Saturday, Jun 17, 2006
Front Page
Koirala, Prachanda reach historic accord http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/17/stories/2006061724260100.htm
Ameet Dhakal
Both sides express commitment to human rights, press freedom in Nepal
[Maoist leader Prachanda]
KATHMANDU: Nepal's Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda reached a "historical" eight-point agreement in their first meeting here on Friday.
The two sides agreed to draft an interim constitution, dissolve both Houses of Parliament and the Maoist's local governments through consultations, invite the United Nations to manage and monitor the arms of both armies (state army and the rebel army), hold constituent assembly elections in a free and fair environment, among others.
The agreement also said both the sides expressed a commitment to competitive and multiparty politics, the rule of law, civil rights, human rights, and press freedom.
Drafting committee
They also formed a five-member interim constitution drafting committee that will prepare the draft within 15 days. The interim constitution will, among others, define the process of the constituent assembly.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr. Prachanda said that within a month Parliament and the Maoist's local governments would be dissolved and an interim government would be formed. "The spirit of the eight-point agreement is to form the interim government within a month," he said.
He also said that constituent assembly elections would be held within a year.
Hailing the agreements, Mr. Prachanda said: "We have jointly created a history. No one ever thought that rebels waging war and the parties involved in parliamentary politics would jointly make a revolution happen."
Mr. Prachanda also spoke about the future of the Nepali army and said his party was in favour of a small army. "Why do we need a big army of 90,000? At most, it should not exceed 20,000 and the surplus resources that otherwise go to the army should be used in tackling the poverty in the country."
Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the CPN-UML, said the country had entered the process of forming a constituent assembly and asserted that no force in the world could stop it.
The former Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, also hailed the agreement as historic and said, "We have proven to the world that Nepalis are capable of resolving their disputes themselves."
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala could not attend the press conference due to his poor health. He is leaving for Bangkok on Saturday for treatment. Earlier in the morning the rebel leaders, including Dr. Babu Ram Bhattrai and Mr. Prachanda's wife flew to Kathmandu in a helicopter from Kaski, some 200 km west of Kathmandu.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula had flown to Kaski to accompany the rebel leaders.
Mr. Prachanda arrived at the Prime Minister's residence at 9 am in the morning. Since then the rebel leaders and the seven party leaders engaged themselves in a marathon meeting throughout the day.
The civil society leaders were present at the meeting as observers.
Copyright © 2006, The Hindu.