Incidents involving Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist 2011

January 2: A meeting of the UCPN-M Standing Committee concluded with few decisions on revision of responsibilities of some top party leaders, reports Nepal News. "The meeting took a few decisions on the party's organisational set-up and work division of some leaders," Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma told reporters after the meeting.

The chairman of UCPN-M Prachanda clarified that the party has not decided to take action disciplinary against Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai. Speaking at a programme in Kathmnadu, Prachanda said, "The reports appearing in the media that our party has decided to take disciplinary action against Bhattarai are false. We have not taken any decision on this regard yet."

January 4: The UCPN-M sent a second missive strongly objecting to the Government request for transfer of UNMIN assets along with arms and ammunition of the Maoist combatants cantoned in seven different camps under UN supervision. The second Maoist letter comes after the contents of the Government letter sent on December 31, 2010, to the world body became public.

January 5: The Central Committee meeting of the UCPN-M failed to reconcile Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai. Bhattarai stuck to his stand on the immediate action plan, peace and constitution, organisational reshuffling and other issues, where as Prachanda’s new document stressed on peace and constitution, but Bhattarai termed it unclear and wrote a note of dissent.

Prachanda said that the ruling parties as well as India are trying to scotch the peace and constitution writing processes. Speaking on the last day of the three-day CC meet, Prachanda said, "NC, CPN-UML and foreign forces want to prolong the tenure of the caretaker Government even after May 28."

January 6: UCPN-M proposed for a different unit of the UN to take over the role of UNMIN after its term expires on January 15 as its efforts to convince the other parties and the UN to extend the UNMIN term failed.

UCPN-M said that it can accept a domestic mechanism to replace UNMIN if other parties give continuity to the monitoring of both the NA and the Maoist PLA. In the three-party talks at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, UCPN-M Chairman Prachanda proposed the mechanism be assigned to replicate UNMIN’s core task — monitoring NA and PLA and their arms.

January 7: Chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda and the vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya made a fresh call for a struggle to achieve the party’s mission – national independence and People’s Republic. On the other hand, Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai proposed to tread the middle path between the two extremes — parliamentary system of NC, CPN-UML and other parties and people’s democratic system of UCPN-M.

January 10: UCPN-M is likely to remove its ANTUF President Salikram Jamarkattel for his malpractices and incompetence. The move is part of an internal power struggle that has led to the demand for reshuffling by the party's two Vice Chairmen Mohan Baidya and Babauram Bhattarai to remove powerful individuals close to the party chairman Prachanda from lucrative wings of the party. The Baidya and Bhattarai factions have threatened they will form a parallel trade union if Jamarkattel, who is close to Party Chairman Prachanda, is not removed.

The chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda said that his party is prepared to hand over the command control of cantonments to the Prime Minister-led Special Committee overseeing the Maoist combatants before UNMIN scheduled departure on January 15. The three steps he suggested include organising a special ceremony to formally mark the transfer of the chain of command to the Special Committee, the regrouping of combatants into two different categories (those opting for integration and those opting for rehabilitation), and finalising the norms and modalities for integration.

The UCPN-M and CPN-UML forged a consensus to vote against the only Prime Ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel if the latter's candidacy was not withdrawn, informed the UCPN-M vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

January 11: The three major parties –UCPN-M, NC CPN-UML have given a final shape to the taskforce they formed to forge consensus for a political mechanism to complete the task of army integration and advice the Government on various issues related to the peace process after UNMIN scheduled departure on January 15

January 16: The standing committee meeting of the UCPN-M decided to hold parleys with the parties for a Maoist-led consensus Government. President Ram Baran Yadav on January 15 asked the parties to decide on a consensus Government within a week. "The party will stick to its previous decision to present Chairman Prachanda as the new Prime Minister (PM)," said UCPN-M Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma after the meeting. Standing Committee member close to Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, proposed Bhattarai as the leader of the parliamentary party and new PM.

January 17: Intra-party rivalries deepen within the UCPN-M as the Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai and his supporters boycotted the party cadres' training session held at Bhrikuti Mandap of Kathmandu after the party establishment barred him from airing his views. Seven other leaders, including party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who had signed the note of dissent along with Bhattarai, also boycotted the session. Party Secretary C. P. Gajurel later termed the incident 'a mishap'.

The chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda suggested that the party would go for four preparations and four bases for the people's revolt to achieve the party's tactical line of people's federal republic. A cadre of the UCPN-M also claimed that Dahal was for expanding the number of YCL up to 500,000. He also claimed that the bases for revolt were ripe and preparations were a must.

January 18: The Supreme Court stayed the Government's move to arrest and prosecutes 21 cadres of the UCPN-M on murder charges during the insurgency period. A division bench of Justices Top Bahadur Magar and Mohan Prakash Sitaula issued the order. The bench directed, "Not to arrest and detain the defendants and to maintain the status quo till the limitation of time of submitting written explanations from the defendants or till the expiry of limitation of time."

The chairman of UCPN-M Prachanda agreed to hand over the PLA camps to the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants on January 22. Prachanda set the date for the handover ceremony at Shaktikhor, during his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Prachanda claimed that vice-chairman of UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai misinterpreted the decision of the party's Central Committee (CC) regarding management of dissenting views within the party. The Standing Committee (SC) has decided to convene a meeting of the politburo and the CC both on January 19 and 20 respectively to discuss the tug-of-war between Prachanda and Bhattarai factions.

January 21: Vice-chairman of the UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai wrote yet another 'note of dissent' at the party Central Committee (CC) meet, expressing reservations over the conclusion that he breached the party discipline. Leaders close to Bhattarai bloc lashed out at the party decision after a majority of Maoist central members said Bhattarai made a mistake and should apologise for that.

January 23: An unknown armed group shot dead a cadre belonging to the UCPN-M Bhojpura State Committee, identified as Rukshana Khatun (35), in Rautahat District.

Chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda claimed that the country would get a consensus Government under his party leadership within five days. "The chances of the Maoist-led consensus Government within five days are high. There is sufficient ground for this," the Maoist chief told media persons at a conference organised by Revolutionary Journalists' Union in Hetauda.

January 24: The inauguration of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydro Electricity Project got postponed due to the protest threat by Dolakha wing of the UCPN-M. The Dolakha District committee of UCPN-M had demanded that the organiser call off the programme in a press conference in Charikot, Dolakha. They had even threatened to obstruct the programe if the organiser went ahead with the programme. They alleged Government irregularities in organising the inauguration.

January 25: Cadres belonging to the UCPN-M abducted six activists of both NC and CPN-UML in Udayapur District. According to reports, UCPN-M cadres abducted NC activist Dik Bahadur Thapa (45), CPN-UML Lafa village committee chairman Kamal Rai (28), CPN-UML activists Parsuram Thapa (30), Kesar Rai(16), Karna Bahadur Rai (25) and his father Chunuklal Rai. The abduction followed the beating of Dhan Bahadaur Rai at the wedding ceremony of Ram Bahadur Rai, a local.

January 30: The ‘chairman’ of the UCPN-M Prachanda claimed that the new Government would not be formed even by February 6, 2011. He claimed that other parties were hatching conspiracies, despite Maoists’ efforts to form the new Government on time. "Some parties are trying to foil our efforts by convincing their lawmakers to cast invalid votes," he alleged.

Stating that his party would continue its struggle until people’s rights have been ensured, vice-chairman of the UCPN-M, Baburam Bhattarai, warned other political parties not to hope for his party’ surrender. He claimed that parties had been plotting to prevent the single largest party from leading the next Government.

February 1: 10 students of Mahendra Higher Secondary School in Gorkha District were injured in an attack by the YCL. UCPN-M Gorkha constituency-1 in-charge Sakar, sub-in-charge Nischal, YCL Gorkha chairman Ramesh Pokhrel were present when the students were assaulted. The attack by the YCL took place after the School decided to remove a teacher of irregularities.

UCPN-M and the CPN-UML declared their candidates for the election to the post of Prime Minister (PM) slated for February 3, 2011. A SC meeting of the UCPN-M decided to forward its chairman Prachanda and a CC meeting of CPN-UML decided to forward its chairman Jhala Nath Khanal for the post. NC, however, is yet to take a decision on the PM election.

February 4: Police arrested three former cadres of PLA from Bardanda of Syangja District with weapons. According to District Police Office, Syangja, the police recovered a Chinese pistol and three rounds of bullets from them. The arrested PLAs have been identified as Sajan Magar (23) of Sirujha in Rukum District, Ash Bahadur Magar (30) of Shreegandaki and Narayan Aryal (24) of Thumpokhara of Syangja District.

February 6: An unidentified group shot dead, Paltu Mahato (49), a UCPN-M cadre in Yagyabhumi VDC-4, in northern part of Dhanusha District.

February 7: The Standing Committee (SC) member of the UCPN-M Dev Gurung warned that the alliance between his party and the CPN-UML could falter if the latter fails to commit towards the implementation of the seven-point pact. At a program organized by the Reporter’s Club in Kathmandu, Gurung said that Maoists will only support the Government but will not be a part if that UML does not keep its vows.

The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda refuted the reports that the Cabinet could not take shape on February 6 owing to differences between CPN-UML and UCPN-M over sharing powerful portfolios. After a meeting between the two parties at the UML parliamentary party office in Kathmandu, Prachanda claimed that his party has not staked claim to any particular ministries, and made it clear that his party is not going to make power-sharing an issue.

February 8: The UCPN-M and the CPN-UML agreed to offer a "common explanation" of the seven-point deal before the formation of the Cabinet.

February 9: A group of about 10 discharged combatants of the PLA ransacked the Dhagadhi-based office of the UNHCR in Kailali District. The PLA combatants in the act said they attacked the UN office after authorities failed to rehabilitate them as promised. Police arrested seven persons in connection with the incident.

February 10: Speaking at the Parliament, UCPN-M deputy parliamentary leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said his party had decided not to join the Government because of confusing position of the CPN-UML towards the seven-point agreement based on which the UCPN-M party had supported Khanal for Prime Minister. Saying that the UCPN-Maoist would continue its support to the Government for now, but long-term support would depend on how the Government implements the seven-point pact.

February 15: The UCPN-M turned down PM Jhala Nath Khanal’s proposal to expand the cabinet keeping aside the row over Home Ministry for now.

PM and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda clarified that they would stick to the seven-point agreement.

February 16: During a meeting with UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at Baluwatar in the morning, PM Jhala Nath Khanal agreed to appoint 11 ministries from the Maoist party including home, foreign affairs, general administration, physical planning and works and peace and reconstruction. In the meeting, Dahal is known to have proposed Krishna Bahadur Mahara as the leader of the Maoist team in the cabinet. PM Khanal also communicated to chairman Dahal that his party, the CPN-UML, would retain eight ministries including defence and water resources, a source at Prime Minister’s Office revealed. However, the MJF is also learnt to demand the energy ministry in case it decides to join the Government. A Maoist source said the party would make a formal announcement of the party's ministerial candidates by February 17.

