Nepal & Bhutan Brief (2/15)

Internal Developments

Constitution Drafting:-

1. The process of drafting the Constitution and its promulgation by January 22 remains in doubt with the opposition parties continuing with their attitude of opposing and boycotting meetings. The report of the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee was tabled in the Constituent Assembly on January 13 even as the UCPN (Maoist) and Madhes-based parties boycotted the meeting. Senior CA member Surya Bahadur Thapa presented the report as the PDCC Chairman and Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai remained absent from the meeting in line with the opposition strategy not to attend the meeting on 13th January. Though the ruling parties seemed determined to push through the proposal for promulgation of the draft constitution through the 2/3rd majority route, it seemed unlikely that they would be willing to go all the way to meet the deadline. However, the ruling party leaders say that even if the deadline is missed, they will not wait for the Maoist and Madhesi parties any more in the name of ‘consensus’.

2. The opposition parties led UCPN (Maoist) have already expressed their determination to obstruct CA meetings if the NC and UML moved any proposal to that effect in the CA. It was still not clear how the ruling parties will face the opposition if the CA process is obstructed. Any obstruction in the CA is likely to lead to an unprecedented situation that even the CA Chairman is said to be unclear about the roadmap he would follow if there is indeed an obstruction.

NC, UML to Adopt ‘Fast-Track Model:

3. The ruling Nepali Congress and CPN- UML have decided to adopt a ‘fast-track model’ to deal with the ‘disputed issues’ of the new constitution. Both parties have remained firm on the idea of adopting full procedures mentioned in the CA Rules of Procedures like developing questionnaire on each disputed issues of the constitution to seek majority votes in the CA. Instead, they have agreed to table the proposals of both the ruling and opposition parties in the full House of the CA to decide as to which one should be forwarded to the drafting committee of the CA.

UCPN (M) led 30 Political Parties to Hold Joint Protest:

4. The UCPN (M) led 30 political parties have decided to simultaneously stage protests within and outside the Constituent Assembly if the ruling NC and the UML initiates the process of passing the new Constitution by using their two-thirds strength. It has decided to encircle the rostrum, shout slogans and obstruct the House if NC and the UML tried to pass the new Constitution without ‘consensus’. At the same time, they will also carry out street protests. The leaders of these parties have already jointly called for nation wide closure on January 22.

UN Official to Review Progress in Constitution Writing:

5. A senior UN official, Jeffrey Feltman, Under Secretary General, arrived in Kathmandu on January 13 on a three-day visit, to take stock of the progress in constitution writing. Ahead of Feltman’s visit, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon dispatched separate letters to the top leaders of the major political parties including Prime Minister Sushil Kumar Koirala, urging them to draft the constitution ‘in the spirit of compromise’, keeping in view the broad interest of the country. During his visit, Feltman separately called on President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Kumar Koirala, Constituent Assembly Chairperson Subas Nembang, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, UCPN (Maoist) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal, CPN- UML leaders KP Sharma Oli and leaders of Madhesi centric parties. During these meetings, Feltman conveyed the above message of the Secretary General.

6. Prime Minister Sushil Koirala assured the visiting Under Secretary General, that Nepal will have a new Constitution, promulgated by the Constituent Assembly, Koirala added that he would ensure that the Constitution writing process would create a ‘win-win situation’ for all political parties. The Prime Minister informed the UN envoy that the ruling parties- Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) – were exercising maximum flexibility with the opposition.

CPN- Maoist Leader Advocates Revival of PLA:

7. Netra Bikram Chand Biplav, leader of newly formed Nepal Communist Party (Maoist), addressing the first general convention of the party on January 8, remarked, “Revolt is impossible without an army. Our primary objective is to complete the incomplete revolt. I believe that to meet this objective, we need to shape an army”. He further said that a revolt was not always peaceful. “Situation may demand the use of force. In such situation it is needed to revive People’s Liberation Army”, he added. He also said that his party might not go underground in haste. He explained that he proposed to undertake a peaceful movement for the time being but the party might have to take a decision to go underground if the situation so demanded.

Newly Formed CPN (Maoist) Steps up Donation Drive:

8. The newly- formed NCP (Maoist) has intensified its donation drive to collect funds to run its activities. The party has been sending letters to private industries, business houses, schools, colleges and even government offices seeking support for its campaign to safeguard the achievements obtained through the people’s struggle. The party has formed multiple squads to collect donations from various sectors. The party, however, is not using threatening language in its letters.