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VOL. 28, NO. 16, Dec 26, 2008 (Poush 11 2065 B.S.)
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MAIN OPPOSITION
Gathering Strengths
The Nepali Congress (NC) boycotts parliament demanding that the government fulfill its assurances
By A CORRESPONDENT
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| Koirala: Back to fight |
When Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' came to the parliament on November 11 with a package of promises, very few had trusted him to his words.
That was why, when he promised to return seized properties and end military-style camping of YCL within mid-December, there was a big round of laughter from among the parliamentarians.
"Do not laugh this time. The government will also provide compensation for any delay in fulfilling its commitment of returning seized properties," he had then said.
But again, his assurances have ended up as laughing matter.
Apparently dumbfounded by the attitude of the government, particularly that of the prime minister, the NC seemed a frustrated party.
"They always make promises and they always break them. We don't know what else to do," was the refrain of vice president of NC, Ram Chandra Poudel.
From Thursday (Dec 18), the NC has started to boycott the parliamentary proceedings.
"We are in a dilemma. The PM says that he is confused whether he is a PM or a rebel. Now, if the PM calls us for dialogue and we go to meet him, we are afraid that he would suddenly drop his PM's cap and wear that of a rebel and train AK 47 on us," said Laxman Prasad Ghimire, chief whip of NC parliamentary party, speaking at the parliament before boycotting it.
Subsequently, on Sunday (Dec 21) the NC PP meeting made a decision to continue boycotting the parliament till the PM clarifies his position regarding the fulfillment of his assurances.
"The PM seems to have enough time to run around inaugurating sundry programs. But he does not have few minutes to explain his position before the parliament that elected him as PM. Until and unless he clarifies the progress on the implementation of these promises, we will continue to boycott," said Ghimire.
Progress on Special Committee
Meanwhile, NC leaders have claimed that there has been some progress in the matter of giving full shape to the army integration special committee.
The meeting between PM Prachanda and Dr. Shekhar Koirala on December 20 broke the ice.
"There has been some progress in this regard. There has been an understanding to have two members each from all major parties in the special committee. But it all depends whether the PM will actually implement it or not," Ghimire said.
According to him, the NC has also communicated that they are willing to join the committee that will be headed by the PM.
"That will involve pushing aside the current coordinator of the committee (deputy prime minister Bamdev Gautam). We will leave it to the government to proceed in a manner it chooses to in order to achieve this change in the committee composition," he said.
Even though the committee had been formed months earlier, it has not been able to proceed with its primary job of starting the process of rehabilitation and integration of the army – which will involve the management of the over 19000 Maoist combatants currently staying in seven cantonments spread across the country.
The integration of army has been regarded as one of the key aspect of the ongoing peace process. Its successful management will, indeed, be a milestone in attaining the durable peace.
However, lack of progress in the fulfillment of nine-point promises threatens to derail this progress and, once again, bring the Maoists and main opposition at loggerheads. That could mean death knell to the process of writing the new constitution, which does not appear possible without broader political consensus.
