government’s talks team and Home Minister, Krishna Prasad Sitaula, informed that the meeting held at Prime Minister Koirala’s residence in Baluwatar, was focused on the fate of monarchy and the management of Maoist arms, among others.

The meeting, according to Situala, was positive about finding consensus on unresolved issues.

The eight political parties had given the responsibility of finding consensus on the issue of like monarchy and arms management to Prime Minister Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda.



Maoist Chairman Prachanda (File Photo)

The Koirala-Prachanda meeting came as the SPA and Maoist leaders intensified preparations for another round of summit meeting.

Maoist leader Dr. Babu Ram Bhattrai, Home Minister Sitaula and Nepali Congress leader Dr. Sekhar Koriala were also present at the meeting.

The summit talks were deferred indefinitely on October 15 after the leaders failed to reach understanding on the two issues.

The SPA has been saying that the fate of monarchy should be decided either through a referendum or elections to the constituent assembly and the Maoists' arms should be managed before the CA polls while the rebels remain firm not to leave any space for the King in the interim constitution and that their arms should be managed only after resolving the political issues.

During the third round of summit talks, the two sides agreed to hold CA polls by mid June 2007 but they are yet to finalise the interim constitution and reach tacit understanding on interim government and interim legislature.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML, the second largest party in the SPA, has started discussion with other political parties on the unresolved issues.

The UML held discussion with the leaders of People’s Front Nepal on Sunday. The party has informed that it will hold discussion with other political parties as well. It was the UML that first floated a proposal of deciding the fate of monarchy through referendum. nepalnews.com pb Oct 29 06

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