Top Maoist leaders, including chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, vice chairmen Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai and general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa arrived in Pokhara to give orientation to cadres on party's policies and strategies. Some 450 senior cadres are participating in the training.

February 17: The UCPN-M reverted to its earlier decision to support the Government from outside, saying that the CPN-UML was yet to fulfill its commitment to the seven-point agreement. The Maoist standing committee's decision came after PM Khanal could not decide on the expansion of his cabinet following a pressure from within the CPN-UML not to give the Home Ministry to the Maoists.

February 18: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda suggested PM and UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal to settle internal dispute in his party first and then ask the Maoists to join his Government.

UCPN-M chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda blamed some senior UML leaders of trying to pull down the Khanal Government. However, Maoist vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai made it clear that his party is not going to withdraw its support to the Khanal Government.

February 21: Prime Minister (PM) Jhalanath Khanal along with the leaders of CPN-UML and UCPN-M has agreed to amend the seven-point-deal. The decision was made at the meeting held at the prime minister’s office in Singhadurbar, prior to the UML’s politburo meeting. PM Khanal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and UML senior leader KP Oli were present at the meeting along with other senior members of the two parties.

February 22: CPN-UML Central Committee (CC) approved the seven-point agreement signed by its chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on February 3, but reinterpreted most of the points.

February 23: Top leaders of the major three political parties - UCPN-M, NC, and CPN-UML - and Constitutional Committee (CC) chairman held crucial discussion on forming a sub-committee to sort out the thorny issues seen in statute-making process. However, no concrete decision was reached among the leaders.

February 24: UCPN-M Secretary CP Gajurel said his party was forming a new youth organisation, which would be more ‘dangerous’ than the existing YCL. "In the past, everybody was afraid of YCL but not anymore. So we are planning to constitute a new force," he said at a function in Sindhuli.

February 25: The UCPN-M decided not to join the Government saying the party is not convinced with the position of CPN-UML on the seven-point agreement.

February 27: The UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda warned that all the factories, industries and hotels across the country will be turned into barracks to ensure the success of the people's revolt the party plans to wage. Prachanda said that Maoists will not tolerate any attempts to halt efforts aimed at ensuring peace and constitution as well as bringing about a radical transformation in the country. He also called upon all the factory workers affiliated to the Maoist party to make "final preparations" for people's revolt with all their power and might. He further said that those who believe that the Maoists will not wage any people's revolt and think that it is just a bluff will soon be getting a rude shock. As reported earlier, in a similar warning he had said that all "the universities would be converted into barracks" if the regressive elements intensified their conspiracies.

The ruling CPN-UML decided to hold "decisive talks" with the main coalition partner UCPN-Maoist to finalize the power-sharing issue and cabinet expansion very soon.

February 28: Mohan Vaidya, the Vice-chairman of UCPN-M has warned that his party will be compelled to withdraw its support to the Government if the current political impasse caused by the inability to expand the cabinet and give a full shape to the Government continues. He insisted that the cabinet should be expanded as per the spirit of the seven-point deal. "If we can't move ahead as per the seven-point agreement, then the Maoist party will withdraw its support to the government," he said, clearly hinting that the onus is on CPN-UML to implement the agreement. He blamed the intra-party tussle in the CPN-UML behind the inability of the Government to expand the cabinet.

Communist leader Dilaram Acharya, who had formed a separate party after splitting from the CPN-Masal led by Mohan Bikram Singh, has joined UCPN-M. Acharya will be made a politburo member of the UCPN-Maoist.

March 1: UCPN-M is preparing to join the Jhala Nath Khanal cabinet even without the home ministry. The Maoist agreed to join the Government even without the home ministry for now. It is learnt that there has been a tentative agreement to keep the home ministry with the Prime Minister himself for now and give the ministry to the Maoist once the segregation of combatants going for integration and rehabilitation is completed.

March 2: The UCPN-M in a meeting of the party Standing Committee decided to join CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal-led Government under the leadership of party foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara. The Maoists decided to put forth 11 leaders. However, a formal notice regarding the party decision has yet to be made public. According to Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma, the party will give a conclusive decision on portfolio allocation after holding talks with Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal in the morning of March 3.

March 3: UCPN-Maoist, which has strongly backed the Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal-led Government, seems positive about joining the Government even though it does not get the Home Ministry portfolio immediately. Maoist leaders say that the party has been positive about joining the Government after Khanal assured that he would hold the Home Ministry for some period and hand it over to them after "concrete progress" is made on the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants. However, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda is still facing difficulties in convincing his deputy Baburam Bhattarai as to why the party should join the Government. Bhattarai has sought a "written commitment" from the Prime Minister about handover of the Home Ministry to them later.

March 15: The main ruling coalition partner, UCPN-M unveiled its new youth squad, People's Volunteers Mobilisation Bureau which will have members from all sister organisations of the Maoist party and will be actively involved in reconstruction of physical infrastructures destroyed during the insurgency, reported Nepal News. Refuting accusations that the party floated the youth squad as a preparation to stage 'people's revolt', Chand said the organisation would create pressure for timely completion of the constitution-writing and the peace process apart from engaging in "development activities and public security" across the country. Coordinator of the Bureau, Standing Committee member Netra Bikram Chand, formally announced the establishment of the Bureau along with a ten member executive body comprising central leaders.

March 23: Prime Minister Khanal, UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MJF chairman Yadav signed an agreement about joining the Government at the PM's residence. MJF agreed to join the Government after UCPN-M and UML expressed commitment in writing to complete the peace process and constitution drafting process on time and address the issues of Madhesh. Khanal agreed to give three ministerial berths to three MJF.

A UCPN-M cadre, Supath Rai, opened fire after a heated verbal altercation with a fellow cadre, Shyam Jarghamagar, at Gauri Puchchhar in Puranojhangajholi area of Sindhuli District .A Maoist cadre said the dispute arose over the "two-line struggle" of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai.

March 27: PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the seven-point deal reached between him and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda won't be scrapped at any cost. He added that another 10-point pact would be forged instead of quashing the seven-point agreement."There could be another 10-point agreement but the seven-point pact would not be trashed at any cost," said Khanal.

March 29: UCPN-M called Tikapur bazaar (market), in Kailali District, bandh (shut down) on March 30 protesting against the alleged Police atrocities while showing black flag to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood.

The UCPN-Maoist decided to dissolve all the three factions of its trade unions, plagued by rivalry and fisticuffs among themselves, and set up a National Assembly Organising Committee. The SC meeting decided to disband all three parallel trade unions affiliated to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Vice Chairman duo Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai. SC took the decision after the three unions led by pro-Dahal Shalikram Jammarkattel, pro-Baidya Laldhwaj Nembang and pro-Bhattarai Badri Bajagain started clashing with each other. According to Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, the internal conflicts of the party would be discussed in the next meeting slated for March 31.

The UCPN-Maoist has not responded to the NA proposal, the Maoist combatants have said the proposal could become a basis of discussion for the integration process. The commanding level PLA officers at the seventh division camp in Kailali said the integration issue could be resolved if the NA's proposal is brought under a positive political discussion and some of its points are revised.

The UCPN-Maoist has not responded to the NA proposal, the Maoist combatants have said the proposal could become a basis of discussion for the integration process. The commanding level PLA officers at the seventh division camp in Kailali said the integration issue could be resolved if the NA's proposal is brought under a positive political discussion and some of its points are revised.

March 30: The tenure of the sub-committee under the CC formed to resolve disputes in the issues to be incorporated in the new constitution has been extended for the second time by 15 days. . A CC meeting decided to extend the sub-committee's tenure till April 14. The UCPN-M has proposed to change the coordinator of the sub-committee, but other parties have not agreed to it. The sub-committee formed over a month ago is led by Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at present. There are over three dozen disputed issues in the draft of new constitution. Although, the sub-committee has resolved many disputed issues during its previous tenures, critical issues like form of governance and state restructuring are yet to be resolved.

The UCPN-M secretary C. P. Gajurel said if the two-thirds majority helps in constitution-drafting process, it should be adopted but the aspiration of all the parties in the CA should be reflected in the process. Gajurel said his party is not for CA term extension.

The UCPN-M Vice Chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai said on March 30 that the accomplishments of peace and statute drafting processes are in peril as internal populi. The Maoist ideologue remarked that the party could split if ideological debates are banned in the party, just like a pressure cooker explodes when if its vapour outlet gets blocked. "Those creating hue and cry inside the party while trying to initiate debate over ideologies are spreading the rumour that the party is splitting," said the Maoist vice chairman, during the fourth annual assembly of a community radio, 'Hamro Radio'. "How can a party that lacks democracy within itself can build a democratic constitution?" Bhattarai questioned, hinting at the internal conflicts within his party.

March 31: The UCPN-M has called for talks between the labour unions and the industrialists to resolve the ongoing conflict in the industrial sector. A meeting of the Maoist standing committee decided to ask the government to take the initiative for talks between the management of the industries and trade unions through the concerned ministry. The Maoist standing committee also noted that the continuous strike and clashes in industries has been a setback for the industrial sector.

With the objective of upholding the spirit of 'people's war', a new intellectual and cultural forum has been formed by the UCPN-M under leadership of Rishiraj Baral.

April 3: Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the UCPN-M is not serious to write the new constitution on time. He accused the Maoists of lingering and making various pretexts as they do not want to issue a new constitution. The Maoist chairman's decision to back-out from the sub-committee under the Constitutional Committee shows that the Maoists are not serious in making the constitution, he said, adding, the UCPN-M must be further pressured to ensure peace and timely statute.

UCPN-M launched its People's Volunteers in the Valley despite internal conflicts. With the party's decision to launch a concentrated group of youths, the PVMB made public the volunteers in different parts of the country. People's Volunteers would is to create pressure for peace and constitution, and also serve the people and begin production and construction work besides providing security to people

April 4: PM Jhalanath Khanal said that the UCPN-M has more responsibility than other political parties for integration and rehabilitation of their combatants.

Speaking at the same programme, NC president Sushil Koirala accused the ruling UCPN-M of creating the terror by forming one organisation or the other rather than cooperating to conclude the peace process.

NC (PP) meeting concluded that the UCPN-M has come to be the main stumbling block in the peace and statute drafting processes.

CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal accused the UCPN-M of running a business of sorts in the name of its combatants.

April 5: UCMN-M 'vice chairman' Baburam Bhattarai said conspiracies to impose presidential rule by derailing the constitution-making and peace process are being hatched.

April 6: The UCPN-M decided to continue with 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's current position as the coordinator of the sub-committee formed to resolve the dispute over key aspects of the upcoming constitution.

April 7: UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said his party will fight 'till the last moment' to ensure peace and constitution in the country. UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda publicly welcomed the Nepal Army proposal on integration.

