Leaders hail deal as historic

KATHMANDU, Nov 2: Hailing the agreement as a historic milestone achieved toward accomplishing the five-year-old peace process and constitution writing, top and key leaders of the major political parties have expressed their commitment and optimism in its implementation despite strong objection from within the rival faction of the prime minister´s own party.



Leaders from the UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) said the agreement would create a ground for concluding the twin task of constitution writing and peace process. [break]



Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal after the signing of the agreement at the prime minister´s residence Baluwatar said, "With today´s [Tuesday] agreement, we have concluded a chapter of the peace process. Today, I have realized that as we have fulfilled an important duty toward the people, nation and history."



Asked about the strong objection to the agreement from his own party, Dahal said they [leaders from Baidya faction] have put forward their dissent but the agreement was signed as per the decision made at the meeting of the party´s officer bearers. "They have also announced that party unity will remain intact despite their objection to this particular decision," he said. He assured that the agreement will be fully implemented. "We can implement it. We didn´t signed it without preparing ground for implementation," Dahal said.



Terming it a historic decision, NC President Sushil Koirala said all the political parties have realized their responsibility toward the country. "I am fully confident that we will be able to implement it," he said.



CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said the ´historic´ deal was signed as per the aspirations of the Nepali people. "We have to stand united for implementing it sincerely and our party is always for that. This is a very important ground to accomplish the twin tasks of writing new constitution and peace process," Khanal said.



Former Prime Minister and UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said the agreement has spread a positive message to the people and this will lead the politics to a new direction.



"We have to accomplish all the said tasks by November 23 and prepare the first integrated draft of the new constitution by November 30. Once we accomplish these tasks the country will enter a new era," Nepal explained.



Bijay Gachchhadar of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum (Democratic) who signed the agreement on behalf of the UDMF said the historic agreement was reached as per the people´s desire to see constitution writing and peace process concluded.



According to NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula, a key negotiator in the agreement, this is another historic agreement after the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Accord.



Sitaula expressed confidence that the parties will be able to implement the agreement and accomplish the said tasks by November 23 so that the CA term could be extended on November 30.



"I specially thank Pushpa Kamal Dahal who took a bold step by signing the agreement despite strong objection from within his party," Sitaula said.



Meanwhile, the prime minister has called a Special Committee meeting for Wednesday to advance the tasks of the peace process as per the agreement.

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