KATHMANDU, NOV 01 - The peace process that was started five years ago in 2006 is likely to witness its logical conclusion. The meeting of the top brass leaders of the major political parties—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, UCPN (Maoist) and the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha—on Tuesday agreed on contentious issues of the peace process and sealed the deal.
The leaders are due to hold a press conference at the Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's official residence in Baluwatar shortly.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal signed on the pact.
According to highly placed source, the leaders have agreed to integrate 6,500 former Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army in an individual basis. Likewise, the rehabilitation package has been agreed upon Rs. 500,000 to Rs. 800,000 as per the rank of the combatants, the source added.
Meanwhile, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is trying to take his deputy Mohan Baidya—leader of the party’s hardliner faction—into confidence.
As soon as Baidya agrees, the leaders are close to signing a peace deal, sources said.
Likewise, the leaders have reached an understanding to form a technical panel for the rank determination of the combatants.
Big three parties hold separate meetings
Separate meetings of the major three political parties are underway at the official residence of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in Baluwatar, Kathmandu.
Earlier, the top brass leaders of the major three—Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML and the UCPN (Maoist)—had convened a meeting to find common grounds on the issues regarding peace process, constitution-writing and power sharing.
According to sources, the parties are expected to endorse the earlier agreement forged in the top brass leaders’ meeting. The leaders had not elaborated the decision of their earlier meeting. However, the leaders had said that their meeting ended with a positive note.
Big three top guns meet ends with positive note
A meeting of the top brass leaders of the major three parties – UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML – have ended with a positive note on Tuesday.
The meeting was held at the Hotel Radisson in the Capital on Tuesday to find common grounds on the issues regarding peace process and power sharing.
The next meeting of the leaders has been scheduled later today at the official residence of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai in Baluwatar, Kathmandu.
Earlier, the Monday’s meeting of the big three had shouldered Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal to find solutions to the contentious issues on peace process, statute-drafting and power sharing.
Along with the party-chiefs, Krishna Prasad Sitaula of the NC, Barsha Man Pun of the Maoist and Bhim Rawal of the UML were also present at the meeting.