April 8: DPM and the UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that his party is against the extension of the tenure of the CA.

'Chairman' of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has said that his party was fully committed to completing the peace process and the constitution drafting process. He said both the process can be completed on time if all the parties were honest to it.

A meeting of the office bearers of UCPN-M decided to take up four issues, including the Government's "unilateral decision to bring in the full budget" and the "stagnancy in the implementation of seven-point agreement" with the CPN-UML.

April 9: NC leader Ram Saran Mahat said that Army integration model as proposed by the UCPN-M would not be acceptable, not only to his party but to other parties also.

April 10: UCPN-M Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma accused the NC and the CPN-UML of conspiring to hinder the promulgation of a people's constitution.

NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said lack of consensus among the political parties has put the constitution drafting process in limbo, adding, that the chances of the new constitution being a democratic one is very slim. He said his party would never accept a 'dictatorial' constitution.

The ruling parties CPN-UML and UCPN-M formed eight-member taskforce to decide on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for running the Government. The taskforce has been given a deadline of maximum two days to come up with the CMP and action plan for running the government, according to one of the members

April 11: Former Minister for Information and Communications and CPN-UML Secretary Shanker Pokharel said that the Home portfolio should not be handed over to the UCPN-M at any cost. He also said that the new statute will be promulgated within May 28 deadline if the political parties forge consensus in cooperation. "If no consensus is forged, the nation will plunge into another conflict," Pokharel warned.

April 12: UCPN-M Standing Committee member Dev Gurung claimed that PM Jhalanath Khanal agreed to grant the Home Ministry to his party. "As the main essence of the seven point agreement made between the two parties UCPN-M and CPN-UML is to give the ministry to our party, nobody has the right to scrap the deal," he said, adding "If the deal is scrapped then there would be the possibility of scrapping the essence of the government." He warned that his party is not going to forward names of other ministers in the Cabinet if the Home Ministry is not guaranteed in the next extension of the Cabinet.

CPN-UML leader Pradip Gyawali said the UCPN-M will not be allotted with the Ministry of Home Affairs under any circumstances as his party has decided to keep the portfolio. "The Maoists won't be provided with any kind of security related portfolios as long as the party is not totally detached from weapons," said Gyawali adding that the decision was party's institutional decision. The CPN-UML leader said, "I don't know what others said, but the party's official decision is not to allocate the Maoists with the Home ministry."

The Prime Minister claimed that his party has no dispute with the UCPN-M over power sharing in the process of Cabinet extension. Khanal said that the UCPN-M and CPN-UML have no dispute over the Home Ministry. He further said that they are coordinating with each other to extend the government as its formation was a part of peace and constitution-drafting processes. Responding to a query whether the CA tenure could be extended, PM Khanal said that since the party is active about peace and constitution they have not planned to extend the term.

April 13: PM Jhala Nath Khanal told the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda that the Home Ministry cannot be given to the Maoist party unless it comes up with a time-bound action plan on integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants and constitution writing. The PM's Press Advisor, Surya Thapa, confirmed that the PM made such a statement in a series of meetings with Dahal in the last week. In response, Maoist leaders said they could come up with the plan once the modalities and number for the integration are finalised.

April 14: The six-hour long SC meeting of the UCPN-M failed to decide the names of leaders who would join the Cabinet due to the dispute among three factions, respectively of 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, Vice Chairmen Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya. The list of ministerial contenders in the party is big and all the factions want to send more leaders in the Cabinet from their respective camps. The Maoists are yet to send seven ministers and 11 State Ministers in the Government as per the deal with Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal. According to leaders, there are 12 contenders for seven ministers and 24 for 11 State Ministers.

April 15: The UCPN-M 'vice chairman' Mohan Baidya ruled out the possibility of promulgating the new constitution within May 28. Baidya claimed that it would be impossible to meet the deadline for the new constitution as the Army integration is still pending, and very limited time has been left for finalising the issues related to the new statute. Those most responsible for drafting the constitution including the major parties, chairmen of the Constituent Assembly and Constitutional Committee are not serious about drafting the constitution on time, he added. Baidya also said that his party is firmly committed to 'Prachanda Path' saying it is the "ideological milestone" of the decade-long armed conflict in the nation.

April 16: Two UCPN-M cadres were injured in a clash at Marinkhola in Kalpabrishykha Village Development Committee area of Sindhuli District. Dorge Gole and Shankar Tamang were injured in the clash that ensued over a chemical fertiliser. The dispute was about whether to allow smuggling of chemical fertiliser.

UCPN-M activists in Kailali District have been accused of selling off land seized by them by taking "commission". Reports indicate that some Maoist cadres "pocketed commission" from landowners and clients for facilitating land transaction. For every transaction made, the Maoists take 20 percent "commission" from landowners and five percent from clients.

PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the Home Ministry will not be allocated to the UCPN-M without the assent of other political parties. Stating that all parties must accept the deal, PM Khanal said that proper consultation with other parties and UCPN-M has not been done on the issue of who gets the Home Ministry. "Security is Government's top priority at present. This is why a national consensus is must for allowing the Maoist party to take the responsibility of the home ministry," he added.

April 18: A member of the UCPN-M Nuwakot District Committee Secretariat has been found involved in the murder of three members of a family that took place on March 2 at Newarpani of Bhadrutar-3 of the Nuwakot District. Krishna Pandit, member of the UCPN-M Secretariat was among the seven people found involved in the murder that took place, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police Bal Krishna Thapa.

Meanwhile, the major three parties - Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) - have failed to settle the dispute in the Constitutional Committee (CC) as a meeting held in the morning of April 18 ended inconclusively, Nepal News reports. Earlier on April 17, various 27 parties had given responsibility to the big three parties, CC chairman Nilambar Acharya and Constituent Assembly chairman Subas Nemwang Nemwang for settling issue.

April 20: The ruling UCPN-M has registered its amendment to key clauses in the Bill on Truth and Reconciliation including proposed provision on action against human rights violators during the decade long insurgency. The party has said the proposed legislation had prioritized punishment rather than ensuring reconciliation among parties to conflict and the victims.

April 21: The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on said consensus on all contentious issues surrounding the peace process and constitution drafting can be forged within a week . Dahal said, "We will reach to a conclusion very soon to materialise people's desire for peace and change. We are in a sensitive stage of peace and change. The remaining 35 days for the promulgation of the new constitution is more than enough. Forging consensus within seven days, all problems can be resolved." The proposal of 14 states presented by the State Restructuring Committee can be reviewed and the number of states can be reduced, he said, adding that parties should make a common understanding for this.

April 23: Minister for Peace and UCPN-M leader Barshaman Pun 'Ananta' warned that his party will launch another movement if the CA fails to promulgate the constitution within the May 28 deadline. Pun said, "People will hit the streets if the country does not get the constitution on time. In such a case, we will lead the movement." Pun, nonetheless, said promulgating the statute by May 28 is very much possible, provided the parties forge consensus. Describing the CA as the 'brainchild' of the Maoist party, Pun said his party is ready to do every bit to safeguard it.

April 25: NC activists attacked and injured six UCPN-M supporters in a dispute over construction work at a school in Dhyangphedi Village Development Committee (VDC)-6 in Nuwakot District. The Maoist District Committee claimed that a group of about 20 NC activists led by Sun Bahadur Tamang had attacked its party men. The NC village committee, however, denied involvement of its activists in the attack.

April 26: At least 14 RPP activists were injured in a clash with the UCPN-M cadres at Madi in Chitwan District. According to eye witnesses, the clash ensued after the Maoist cadres suddenly attacked the RPP activists while they were attending a party workers' meeting at Madi.

PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the peace and statute drafting processes would be completed soon as they were common agendas of all political parties. The PM argued the seven-point deal between his party CPN-UML and UCPN-M provided the country with a Government. "The deal ended the impasse then," he maintained, adding that completion of peace and statute drafting processes, social and economic transformation and consolidation of national sovereignty are the major agendas of the seven-point deal. Calling on Nepali Congress to join the Government and help promulgate the statute by May 28, he argued, "However, some time can be granted to the Constituent Assembly in the event of failure."

April 27: The NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula said that the CA term should not be extended until a concrete basis for PLA combatants' integration was prepared,. Sitaula said the present political deadlock will not end due to the Unified UCPN-M double standard.

April 28: UCPN-M Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that integration of the PLA fighters is one of the topmost priorities his party. Shrestha remarked that without the PLA integration, the peace process will not complete. "Concluding the peace process by integrating the combatants is the first priority. Promulgation of a new constitution comes second," he said, adding, the Maoists were for an honourable integration of the PLA. Saying that his party is not standing in the way of integration, he argued, "These status quoists don't want to see the combatants that fought for the people's right and republic turned into the state army."

During his meeting with French Ambassador to Nepal Jean-Charles Demarquis, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said the integration model for former Maoist combatants was being discussed at an advanced stage. "There are encouraging signs from the UCPN-M regarding the peace and constitution writing processes. This will help in building consensus even as the May 28 constitution deadline is fast approaching."

UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said he has not backtracked from the party's tactical line of people's line. "It's only that I want the largest party in the Constituent Assembly to focus more on peace and constitution-making processes as the country is at a critical juncture," Dahal said addressing the party's central committee meeting at the party headquarters in Paris Danda. Dahal said he supported the issues that party vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya has raised and stressed the need to move ahead unitedly.

April 29: The UCPN-M in its CC meeting approved the political dossier of its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda by majority votes, according to Nepal News. Dahal has in his political dossier emphasized the need to conclude the peace process and constitution-drafting to safeguard the political achievements made so far. Senior Maoist leader Dev Gurung later said that party vice-chairman Mohan Baidya, who had tabled a separate proposal in the CC meet vigorously advocating the revolutionary path, filed a note of dissent against Dahal's proposal. Gurung further said that the party's CC meet also concluded that there's no alternative left but to go for the second extension of the Constituent Assembly's term since the May 28 deadline for promulgation of the new constitution is not likely to be met. He, however, said that the party is in favor of an integrated draft of the new constitution by May 28. The vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai faction backed Dahal's document.

The major three parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML - have agreed to speed up the constitution-drafting process. During a meeting convened by CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang in the evening agreed to intensify bilateral and trilateral discussions to thrash out the debated issues, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda informed after the meeting. A discussion among the members of sub-committee under the Constitutional Committee has been scheduled for May 1, he added. Dahal is the coordinator of the subcommittee formed to resolve the debated issues relating to constitution drafting.

The RPP-N urged three major political parties - UCPN-M, CPN-UML and NC -- to dump the ideas of federalism and secularism thereby creating a favourable environment for the reinstatement of monarchy in the country. RPP-N claimed to establish constitutional monarchy and Hindu kingdom through street demonstrations if the big three parties failed to rethink over the issues of secularism, federalism and republic state. The RPP-N leaders demanded that the Government ensure the dissolution of the CA it parties failed to draft the constitution by May 28 deadline.

