UML proposes a month for ending impasse, new start

Conclusion of peace process in four months

Voluntary exit, regrouping of combatants in a month

A month enough to resolve contentious issues on statute drafting

12-pt accord, CPA, interim statute and fundamental democratic features to act as guidelines

KATHMANDU, Aug 21: A politburo meeting of the CPN-UML on Saturday endorsed a proposal on ending the present deadlock, concluding the peace process, writing new constitution and power-sharing in the new government.

While proposing to conclude the entire peace process within four months, the UML has suggested regrouping the Maoist People´s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants who are staying inside several camps across the country. [break]

"Those who want voluntary exit from the PLA can be allowed to do so and the remaining combatants can be regrouped into two categories -- one including those wanting rehabilitation and the other desiring integration," Pradeep Gyawali told Republica. He said while the Maoist leaders have stated in public that the disbanding of YCL´s paramilitary structure can be done within a week and the task of returning property to the rightful owners can be done within a period of two weeks, the voluntary exit and regrouping too can be accomplished within a period of one month.

The third largest party has proposed creating conducive environment within a period of one month by dissolving the paramilitary structure of the YCL, returning the property seized by Maoists during the insurgency to the rightful owners by the Maoists and by forming commissions on disappearance, truth and reconciliation, among others, by the government.

The party has also offered recommendations for resolving the contentious issues pertaining to the constitution within the same period of one month. "We have proposed to resolve the disputes by taking the 12-point agreement, the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA0, the interim constitution and the fundamental features of democracy including pluralism, human rights and social justice as basic guidelines to draft the statute," he said.

UML has said the issues of leadership of new government and power-sharing can be dealt afresh in a new perspective once the aforementioned matters are resolved within the same period. When asked if the Maoist leadership will be accepted by that time, Gyawali said that will be possible only after the Maoist party completely detaches itself from its combatants. "Once the tasks are accomplished that will help take the peace process to a new stage and create better ground for concluding the peace process and statute-drafting and Maoist participation in the government can be looked at in a different perspective," he added.

General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel presented the four-page concept paper, which was prepared by senior leaders in close consultations with top party leaders including Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, KP Sharma Oli and Pokharel at the meeting.

The meeting entrusted Pradeep Gyawali, Prakash Jwala and Bishnu Rimal to finalize the proposal incorporating the feedback given by politburo members in the meeting.

The UML politburo once again reiterated its call to the two prime ministerial candidates -- UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel -- to pave the way for forging consensus by withdrawing their candidacies.

The party has said it will make public the proposal only after discussion with other parties.