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Eight-party meeting ends inconclusively

The crucial eight party meeting ended without reaching to any conclusion on Saturday.

The leaders, however, agreed to hold the next meeting of the eight party leaders within a week.

The meeting could not reach to any concrete decision regarding the Maoists' 18-point proposal, which includes declaration of republic through parliament and adoption of proportional representation election system, among others.

"There were positive discussions to hold joint public gathering in the capital to create an atmosphere for the election," said Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC. He added that the Maoists had put forth their proposals on republic and PR system for "serious discussions" and not as "preconditions" for the election.

At the meeting, participants from other parties pressed the Maoists to express their commitment for the CA election while the Maoists tried to impress upon other parties the decisions of their recent plenum. The Maoists' proposal was also based on the plenum decision, which had concluded that the election cannot be held without first declaring republic and adopting PR election system.

Earlier, the top leaders of the ruling eight-party alliance had gathered at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar in order to sort out their differences and discuss ways to create favourable atmosphere for constituent assembly polls.

The meeting, which was to start at 4:00 pm started only at 6:00 pm as the Inter-party Coordination Committee was still discussing the agendas of the meeting until 5:00 pm.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML's Amrit Bohara and Jhal Nath Khanal, Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba, Janamorcha Nepal chairman Amik Sherchan, Nepal Workers and Peasant Party chairman Narayanman Bijukchhe and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) leader Bharat Bimal Yadav participated in the meeting.

At the meeting, the Maoists had presented an 18-point proposal reiterating their demands for announcement of republic before the polls, formation of inquiry commission on involuntary disappearances, roundtable conference of all sections of the society including Janajatis and Madhesis, release of political detainees, start of the process for integrating the People's Liberation Army within the Nepali Army by forming the special cabinet committee, withdrawal of army from the royal palace, start the process of nationalising the properties of late King Birendra and also the properties of King Gyanandra which he acquired in his capacity as the monarch, among others.

In their proposal, the Maoists had also criticised the functioning of the coalition government demanding that the cabinet function by consensus. nepalnews.com sd/mk Aug 18 07