May 1: UCPN-Maoist 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal warned of agitation from May 29 if the CA is dissolved. The CA term ends on May 28. Addressing the May Day function organised by his party affiliated trade union at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu Dahal said his party would not tolerate if anyone tried to derail the peace and constitution writing process by conspiracy. Maoists raised the demand for CA and initiated the peace process and we cannot see the CA and the peace process aborted, said Dahal. UCPN (Maoist) central committee has recently adopted a political line that focuses at the peace process and the constitution writing as opposed to the strategy of people's revolt passed by the parties Palungtar plenum.

Peace and Reconstruction Minister Barsha Man Pun has claimed that the UCPN (Maoist) has transformed into a democratic party like others as it has approved the democratic path. He added that it was impossible for the UCPN (Maoist) to capture the power at the situation. At a program organised here in the District, Pun, who is representing the Maoists in the government, said that the Maoists have already abandoned the 'hardline course'. "The power cannot be captured at this point of time. We have also joined the democratic politics. Do not doubt in it," Pun said. Hinting at the approval of democratic line for peace and statute by the recent Maoist Central Committee, Pun, also a former PLA combatant said the party has decided to move forward as per the demand of time and age. He ruled out the possibility of completing the drafting of new constitution by May 28 and added that all the parties agreed to it.

May 2: Ruling coalition partners UCPN-M and CPN-UML agreed to extend CA's term that expires on May 28 after forging consensus with other political parties. The meeting between the two parties took a decision to this effect. The meeting also decided to hold discussions with opposition parties including Nepali Congress to bring out early budget and take them into confidence on the matter. Emerging from the meeting, UCPN-M vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said, "The meeting concluded that there is no alternative left but to extend Constituent Assembly's term. But the duration will be fixed after consultations with other political parties."

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said the constitution drafting process can move ahead smoothly only after the peace process is taken to a logical conclusion. Stating that the coalition partner UCPN-M's role is crucial to ensure successful conclusion of the peace process, he said without the active participation and involvement of the Maoist party that task is next to impossible. Khanal praised the crucial decisions taken by the Maoists in favor the ongoing processes of constitution drafting and peace and described them as vital to successfully concluded the peace process.

May 4: UCPN-M has got the Home Ministry in the latest expansion of cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister and Maoist leader in the Government, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who held the communication portfolio, was appointed Home Minister.

MJF, CPN-United, CPN-ML Socialist also joined govt. He inducted eight ministers and four state ministers from the UCPN-M, three ministers and a state minister from the MJF and one minister from each CPN-United and CPN-ML Socialist.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's move to recommend Krishna Bahadur Mahara as a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs has irked the hardliner faction led by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya and his close aides. Peace and Reconstruction Minister Pun resigned his post on May 4 just after Mahara got the Home Ministry. The Baidya faction had threatened to recall their ministers from the Government if the Home Ministry is not entrusted to them, while Pun was threatening to resign from the Government.

May 5: Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav said he will not allow any anti-India activity in Nepali soil. He also said he will maintain the diplomatic protocol and not allow the UCPN-M to "violate" diplomatic norms the way they did while protesting against Indian diplomats in the recent past. He also said Nepal's soil will not be used against any of its neighbours. Nepal's relation with India and China, he said, depends on equality and mutual benefits, but relations with the southern neighbour "is somehow different and is multi-dimensional."

May 6: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a UCPN-M cadre in Rampurbirta area of Siraha District. Two motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead Bindeshwar Mahato at Manaharwa Chok near his house. Mahato was a Siraha District committee member of the UCPN-M. The UCPN-M Siraha District In-Charge Harinarayan Chaudhary said that Mahato was shot due to inter-party feud in the village.

UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the party has prepared a clear-cut action plan for the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants staying in the cantonments to give a head-start to the peace process before May 28.He said he had not been able to table the proposal at the three-party meeting due to absence of Nepali Congress leaders. Dahal claimed that a concrete agreement would be reached within a few days on key issues of peace process including regrouping and rehabilitation packages. More then 19,000 Maoist combatants staying in seven major and 21 satellite camps across the country are awaiting integration or rehabilitation. Dahal denied having any differences within his party over the recent Cabinet.

Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala remarked that the peace and constitution drafting processes would not be possible if the UCPN-M continued its lust for arms and maintained communist mindset. He added that the adherence to the communist ideology that has become extinct from the world would lead the Maoists to its downfall just like other tyrants.

May 8: NC is to seek a written commitment from the ruling parties, especially the UCPN-M, on completing outstanding issues in both the peace and statute writing processes before agreeing to extend the CA. The written commitment, according to NC leaders, will be the only condition for extending the CA tenure beyond May 28, said NC leaders. Two important committees-one on the peace process and the other on statute writing-have almost finalised their draft proposals, which will be forwarded to the ruling parties, after final discussions in the party.

May 9: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda tried to assure the people that the CA term would be extended and the parties will offer a clear roadmap for the peace process and constitution drafting. He said that “we will need at least six months” of extension to promulgate a new constitution. Dahal acknowledged there were differences among the parties and that the new constitution needs to be a compromise document, which would offer “a win-win situation for all.” Dahal also said that his party was prepared to complete the regrouping of Maoist combatants before May 28 and that it is willing to hold open discussions on disputed issues of the new constitution. “Regrouping should and will take place before May 28,” he said. “We will have to provide a credible basis to assure the people that the peace process has moved forward. We have endorsed our plan to move ahead with integration through our Central Committee.”

CPN-UML and UCPN-M are learnt to have informally agreed to find an alternative to the barely few month old Jhala Nath Khanal Government, according to Nepal News. A secret meeting of top leaders of the coalition partners convened at Baneshwor thoroughly evaluated Prime Minister Khanal’s leadership in the Government and decided that an alternative to the current Government is a must to institutionalize the republic by taking the peace process to a logical conclusion.

CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said action will be taken against Prime Minister Jhalanath khanal, who is also UML party chairman, for his decision to allot the MoHA portfolio to the UCPN-M. Nepal reiterated that Khanal will face action for defying the CPN-UML party decision not to give home ministry to the Maoists. He, however, didn’t say what kind of action will be taken against Khanal.

May 10: Police arrested three UCPN-M cadres in connection with their involvement in extortion in Lalitpur District. The arrestees, identified as  Hari Bahadur Bhujel, a native of Kavre, Santa Man Lama of Lalitpur and Ujjwal aka Donang Blon of Lalitpur, were found extorting gullible people in Lalitpur in the name of Valley Tigers’ Group. While Blon is a cadre of Newa State Committee of the UCPN-M, the others are cadres of YCL, the youth wing of UCPN-M. The modus operandi of the trio was to threaten the locals over telephone with dire consequences and compel them to cough up hefty sums of money. It was found that the trio had extorted at least NR 800,000 from denizens of Dhukuchhap Village Development Committee (VDC) of Lalitpur.

The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda hit back at the voices from some political quarters against the imminent extension of the tenure of the CA, claiming that "regressive and status-quoist forces" are plotting to dissolve the CA. Dahal said such are plotting to dissolve the assembly as they are alarmed by the possibility of a constitution dominated by Maoist agendas. He said there is no alternative to extending the CA's term to draft a 'people's constitution' and that the Maoist party would fight till last minute to make sure that the constitution is written from the CA. He, however, did not clarify for how long the CA's term would be extended. Dahal also claimed that a "concrete understanding" would evolve among the parties within a few days on issues concerning the peace process.

May 11: An unidentified group abducted a UCPN-M cadre, identified as Rajendra Dahal, from Jai Nepal chowk in Biratnagar in Morang District.

May 12: The UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda told reporters, “All leaders were of the view that extension of CA was essential but government should be able to justify the extension and come up with a clear roadmap to bring peace and constitution drafting process to a logical end,” adds The Hindu.

The UCPN-M has expressed willingness to agree on the modality of PLA integration, starting the process of regrouping the combatants and introducing a time-bound action plan to complete the peace process before the May 28 deadline. Party leaders said on May 12 they are ready to demonstrate ‘further flexibility’ on the integration and rehabilitation issue to justify the extension of the CA tenure. Different parties are likely to agree on integrating 8-10,000 combatants, according to an unnamed Maoist leader. Parties are close to deal on the mixed force. The Maoists have demanded that the PLA should be given the leadership of the mixed force. “We will settle the outstanding issues related to integration before the expiry of the current Constituent Assembly term,” said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun, adding, “We are ready to demonstrate flexibility to forge a new agreement.” Pun said they will settle the norms issue soon in consultation with other parties.

May 13: The UN continues to list UCPN-M "as a party to conflict using child soldiers" in its latest report. The Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict presented before the UN Security Council on April 23 has included Maoist in the list of 52 armed forces from Asian and African countries that recruit or use children, kill or maim children or commit sexual violence against children during the armed conflict. This is the sixth annual report that has put the Maoists on a watch list for using minors.

UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda expressed serious dissatisfaction over the recent Government move of tabling a bill to extend the current term of the CA by one more year. He told Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal that his party is serious about the PM’s unilateral decision to table the bill. In response, Khanal told Dahal it was important for the Government to table the bill to complete due process for constitution amendment before May 28 as it had become certain that a new constitution could not be promulgated by that date.

May 14: Police in Lamatar area of Lalitpur District arrested Kalpadeep Rai, a leader of the UCPN-M, ANTUF, on charge of attempted of murder of a member of the rival faction in the trade union. Rai is the president of Casino Anna Chapter of ANTUF that lends support to Saligram Jamakattel, who is the leader of faction close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. According to reports, group of about 15 people led by Rai had assaulted and injured Gyan Man Dangol at Jamal in Kathmandu on May 9. Dangol is the treasurer of ANTUF faction close to Maoist vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai at the Casino. Police said Rai was taken into the custody based on a complaint lodged by Dangol.

May 15: The UCPN-Mhave proposed two modalities for Army integration — creating a fifth force — either comprising the PLA only or a mixed force with equal number of personnel from all SFs. “We have not entered the Nepali Army proposal for forming a separate directorate under the national army,” said Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “PLA will lead the fifth force and integration will be unit-wise, but general norms of the security body will be mandatory,” he said. Shrestha said his party was now ready to determine the tentative number of combatants to be integrated through discussions with other parties as it had become imperative to take a decision very soon.

UCPN-M secretary C. P. Gajurel made it clear that his party will go for a ‘people’s revolt’ if the CA fails to deliver the constitution and the political parties fail to integrate Maoist fighters through a consensus, Himalayan Times reports. Gajurel further admitted that disputes within his party have delayed preparations for the revolt. Conceding that ‘’it is [UCPN-M] ready to deploy PLA for border security in coordination with security forces,’’ he warned against ending the PLA’s identity in the name of integration.

