Top political leaders reached an agreement on contentious issues of peace and constitution writing process on Tuesday evening.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Shushil Koirala, UML Chairman Jhalnath Khanal and Madhesi Alliance leader Bijay Kumar Gachchhedar signed a 7-point deal late in the evening at the PM’s residence, Baluwatar.
The leaders have agreed to integrate 6,500 Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army as demanded by the opposition parties. They have also finalised Rs 500,000 to Rs 900,000 of rehabilitation package for those who opt out of integration as per the rank of the combatants. A technical panel will be formed for the rank determination of the combatants.
The PLA will be under the Army Directorate in which 65 per cent will be the Maoist combatants and 35 percent will be the NA soldiers. The directorate will be deployed for development activities. They have agreed to review the verification before regrouping the combatants. All weapons will be handed over to the state.
The political parties have also agreed to implement the past agreements and form Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Maoists should return the seized property to the rightful owners by 23 November. The Maoists also have agreed to dismantle paramilitary structure of Young Communist League. The political parties will then take an initiation to form a national consensus government to conclude the peace and constitution process.
However, the 7-point deal does not mention power sharing, which will be a major stumbling block to form a national consensus government.
The deal was made public in a press conference held at the PM’s residence, Baluwatar. However, the hardliners of the Maoists who had boycotted the tea reception hosted by the PM on Monday have objected the deal. “This is against the party’s decision,” said Mohan Baidhya after the deal signed. “We will put it up in the office bearers meeting. We will make our point clear in a press conference tomorrow.”
Earlier, leaders of the major three parties – UCPN (Maoist), NC and UML - had met at Hotel Radisson, Lazimpat, to find common grounds on contentious issues of peace process and power sharing. The top leaders were entrusted with the task of finding solutions to the contentious issues on peace process, statute-drafting and power sharing on Monday's meeting. The meeting at Baluwatar was held to endorse the agreement forged in the Radisson meeting.
However, implementation of the deal is still questionable due to objection by the hardline faction of the Maoists. Dahal will have to win confidence of the dissenters within his party first to move the process and implement the agreement. The hardliners have been objecting the handover of the weapons, return of seized property and BIPPA. These issues will be put up in the next central committee meeting of the Maoists, scheduled for 3 November.