The HLPM was formed on Jan 8 following months of negotiations among the top three parties Unified CPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML. The HLPM formed under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister (PM) Girija Prasad Koirala has chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal as members.
At the time of formation of HLPM, the members in the high-level body tried to win the confidence of the general public saying that it will take the peace process to a logical end and help in drafting the new constitution within the stipulated time. The primary task entrusted to HLPM was to forge a consensus among the top political parties that have sharp differences on key issues.
The body has held its meeting a number of times but without much achievement. The only achievement made by the mechanism has been to convince the Maoists to withdraw their indefinite strike that was supposed to begin on Jan 24. The third meeting of HLPM endorsed its Terms of Reference (ToR) and working procedures. But the parties need to understand that passing the ToR just to include representatives from more political parties is not sufficient. They need to make the mechanism capable of resolving the current political stalemate.
At this crucial time, all the parties need to rethink about the working area and mandate of the HLPM instead of pondering about providing membership to representatives from all the political parties. People are aware that political leaders keep on debating to secure their position in any committee or mechanism that is supposed to resolve the current deadlock. The interest shown by PM Madhav Kumar Nepal to remain as an invitee member in the mechanism and efforts made by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Sujata Koirala to include her in the body has once again exposed the intention of our political leaders. Another DPM Bijay Kumar Gachedhhar too has demanded that representatives from Madhesi parties be included in the mechanism, which only displays his lust for power and position.
It is yet to be seen whether former PM Koirala will play an important role to resolve the current political deadlock or if he will only work to bring in his daughter and DPM Sujata Koirala as a member of HLPM. Some political leaders think that the mechanism will function as a parallel body to the government, which is undesirable.
The Maoists, who are also a part of the mechanism, has recently announced their fifth phase of protests aiming to dislodge the government. The Maoists’ recent move has made the mechanism look meaningless as it shows that the high-level body has failed to convince them that their demands would be addressed. On the other hand, it is unethical on the part of the Maoists to launch fresh agitation while remaining a crucial component of the high-level body.
Despite all these challenges and problems in HLPM, the general people are still hopeful that this important mechanism will forge a consensus among the political parties and pave the way for drafting a democratic constitution on time so as to institutionalize the achievements of the democratic movement of 2006.
The general public is least concerned about whether the mechanism has three members or five, or representatives from all political parties or not. Their concern is whether the body would be able to resolve the current political deadlock and save the country from a possible catastrophe. The major responsibility of the mechanism is to steer the peace process towards the right direction and to accomplish the task of drafting the constitution within the stipulated timeframe of May 28, 2010.
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