May 16: The UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai received death threat from a member of labour union affiliated to his own party. On May 16, party cadres and security guards at party headquarters Paris Danda heard Janak Gadtaula, a central member in the dissolved labour union headed by Shalikram Jammar Kattel and a bouncer at Casino Tara in Hotel Hyatt, saying 'we need to finish vice chairman Baburam in a few days'. Maoist members present at the headquarters at the time of the incident said they also heard Gadtaula instructing his supporters to come in motorcycles and vans to 'finish Baburam.' Gadtaula had gone with about two dozen friends to the party headquarters to pressure the leadership for releasing their peer Kuldip Rai, chairman of the Maoist labour union at Casino Anna, arrested on several charges few days ago. Gadtaula is considered a labour union leader close to Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. Labour union members close to Dahal have blamed Baburam Bhattarai for Rai's arrest. There is serious dispute among three factions of labour unions in UCPN-M. The party headquarters has dissolved all three bodies and has decided to call a national convention to elect a new central committee. The labour union leaders had formed three parallel bodies few days ago.

UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai said the CA term extension will be futile without a clearly designed package deal among the three largest parties and Madhesh-based parties regarding the formation of a national unity government and statute drafting process, reports Himalayan Times. Bhattarai also warned of a serious crisis in the country if such a package deal were not agreed upon. "The CA term should not be extended forcefully. But its dissolution is also detrimental to the nation at present," he said informing that hasty dissolution of CA will make the nation another Afghanistan.

Senior CPN-UML leader K. P. Oli accused two individuals - UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Prime Minister and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal - of running the show in the country by hatching conspiracies. Oli said, "The country cannot move ahead with conspiracies." He also remarked that CA members had wasted three long years forming and toppling governments instead of focusing on the statue-drafting process. He said, "It's useless to extend the CA's term as it has failed to expedite the statue-drafting process even in three years."

A group of 60 UCPN-M cadres from the Chulachuli-based PLA first division camp of Ilam attacked local people of Kamal Jhoda, injuring at least 12 people, According to the account of the local people, the Maoists had entered the village at around 11pm and launched the attack in seven houses. The Maoists also 'captured' five local youths Chabbi Subba, Gyanu Limbu, Birhang Limbu, Dipendra Tumbahamphe and Bishal Sunuwar and took them to the camp. They were freed 16 hours after they were captured in the afternoon of May 17. Two others, who had gone missing after the incident, came in contact in the morning. The PLA first division owned up the attack but refuted the local people''s claim of abducting the five youths. "They were not kidnapped. They were brought to the camp for treatment, as they were injured in the incident," said Sangram Thapa, 'secretary' of the PLA first division camp. Police also said five youths had sustained minor injuries. It is learned that the attack was instigated as an act of revenge, as six PLA combatants were injured in a clash with the local people of Kali Jhoda recently. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (NC) claimed that the people attacked and 'captured' by the PLA combatants were the cadres of the party.

May 17: CPN-UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli said that the plot to kill UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai by his own party cadre was the latest example of violent nature within the Maoists. Oli asserted that the open death threat from responsible party cadre has proved the violent nature of the Maoists. "Their [Maoist] violent nature is the main hindrance in the statute drafting process. The Maoists have never wanted peace," he said.

UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said his party has become alert after revelation of murder plans of vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai inside the party headquarters itself, Nepal News reports. It has been revealed on May 16 that one of the Maoist cadres has threatened to "finish off" Baburam Bhattarai.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is working in full swing to withdraw registered criminal cases against UCPN-M cadres charged with various offences - including serious charges dating back to the period of insurgency. According to some senior Home Ministry officials, since taking charge of the Home Ministry, Krishna Bahadur Mahara has been asking them to expedite compilation of a list of cases registered against Maoist cadres from courts across the country. "The number of cases registered against the Maoists could surpass 300, according to our preliminary findings. Most of these cases were registered during the insurgency. We have been asked to find the status of the cases pending in various courts," an official said. This is not the first time that the Maoist leadership has tried to get their party workers off the book. In October 2008, the Maoist-led Government withdrew 349 criminal cases against its cadres, according to official records. In February 2011, the Attorney General Yub Raj Sangraula went on record saying he would oppose any request from the Government for the withdrawal of court cases.

The UCPN-M politburo member Nawaraj Subedi said the country may grapple with serious crisis if the tenure of the CA is not extended, according to Himalayan Times. He said counter revolutionaries are now making ploy to not prolong the tenure of the CA.

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal asked the UCPN-M to come up with a concrete proposal on integration of the cantoned combatants at the earliest. Khanal stated that integration and adjustment of the Maoist combatants is a must for taking the ongoing peace process into a logical end and requested the Maoists to float integration proposal without further delay. PM Khanal said that it would be impossible to proceed with the constitution-drafting and peace process if no prior agreement on PLA integration is forged among the major parties, and said UPCN-M has major say in this regard. He also asked all the parties, including the main opposition, the NC, to support the amendment proposal of the Interim Constitution for extending the current deadline of the CA by one more year that the Khanal''s government tabled at the Parliament Secretariat last week. He mentioned that it would be impossible to prepare new statute by May 28, saying that nothing as such can be achieved in less than two weeks.

May 18: NC rejected the Maoist proposal of forming a separate security force, including PLA fighters, and prepared its own document, which will be handed over to the UCPN-M said NC sources. "Since the Maoist idea does not comply with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, it is not acceptable to us," said NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula. NC has its own formula of managing Maoist fighters and has floated it as a pre-condition for extension of Constituent Assembly term.

The UCPN-M has decided to submit a "more acceptable proposal" for their Army integration that would incorporate the suggestions forwarded by Nepal Army. "We will soon come up with a next alternative. We are inclined to accept the modality suggested by Nepal Army with some changes," said an unnamed Maoist leader, adding, that the upcoming standing committee of the party would finalise a proposal.

May 19: The (UCPN-M) has decided to adopt the Army integration proposal floated by the NA. The Standing Committee meeting of the party decided to accept the NA's proposal on the integration of its combatants - a key part of the peace process. "Nepal Army's proposal on integration is suitable," said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsa Man Pun after the meeting, adding, "This proposal can be taken as the base of consensus." The Maoists has also hinted that it could depict flexibility on the number of combatants to be integrated. Earlier, the NA had submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal suggesting that a joint security body be constituted incorporating 50 percent former Maoist combatants and fifty percent personnel of all three security agencies- Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force.

Defense Minister Bishnu Poudel urged the UCPN-M to hand over all weapons possessed by the party's cantoned PLA combatants at the earliest. Poudel said the PLAs can no longer keep the weapons with them, adding that "the cantoned combatants and their weapons will not be useful for any sort of battles." He also asked the party to surrender all illegal weapons in its possession, if any. According to him, the peace process would remain as it is unless the UCPN-M decides to hand over all weapons before agreeing on any integration model. In another context, Poudel also accused the coalition partner, the Maoist, of not being serious towards completing the ongoing peace process by May 28 and unveiling the new statute.

May 20: Minister for Home Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that politically motivated cases registered against the (UCPN-M) cadres during the insurgency period would be withdrawn. Mahara said withdrawal of such cases will not breach the Comprehensive Peace Accord. "However, political consensus is a must for the withdrawal of such cases," Mahara conceded. There are more than 300 cases filed throughout the nation against the Maoists cadres. Asked whether the government would drop the case against Maoists lawmaker Balkrisha Dhungel, Mahara said Government will withdraw only politically motivated cases. Dhungel has been implicated in a murder of one Ujjwal Prasad Shrestha in Okhaldunga District seven years ago during the insurgency. The Supreme Court (SC) had slapped a life sentence on Dhungel, in addition to seizure of his property in September 2010.

Minister Mahara said there are several cases, many of them politically prejudiced, against UCPN-M leaders and cadres filed during the conflict, adds Nepal News. "I am the Home Minister, but there are cases even against me," he noted. He maintained that cases of criminal will not be withdrawn.

A day after UCPN-M Standing Committee decided to accept the modality proposed by Nepal Army on integration of PLA combatants, the General Staff meeting of PLA on May 20 put its stamp of approval to the party's decision,. PLA Chief Nanda Kishore Pun, his deputy Chandra Parkash Khanal and commanders of the seven divisions of the PLA concluded that the party had made a "correct decision" on May 19. "There was a unanimous response for the decision taken by the party," PLA spokesperson Khanal said, adding, "We expressed commitment to support the implementation of the decision."

UCPN-Maoist vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha hinted that his party might reconsider its stance on integrating 10,000 combatants into the state security agencies, Nepal News reports. "We have said up to 10,000 [can be integrated]. But, we are ready to talk on that. If they agree for more than 7,000 then we will go for integration. We are still flexible on that," Shrestha said. On May 19, the Maoist standing committee proposed to integrate (at least) 10,000 combatants. He also said his party would maintain flexibility in state restructuring and federalism to make sure that the constitution is written at the earliest, but made it clear that the party would not be ready to change its stance on form of governance. In another context, Shrestha clarified that the seven-point agreement between his party and the CPN-UML will not be annulled as demanded by the Nepali Congress. He maintained that the agreement was meant to facilitate the constitution-drafting and defend the sovereignty of the nation. "However, if the NC wishes to join the government we can have another agreement," he added.

The sub-committee under the (CC) agreed not to include the provision of compulsory military training to citizens above 18 years of age in the new constitution, according to Nepal News. A meeting of the sub-committee formed to settle disputed issues in constitution drafting on May 20 reached a decision to this effect. Talking to the media, coordinator of the sub-committee and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda informed that they have agreed not to include the provision of compulsory military training in the new constitution. Before this, the Maoists had taken an adamant stance on including this provision of compulsory military training to the population of above 18 years in the new constitution. A meeting of the sub-committee on May 19 decided to name the new constitution as 'The Constitution of Nepal'. The sub-committee is yet to resolve 21 more disputed seen in reports submitted by various thematic committees of CC and which includes the governance system, restructuring of the state and electoral system.

May 21: Three coalition partners decided to put forth common proposal to take the peace process to a logical conclusion. Coalition partners -UCPN-M, CPN-UML and MJF made such agreement. Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav decided to bring a common proposal at the meeting. According to the prime ministers press advisor Surya Thapa, the leaders agreed to bring common proposal following consultations with the Nepali Congress.

May 22: UCPN-M standing committee meeting suspended Janak Bartaula for three months for threatening Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai. "Following interrogation, we concluded that Bartaula had lied when he refuted the allegation. Therefore, we decided to take action against him," said party secretary C. P. Gajurel.

