“We have come up with a roadmap to peace and constitution with a timeframe for implementation as the other parties made the peace process the major issue in government formation,” said Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal while speaking at a press meet held Thursday to make public the party´s take on the peace process.[break]
Dahal, who was flanked by Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and Vice-chairman Dr Baburam Bhattarai, said the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UMDF) should not have any problem accepting a Maoist-led government as that party has brought out its proposal on peace with a commitment to implementinmg it within one-and-half months.
The Maoist chairman pointed out the need for a consensus government, though the process for formation of a majority government has already begun.
“The other parties should now let us lead the government and they can see how we would implement the peace deal in case they have any doubts,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the party´s Standing Committee had unanimously endorsed the peace proposal floated by Dahal, though party hardliners led by Baidya expressed reservations terming the proposal an “act of capitulation to regressive forces.”
Asked to comment on the party´s proposal, Baidya only said: “It is natural to have debate and discussions within a party. I don´t have any objection now.”
According to party sources, Baidya had planned to register a note of dissent against the proposal, but decided in the last hour not to do so.
In the proposal, the Maoists have stated that they would formulate a modality for integration under the proposed directorate of the Nepal Army.
The proposal states that the party is ready to begin before August 31 a process of categorizing their combatants into those opting for integration and those wanting rehabilitation, and to bid adieu to those seeking rehabilitation within one-and-half months.
For the number of combatants to be integrated into the proposed mixed force under the Nepal Army´s directorate, the party has proposed 8,000, adding that it is flexible about increasing or reducing that number.
The Maoist proposal read out by party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma clearly states that the party would be ready to hand over the weapons containers to the Special Committee.
On the rehabilitation package, the proposal states that the government can provide Rs 700,000 to Rs 1,000,000 as a golden handshake.
In order to facilitate rank harmonization, the party has stated that all senior commanders who are also party central committee members could be brought into politics.
“We can hold consultations with senior Nepal Army officials and security experts to settle the issue of rank harmonization,” said Dahal at the press meet.
The Maoists have stated that those opting for integration would meet the physical fitness criteria, and they would be integrated under special norms concerning age, marital status and educational level.
On constitution drafting
The proposal states that the parties should initiate negations on the contentious issues in the constitution drafting process and prepare a first draft of the constitution within one-and-half months. To complete the tasks of constitution drafting, the party has proposed extension of the CA by six months.
On government formation
The party has demanded a Maoist-led national consensus government until the peace process and constitution drafting reaches a logical conclusion and it would then pass the baton to other parties in the next phase. The proposal points out the necessity of a common minimum programs to run the government.
Likewise, the Maoists have proposed formation of a high-level political mechanism comprising the major parties and fronts to guide the government.
On other issues of peace process
The proposal states that the government would form a Commission on Disappearances as well as a Truth and Reconciliation Commission within a month as per the constitutional provisions.
The party has stated that the government would immediately take steps to return to their owners properties seized during the insurgency. The proposal also states that the government would make alternative arrangements for land tenants and the landless, and implement scientific land reforms after garnering a consensus on the report prepared by the Land Reforms Commission.
Similarly, the party has demanded withdrawal of cases brought against Maoist cadres during the insurgency, and a pardon in the case of those who have already been handed down court verdicts.
The party has committed itself to ending PLA security for senior Maoist leaders. Party hardliners had not returned the armed PLA security details in their service despite a formal party decision in that regard.
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