Khanal brushes off doubts over HLPM

PARVAT, Jan 10: CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal on Sunday urged political leaders not to debate on the issue of newly formed High Level Political Mechanism (HLPM).



“The mechanism has been formed to take the ongoing peace process to a logical end,” said Khanal. “Some leaders have criticized the mechanism. There is no point in criticizing against the mechanism.” [break]



Addressing a press conference here, Khanal said the current time is not to invite bitterness among political parties but to forge unity and consensus among them. “There is no need to harbor any suspicion over the mechanism,” he said.



Khanal´s remarks come at a time when leaders of several political parties including his own UML have criticized the formation of HLPM. Senior UML leader K P Sharma Oli has termed the mechanism ´meaningless´ as there is no clarity about the terms of reference of the HLPM.



Likewise, NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel has also expressed dissatisfaction over the formation of the mechanism sans prime minister. Talking to media persons at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu before leaving for a 10-day visit to UK on Sunday, Poudel said the mechanism could be effective if it also included the prime minister.



Three major parties -- UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML -- on Friday formed the mechanism under the coordination of NC President Girija Prasad Koirala. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and UML Chairman Khanal are the members of the mechanism.



Khanal said the mechanism is entrusted to take the peace process to a logical end, facilitate drafting the new constitution and end the protracted political deadlock. Stating that the activities of extreme rightist and extreme leftist forces pose threat to drafting new constitution on time, Khanal said, “Parties must be ready incur all costs to ensure the drafting of new constitution on time.”



Khanal also urged all not to unnecessarily engage in debate on federalism. “The government has already decided to take the country to federal system,” he said. “No one can stop the country from embracing federalism now.”



Khanal added that the issue as to what type of federal model to adopt in new state restructuring could be a matter of debate, however.

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