The chiefs of the largest three political parties in the ruling coalition have prepared a proposal for army integration and constitution drafting,. A meeting, among Prime Minister and t (CPN-UML) chairman, Jhala Nath Khanal, (UCPN-M) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and MJF chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, prepared the proposal and has decided to discuss it with NC and other Madhesh based parties. According to the proposal, the three leaders have agreed to integrate 6000 to 8000 combatants into Nepal Army as per the integration proposal forwarded by the Army. The three leaders have proposed to have a separate general directorate under the command of a Nepal Army officer. They have also proposed to adopt some flexibility in age, marital status and educational qualification during the integration. For the combatants who want to retire or go for a rehabilitation package, the three leaders have proposed to provide cash or package worth INR 0.5 million to 1 million depending on the rank of the combatants. The three leaders have agreed to complete the integration and rehabilitation process in 12 weeks.

UCPN-M Vice Chairman Mohan Baidhya, Secretary C. P. Gajurel, Dev Prasad Gurung and Netra Bikram Chand signed note of dissent on the last day of the standing committee meeting of the party. "We have opposed the party chairman's [Prachanda] proposal to step back from all earlier decisions on army integration," said C. P. Gajurel, adding, "He has also agreed to regrouping the PLA fighters without determining the modality, besides completing the peace process without any significant progress in the constitution drafting process."

May 23: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern that despite the fast-approaching deadline for Nepal's Constituent Assembly to complete its work, there is still no agreement on the contentious issues of the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants and the key elements of a new constitution, reports Nepal News. Secretary-General Ban recently discussed the situation in Nepal with Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, while the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, spoke by telephone with the leaders of the UCPN-M and the NC to urge the Nepalese leaders to act effectively. "The Secretary-General underlines that it is now more than ever incumbent upon the key political actors to show leadership and carry out the necessary compromises to preserve the peace process and complete the drafting of the new constitution," said a statement issued by UNSG's spokesperson. The deadline for promulgation of constitution expires on May 28, 2011.

May 24: Eight persons were injured when a clash broke out during the management committee meeting of the Khochadas Lower Secondary School in Ranganj Sinuwari in Sunsari District. The clash erupted between supporters of the MJF-L and the UCPN-M after they had disagreement on the appointment of two new teachers under the women and general teacher relief quotas.

May 25: The Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the tenure of the CA which expires on May 28 should be extended for "one last time" after seeking apology from the people, reports Nepal News. Stating that there is a wrong impression among the people that the ongoing processes of constitution drafting and peace process has not seen any progress, Dahal said the fact that more than 250 disputed issues seen in constitution drafting has come down to a mere 21. The ability seen in political parties to effectively monitor the peace process after UNMIN's departure and Maoist People's Liberation Army coming under the jurisdiction of the Army Integration Special Committee has shown that there has definitely been notable achievements and progress in constitution drafting and peace process. He also declared that the lawmakers from his party will not take the salary and other allowances during the extended time period of CA and urged other political parties to follow suit.

May 27: The UCPN-M 'chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda ruled out submission of weapons possessed by the Peoples Liberation Army cadres to the state authority, saying the process would be "illogical and immature". He claimed that the Maoist party is careful in not handing over the weapons the party has to the Government as it belongs to "the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the republic and change". Stating that NC and (CPN-UML have been putting unnecessary demands for submission of the Maoist weapons to the Government, Dahal also urged both the parties to be serious towards forging a national consensus for safeguarding the peoples'' achievements.

UCPN-Maoist secretary C. P. Gajurel declared that his party would not hand over the arms and ammunition to the Government as demanded by NC prior to forging consensus among the parties on the army integration modality,. Claiming that the issue of Army integration and handing over the Maoist's arms and ammunition are interlinked, he made it clear that his party is not ready to give them up prior to the integration process. He also stated that the issue is against the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord.

The UCPN-M is extorting people in Rautahat, Bara and Parsa Districts. The newly-formed Maoist Peoples' Volunteers Bureau is extorting businessmen, Government offices and contractors in the Terai Districts. Victims said bureau members clad in red tracksuits are sending letters to A-ranking constructors and Government offices soliciting resources in the name of reconstructing infrastructures damaged in their insurgency. The bureau reached Mid-Regional Revenue Office at Pathalaiya seeking donation. Office chief Mahendra BahadurBaniya said the bureau had returned after being told that the office could not fulfil their demand. Letters signed by bureau in-charge Biplav say economic, material and logistics support are needed to construct the ravaged infrastructures. However, the Bhojpura State Committee of the party denied its involvement in the extortion drive. Maoist lawmaker Debendra Patel said extortion drive is against his party's policy, adding that the issue would be discussed in the state commit.

May 29: The CA term was extended after a five-point agreement among largest three political parties in the CA -UCPN-M, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML. Although, United Democratic Madheshi Front had also initially given consent to the CA term extension, it later stayed neutral at the time of voting saying the agreement was still not enough to address the cause of the Madhesh. All other lawmakers except those of RPP-N voted for the constitution amendment bill filed by the Government. RPP-N voted against it.

Meanwhile, despite strong reservations from the Madhesh-based parties, the Big Three - UCPN-M, Nepali Congress CPN-UML -- have for the second time agreed to form a high-level State Restructuring Commission, The commission, which will comprise of experts picked by the parties, is expected to recommend the CA a viable model and number of federal provinces to be established in the federal democratic republic of Nepal. The new agreement to form the commission was reached during the three-party meet on May 28.

May 30: Political parties agreed to extend the tenure of the statute sub-committee formed under the CC to resolve the disputed issues seen in constitution drafting. An informal meeting of the three major parties -NC, UCPN-M and CPN-UML - and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda-headed sub-committee called by CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang took a decision to this effect. "We agreed to extend the tenure of the sub-committee during tomorrow's [June 1] meeting of the Constitutional Committee and accelerate the constitution drafting process," Dahal told reporters after the meeting. The tenure of the statute-drafting sub-committee had expired on May 27.

May 31: Political parties agreed to extend the tenure of the statute sub-committee formed under the CC to resolve the disputed issues seen in constitution drafting, reports Nepal News. An informal meeting of the three major parties -NC, UCPN-M and CPN-UML - and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda-headed sub-committee called by CA Chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang took a decision to this effect. "We agreed to extend the tenure of the sub-committee during tomorrow's [June 1] meeting of the Constitutional Committee and accelerate the constitution drafting process," Dahal told reporters after the meeting. The tenure of the statute-drafting sub-committee had expired on May 27.

June 1: UCPN-M in a meeting decided to end the dual security to the party leaders, provided by the State and the PLA, "as soon as possible". However, it did not set any timeframe for ending the dual security. The party also decided to hold talks with Government to legalise the vehicles used by party leaders and the PLA cantonments. The meeting also decided to convert the number plates of the vehicles used by the leaders into private plates. Similarly, the vehicles being used by the PLA in the cantonments will be given white plates, as Government number plates.

June 2: UCPN-M's decision to abandon their double security system, the leaders decided to send the 100 Maoist security combatants to their respective cantonments (those registered inside the valley would be sent to the Shaktikhor cantonment). The weapons held by them would be locked in the Shaktikhor 'container'.

In a strategic move, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda is preparing to shift his focus for the time being to the constitution writing process to ensure that it moves ahead simultaneously with the peace process in the next three months. Insiders in the party said Prachanda took the decision to persuade the disgruntled hardliner faction led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya to accept the party leadership's decision to complete the 'fundamentals' of the peace process as per the five-point deal.

CPN-UML has floated the time-bound action plan for completing the peace process and new statute. Based on the action plan floated by the party through its central committee meeting on June 2, the UML has proposed to make the first draft of the new statute ready latest by August 31. The party also proposed to complete the regrouping of the Maoist combatants into two separate camps - those qualifying for integration in one and remaining combatants requiring rehabilitation in another, informed Pradeed Gyawali. "The time for regrouping of Maoist's combatants is set for July 5," he said. Meanwhile, the UML also proposed formation of State Restructuring Committee by June 13 and limited Maoist combatants for integration at 5000. "Our plan is that the national unity Government will be installed by June 29 and the UCPN-M will lead that Government," added Gyawali. According to him, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal would resign only when the party is fully assured of the alternative candidate to lead the national unity Government.

June 3: UCPN-M approved the five-point deal struck by the three major parties - UCPN-M, CPN-UML and NC)- on May 28 to pave the way for the extension of CA tenure.

June 5: The UCPN-Mformally began the process of sending Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) combatants deployed for the security of Maoist leaders to cantonments. The 48 PLA combatants were deployed for the security of different Maoist leaders under the leadership of division commander Santu Darai. The move will put an end to the dual security system being provided to Maoist leaders. Government security personnel will now fully take charge of security arrangements for the Maoist leaders. Meanwhile, some of the PLA cadres expressed displeasure over the party's sudden decision to send them back to the cantonments. They said they felt 'humiliated' to go back all of a sudden to the cantonments before the completion of the integration process.

June 6: The UCPN-M spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said that his party might choose Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai as the "right candidate" to lead the next National Unity Government as chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is not interested in becoming the next Prime Minister.

June 7: The CPN-UML Vice Chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari remarked that a new constitution could not be promulgated unless without completely disarming the UCPN-M no matter how many times the Constituent Assembly's term is extended. "The possibility to draft new statute within the extended three months time [of Constituent Assembly] is nil," she added.

UDMF, an alliance of five Madhesh based political parties with a collective strength of about 70 members in the 601-member CA, has decided not to accept a constitution that does not include the provision of a single autonomous Madhesh State. A two-day meeting of the Front that concluded on June 6 decided not accept the state restructuring model without a single Madhesh State. The meeting also demanded the establishment of a separate unit for Madheshis in Nepal Army and recruit 10,000 soldiers in bulk from the Madheshi community 'as per the five-point agreement'. The Front also decided to end the unofficial alliance it had with Nepali Congress (NC) before the CA term extension saying NC bypassed the front while signing the five-point agreement with UCPN-M and CPN-UML.

79 PLA combatants who were deployed for the security of UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and other leaders have already reached Shaktikhor in Chitwan District by June 7. The guns used by the PLA soldiers in the course of security for their leaders have also been dispatched to Chitwan in sealed containers with Nepal Police and Armed Police Force escorts. There were 112 PLA combatants who were deployed for the security of UCPN-M leaders. Nepal News adds that after the removal of PLA combatants deployed for security of UCPN-M leaders the government decided to provide additional security by increasing the number of security guards.

June 8: the hardliner faction of the UCPN-M led by Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya that had written a note of decent against ending the dual security system being provided to Maoist leaders opposed to send the PLA combatants back to their respective cantonments,. According to the sources, they have urged the combatants to stay calm and not to rush to return to their respective cantonments at the recent time. Four Maoist leaders have not returned their arms and PLA combatants. Baidya has three combatants and two weapons. Likewise, C. P. Gajurel and Netra Bikram Chand have one arm and two combatants. Similarly, Dev Gurung and Hari Bhakta Kadel have one arm and one combatant.

