On Sunday morning prior to the prime ministerial vote, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed a four-point agreement with top leaders of the UDMF, a grouping of five Madhes-based parties.[break]
The agreement is, however, not clear what changes will the Maoists make to their proposal. The proposal, among other things, has set a 45-day deadline for completing the peace process.
Despite the agreement, the leaders have identified various contentious issues relating to the peace process -- group entry of ex-Maoist combatants, rank harmonization, role of the combatants after integration, rehabilitation package and handover of the Maoist arms and combatants.
"All the decisions pertaining to the integration of the Maoist combatants will be decided by the Special Committee provisioned in the Interim Constitution," reads the first point of the agreement.
In the second point, the Maoist party and the UDMF have agreed that no citizen will be deprived of their land ownership, besides agreeing on giving "special" relief for those affected by the Maoist insurgency, Madhes movement and Janjati movement.
"All the court cases against those involved in the Maoist insurgency, Madhes movement, Janjati movement, Tharuhat movement and Dalit and Pichadabarga movements will be dropped and they will be given general amnesty," the second point of the agreement reads.
In the third point, they have agreed to uphold universal fundamental rights, constitutional supremacy, rule of law, press freedom, accountable judiciary, inclusive democracy autonomous states with right to self-determination and competitive politics among others.
They have also agreed to enact within 15 days, an act on inclusiveness, which was dropped in 2008 when the Maoist-led government was in power.
The Maoist party has also agreed with the UDMF ensure inclusiveness in the ongoing recruitment in the army so that more Madhesi people will be able to join the army.
They have also agreed to fill the vacant positions in the constitutional bodies and diplomatic postings within 15 days since the formation of the government.
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