Reports indicate that though UCPN-M expressed their commitment in public to camp all the combatants and arms used to provide security to Maoist leaders in third division in Shaktikhor, it has not yet been implemented in practice. Only 32 combatants - five on last June 5 and 27 on June 7 - have only been brought back to Shaktikhor division. Similarly, merely two dozen weapons they have been using have been entered into Shaktikhor cantonment. Last week, the Maoist had decided to keep 106 combatants and 92 sets of weapon deployed for the security of Maoist leaders in Shaktikhor camp. But now, only the combatants and weapons deployed for the security of Maoist Chairman Prachanda have been brought. Talking to journalists reaching the cantonment, Santu Darai Parwana, a leader of combatants, declined to say where the combatants and their weapons are. He, however, informed that the combatants and weapons have been sent to different cantonments.

June 11: UCPN-M leader Barshaman Pun ruled out the possibility of handing over the arms before the integration of PLA combatants . He said arms and other objects belonging to combatants would be submitted to the Special Committee along with their integration. "It is meaningless to integrate combatants after they are stripped of arms and belongings. All things stored in cantonments will be handed over along with their integration," he said. He refuted media reports that the Maoists are submitting arms. Stating that the arms used earlier to provide security to party leaders' are being collected, Pun said remaining combatants who are deployed for the security of leaders and their arms would reach camps before the party's central committee meeting this month. Pun briefed the combatants on the proposal about their integration. He said that the combatants want 10,000 of them integrated and another 10,000 rehabilitated.

June 12: A meeting of the AISC held discussion on the modality for the integration of former (PLA) combatants into the Security Forces. The AISC, which has set a deadline of June 19 to finalise the basic integration model, focused primarily on modality and rehabilitation package for the Maoist combatants, informed the chief secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire. The meeting also discussed the proposed golden handshake scheme of NR 450,000 each for combatants wishing to rehabilitate by choosing voluntary retirement, said Ghimire. "However, Maoists leaders have been insisting that the package should be between Rs 700,000-100,000 to attract the combatants towards voluntary retirement," added the chief secretary. AISC members also discussed on setting up a separate directorate under Nepal Army, according to UCPN-M representative Barshaman Pun. It is learnt that Maoist leaders suggested forming a separate combat force, while other parties wanted a specialised force for rescue and relief operations.

June 13: A group close to UCPN-M, the Upper Karnali Struggle Committee, has warned to protest again if the Government awards the construction contract of Upper Karnali hydropower project to the Indian company GMR. The struggle committee organised a protest assembly in Paltada of Baitadi on June 13 and urged the Government not to issue the construction contract to GMR. GMR is the company which prepared the DPR of the project. It is not necessary to provide the construction contract to the company which prepared the DPR, said Dharmendra Bastola of the struggle committee. Bastola is also a politburo member and Seti Mahakali region in charge of UCPN-M. Claiming no hydropower project can be completed without support of the locals, Bastola said, we will not allow any foreign company to invest in Upper Karnali. This project should be constructed with Nepali investment as it is also one of the cheapest hydropower projects, Bastola argued. He also condemned the Government plans to deploy Nepal Army soldiers at the project site and warned of protest against the plan. Locals of the area had vandalised and torched GMR office a few months ago destroying property worth millions. The ongoing DPR preparation work has been stalled after the vandalism. Earlier, Energy minister Gokarna Bista had informed lawmakers at a parliamentary committee meeting that the Government was planning to resume the DPR preparation work of Upper Karnali by deploying NA soldiers for security if required.

June 14: The (NA) cleared its land minefield located at Phulchowki in Lalitpur District, marking the conclusion of the de-mining works,. The NA had started clearing the landmines as part of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed in 2006. The Phulchowki minefield was one of the 53 locations where NA had laid landmines. Altogether 473 landmine casualties - 78 of them were fatal - were reported during the 10-year long insurgency. With the clearance of the last minefield, Nepal has become the second country after China to become landmine-free in Asia. The NA had started placing landmines for the security of its installations after it was deployed against the UCPN-M) insurgents.

The CPN-UML urged the main opposition (NC) and coalition partner UCPN-M) to quit issuing threats of nationwide agitation and people's revolt. "The meeting decided to request Nepali Congress and Maoists to stop issuing threats of agitation and people's revolt and asked them to be serious towards implementation of the recent five-point deal to conclude the peace process," CPN-UML chief whip Bhim Acharya informed reporters after emerging from the Parliamentary Committee meeting.

UCPN-M cadres 'looted' maize planted in about seven bighas (nearly 4.3 hectares) of land in Jogidaha VDC in Udayapur District. A group of Maoist cadres led by district assistant in-charge, Ani, stormed into the cornfield belonging to one Gajaraj Tated and harvested the ripen crop and took it under their control. They later distributed the maize to the local people. The Maoist had announced the seizure of that land three years ago and had distributed it to the local people.

June 15: UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai remarked that leaders of major political parties, including his party (Maoists) are striving to dissolve the CA. He claimed that leaders of all the major parties seemed to be in favour of dissolving the CA rather than saving it. "It was not only Kamal Thapa was in favour of dissolving the CA," he said, adding, "Some leaders of all the parties-be it Congress, UML, Maoists or Madhesh-based parties-were conveying their intentions to dissolve the CA."

June 16: Top three leaders of the UCPN-M expressed their commitment to take the party ahead in unison, dispelling the speculations about deep divide within the party. The leaders, who until recently were coping with ideological dispute, said in one voice that the party will not split under any circumstances.

June 19: As the deadline to finalise the Army integration model comes closer, it has become certain that the AISC will miss the deadline to fix the number of former combatants to integrate and the model of integration. The committee had set a deadline of June 19 (today) to finalise the integration model and determine the number of former combatants to be integrated. Leaders of the major political parties have blamed each other for the delay. (MJF-Loktantrik) leader and AISC member Jitendra Dev claimed, the process has been delayed due to the internal rift in the (UCPN-M).

The taskforce formed at the coordination of Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna by the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda-led sub-committee formed by the CC to resolve disputes in the new constitution has decided to propose a mixed model having both President and Prime Minister with shared executive authority as the form of governance in the new constitution. It has proposed to have a President directly elected from the people and a Prime Minister elected by the parliament with shared executive authority as the future form of governance of Nepal. The taskforce decided to have a mixed model to find middle-path between the mutually exclusive proposals of UCPN-M and NC. UCPN-M had proposed to have a directly elected President with full executive authority and NC had decided to have a Prime Minister elected from the parliament and accountable to the parliament and a ceremonial President as the future form of governance for Nepal. CPN-UML proposed the middle-path to have a compromise between the two mutually exclusive proposals. The taskforce formed a week ago will submit its report to the sub-committee in its next meeting. The form of governance is the major dispute in the new constitution.

Top two leaders of the UCPN-Maoist - chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya - who are at odds on several issues in the recent days have started fence mending exercise from June 19. Dahal and Baidya met and discussed their differences. The leaders have agreed to stop the ongoing separate gatherings of their factions in various districts and take the issues differences to a general convention at an appropriate time, it is learnt.

The NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha said if the UCPN-M fail to make concrete progress in the peace process as agreed in the five-point deal by mid July, his party would lay claim to the Government leadership. Shrestha said, "If the Maoists make progress, NC would be ready to accept a national consensus government under Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's leadership. But if they fail to do so by the end of Ashad, NC would come forward to claim the government leadership." He added that unlike what the District Presidents' assembly has recently called for, the party leaders are doing internal homework to claim the Government leadership after July 15. Shrestha also claimed that NC is ready to accept rotational leadership with the Maoists in two phases--the peace process will be concluded in the first phase and general elections would be held in the second phase. "NC is ready to let the Maoists lead the Government in the first phase provided they make progress in the peace process. In that case, NC would be leading the government in the second phase and hold general elections. But if the Maoists delay the peace process, we take the leadership in the first phase," said Shrestha.

June 20: About 70 UCPN-M cadres abducted three cadres of the CPN-UML and a minor in Makwanpur District. The incident occurred following a dispute over shifting Dandakhaka VDC office in the District the day before. The abducted UML cadres were identified as Lalit Moktan, Tularam Moktan, Padmeshwor Shangtan and his twelve-year-old daughter, sources said.

Top leaders of the major three parties-UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML-held an informal discussions on the implementation of the five-point pact, peace and statue-drafting. The discussion was continuation of the big three parties' efforts to forge consensus on the details of the integration and rehabilitation process of former Maoist combatants-a key part of the four-year-old peace process.

June 22: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal opposed Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara's move to withdraw cases filed against UCPN-M leaders and cadres. According to a source at the Prime Minister's Office, the Maoist party and the CPN-UML are at loggerheads about withdrawing the cases filed since the time of the insurgency.

June 23: UCPN-M Central Committee is meeting from June 24 in a bid to resolve the escalating rift between Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and hardliner Mohan Baidya. The central committee could declare the general convention as a tool to diffuse the ongoing dispute.

June 24: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda proposed opening up discussions on both ideological and political differences in the crucial Central Committee meeting. Dahal said besides public discussions, the party could form a separate internal forum to discuss and forge consensus. Dahal's proposal comes in response to the demand of Vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai to scrap the party's "restrictive" five-point code and allow open discussions on dissenting voices at all tiers.

June 26: The UCPN-M 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has tried to assure other parties that he would not deviate from the line of peace and constitution, reports Kantipuronline. His statement came at a time when the non-Maoist parties are expressing doubts that the internal rift of the party could hamper the peace and constitution writing process. In the recent formal and informal meeting with the leaders of NC and CPN-UML, Prachanda has stated that he could take any decision from ongoing Central Committee meeting despite the hardliner's pressure not to make further concessions on the issues of peace and constitution. Dahal, who has put off the CC meet at least for three days, has intensified intra-party and inter-party consultation to crave party's latest stance on the twin task of peace and statute.

June 28: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and main coalition partner UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda held discussion on the latest political situation of the country including ongoing peace process and constitution drafting on June 28. During the meeting held at PM Khanal's official residence in Baluwatar, in Kathmandu, both agreed to intensify consultation with opposition parties for the effective implementation of the five-point agreement signed by the three major parties -UCPN-M, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on May 28 which led to the extension of the Constituent Assembly's deadline by three months.

June 30: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda dismissed speculations that the Maoist party was heading for a vertical split. Dahal claimed that the ongoing dispute and discourse should be construed as an 'exercise to transform the party and consolidate unity' and that the party was not at all going to split. Dahal's statement comes at a time when he has not been able to conduct the central committee meeting due to factional dispute even after calling the meeting.

July 1: UCPN-M 'vice-chairman' Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the party's internal meetings will resume only after the resolution of outstanding issues, including those related to the annual budget and government policies and programmes, He said that we have started talks with the Government for the resolution of the issues. Our party's internal meetings will take place only after the resolution of issues with the Government. Shrestha said the issues include dues to be paid to the martyrs' kin and to those hurt during the people's war, besides the finalisation of proportional representation in the government.

July 3: According to leaders close to (UCPN-M) 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai could become the prime ministerial candidate of the party if he meets certain pre-conditions put forth by Party Chairman.. Prachanda, according to his confidants, asked Bhattarai not to indulge in factionalism and support him in the party. His new offer comes at a time when Bhattarai is making alliance with another Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya on some organisational issues to end Dahal's monopoly in the party.

Meanwhile, the Morang district committee of the UCPN-Maoist urged all not to provide any kind of financial support and donation to anyone in the name of the Maoist party.

July 8: SC meeting of UCPN-M, the largest party in the CA, ended without reaching any conclusion on the serious intra-party dispute that ails the party. The top party leadership discussed ways to resolve the intra-party dispute and differences, including timely constitution drafting and peace process, according to Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma.

July 10: UCPN-M, called its central committee on July 13. The party standing committee that met for less than an hour at party headquarters in Koteshwar District called the central committee meeting from July 13 this week. According to party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, the standing committee will meet again on July 12 , one day before the central committee meet, to finalise the agenda for the central committee meeting. The standing committee meeting also decided to delegate the task of sorting out the contentions including distribution of power to the central committee.

Lawmakers of the MJF-L Ramananda Manandal and Karima Begum received letters from their party seeking clarification within 72 hours on their alleged tilt towards the UCPN-M.

July 12: UCPN-M general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal', attended a 'secret' joint strategic meeting of the Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai camps. Thapa expressed dissatisfaction at the working style of 'chairman' Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and stressed on the need to develop a culture of multiple-post leadership at the meeting, leaders present at the meeting said.

July 13: The meeting of the UCPN-M standing committee, which was scheduled to take place on July 13 was put off amid mounting internal dispute. The standing committee meeting was called to discuss ways to manage the internal rift and set agendas for July 14 central committee meeting.. Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said that standing committee meeting would be held on July 14.

July 17: UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda not only bowed to demands of rival factions within the party but also offered to reshuffle the party organization and the party's representation in the Cabinet,. The rift among party's top leadership - Dahal and vice chairmen duo Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai - that has virtually driven the party to a brink of a split was also discussed during meeting, reports Nepal News

The five-member taskforce formed by the UCPN-M to make recommendations on a number of agenda suggested the party leadership to replace Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara in the Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's Government with 'vice-chairman' Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

UCPN-M member Barshaman Pun told the Special Committee (on supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants) that the peace process will gain momentum once the party's Central Working Committee resolves prickly issues.

UCPN-M 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda prepared a detailed proposal on reshuffling the Cabinet and internal power-sharing, in which he expressed willingness to nominate secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as a head of the party's military commission to be formed in due time and delegate executive powers to Mohan Baidya, who is already the party's head of organisation department. Barsha Man Pun, a Dahal confidante, who now heads the party's military department, will share responsibilities with Badal. Dahal offered Baburam Bhattarai the post of head of party's parliamentary board and party's candidate for prime ministerial berth but flatly rejected the demand for changing the Parliamentary Party leader.

July 19: UCPN-M 'secretary' C.P Gajurel claimed that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal agreed to hand over the Government leadership to his party after August 31 while signing the seven-point agreement with the Maoist party, reports Nepal News. Gajurel said that his party did not pressurise Jhala Nath Khanal to step down as he had already agreed to make way for the Maoists after August 31.

July 20: Top leaders from UCPN-M and NC discussed the implementation of five-point agreement signed by chiefs of the three largest political parties in the Constituent Assembly - UCPN-M, NC and (CPN-UML) - before the extension of the CA term on May 28,. Talks between the leaders of the two parties were stalled for long time due to the foreign trip of NC president Sushil Koirala as well the internal dispute in the UCPN-M.

UCPN-M 'vice chairmen' trio - Mohan Baidya, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha - decided at a meeting to pressure party 'chairman' Puspha Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to divide key responsibilities among leaders and end the dual responsibilities given to some of the leaders. At the meeting, all three vice chairmen agreed that Dahal had a monopoly in party affairs and that he was ignoring suggestions from other leaders.

July 21: In the Standing Committee meeting, leaders of all the three factions of the UCPN-M, said that their differences should be tabled before the CC for discussions and eventually put to vote should they fail to find common ground. In the meeting, Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda also tried to assure CC members that the top leaders are close to consensus on the issue of peace, constitution and organisational reshuffling. However, Dahal did not elaborate how the leaders are inching close to consensus on organisational reshuffling.

July 22: Meanwhile, a meeting of the UCPN-M) office-bearers failed to find a way out of the ongoing row over power-sharing in the party. According to vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, meeting could not take any decision over the distribution of responsibilities to the leaders and a meeting of the standing committee of the party will dwell on the issue on July 23.

July 23: SFs arrested a UCPN-M cadre, identified as Shyam Magar (24), for possessing firearm in Kathmandu. SFs recovered a revolver and two rounds from his possession.

July 24: UCPN-M central committee decided to call back ministers and state ministers from the party in the Jhala Nath Khanal Government and send a new team led by vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha,. The central committee decided to forward Shrestha as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. According to Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, the central committee decided to forward Post Bahadur Bogati as information and communication minister, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi as physical planning and works minister, Lokendra Bista as health and population minister, Pampha Bhusal as peace and reconstruction minister, Hisila Yami as land reforms minister, Lekhraj Bhatta as commerce and supply ministers, Khadak Bahadur B.K as tourism and civil aviation minister, Prabhu Sah as law and justice minister, Jaypuri Gharti as women, children and social welfare minister, Mahendra Paswan as minister for industry and Onsari Gharti as youth and sports minister.

July 25: Top leaders of the UCPN-M tried to allay the fears of Nepali Congress, saying the decision to reshuffle the Cabinet will not affect the five-point deal implementation and peace and constitution-drafting processes.

July 26: a meeting of senior leaders of the two main ruling allies UCPN-M and CPN-UML was inconclusive as both sides remained firm in their stances over the Maoist central committee's decision to change its team to the Government. The CPN-UML leaders reiterated that the Maoist decision to reshuffle their ministerial team was not acceptable as it would create an atmosphere of distrust among the parties. On the other hand, the Maoist leaders argued that as a coalition partner they had the right to change their ministers and that the Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal was obliged to implement the decision.

July 27: NC President Sushil Koirala proposed UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to lead the new "national unity government" by taking "concrete steps" to complete the peace process and draft the constitution. Koirala committed to backing a Dahal-led consensus Government if the latter would guide the peace process and constitution making to completion. His statement comes amid increasing pressure within his party to name Sher Bahadur Deuba the party's parliamentary party leader and candidate for the post of next prime minister.

July 28: CPN-UML standing committee decided not to go for cabinet reshuffle as proposed by the UCPN-M. The meeting concluded that there was a need for new understanding between the three major parties for national consensus on peace process, constitution-drafting and formation of unity Government. The CPN-UML standing committee also decided to initiate talks with other parties for such as understanding.

July 29: The UCPN-M has warned to withdraw its support to the Government if PM Jhala Nath Khanal fails to reshuffle the Maoist ministers as per the decision of its Central Committee meeting. A meeting of Maoist office bearers on July 29 also decided to call the party's Standing Committee meeting to discuss the issue. PM Khanal and his party are against administering oath to new members stating that it would be against the five-point deal signed on May 29. However, Khanal has assured that he would swear in nine full ministers in the first phase.

July 31: PM Jhala Nath Khanal hinted that he will reshuffle his cabinet on August 1 by inducting some new ministers recommended by the UCPN-M. Speaking at a press conference organised at his official residence in Baluwatar, PM Khanal said, it is my special authority as the Prime Minister to take decisions on appointment and dismissal of ministers.

UCPN-M had given him ultimatum to reshuffle the cabinet by August 1. However, the party retracted its July 30 decision to withdraw its support to the CPN-UML led coalition Government if Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal doesn't reshuffle the cabinet as proposed by the party by the evening of July 31.

With a view to ending the escalating spat between the two ruling parties, UCPN-M and CPN-UML, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on July 31 tried to downplay differences between the two parties and said substantial progress will be made on the peace and constitution writing processes by August 31.

August 1: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that he will resign from his post if he failed to take steps to take the peace process forward by August 13. He said that he was ready to resign despite having clear majority in the parliament and UCPN-M must be serious about its commitments on the peace process.

August 2: PM Jhala Nath Khanal proposed to go for a rotational system with leadership in turn for the remaining period of the transitional phase. Sources close to the PM say that Minister at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ghanasyam Bhusal, was preparing the proposal for UCPN-M and Nepali Congress. In his proposal, Khanal urged NC and UCPN-M to come to a consensus for the first leadership in the rotational system.

August 3: NC president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML senior leader Mahdav Kumar Nepal and TMLP chairman Mahanta Thakur urged UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to take lead of the peace process and new constitution drafting.

August 5: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said his party would come up with a "rational proposal" to forge consensus on integration and rehabilitation of PLA combatants. Dahal said his party was prepared to move ahead and committed to demonstrate flexibility on the integration modality, norms, number of combatants to be integrated, rank determination policy and rehabilitation package. Dahal urged leaders of the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML to agree on reviving the provision of consensual Government.

August 7: The Standing Committee meeting of UCPN-M decided to expedite the tasks of regrouping Maoist combatants and the army integration process. The meeting, however, could not take any decision on the work division though senior vice-chairman and head of the organisational department Mohan Baidhya presented his proposal of work division. According to standing committee member Giriraj Mani Pokhrel, the meeting decided to expedite the remaining tasks of the peace process. During the meeting, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda assessed the political developments in the country after the central committee meeting of the party.

August 8: UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma informed that the party was planning to take forward the regrouping process of its combatants within August 13 after reaching an understanding with the political parties on the number of PLA combatants to be integrated and the rehabilitation package. He however demanded that the Nepali Congress and opposition parties to give surety to the constitution writing process.

The vice chairman of UCPN-M, Baburam Bhattarai said that he was averse to leading a majority Government. He said his top priority was a national consensus Government. The Maoist Central Committee meeting on July 23 had endorsed Bhattarai's name as the party's official prime ministerial candidate. However, leaders from the party chairman camp say Bhattarai should become the Prime Minister of a majority Government if efforts to form a consensus Government fail.

August 9: A UCPN-M student leader, identified as Saroj Gautam, supporting party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai was injured in an attack by fellow student leaders representing the faction led by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in Pokhara in Kaski District.

With three weeks left for the extended deadline of CA to expire, UCPN-M vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai expedited parleys within and outside the party to form a national consensus Government under his leadership. According to sources, Bhattarai was holding consultations with leaders of the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML and Madhes-based parties. In the meetings, Bhattarai assured the other parties that the Maoists will not deviate from the line of peace and constitution.

CPN-UML central committee meeting was put off because party Chairman and PM Jhala Nath Khanal was indisposed. The meeting was expected to discuss the PM's induction of new ministers from UCPN-Maoist in his cabinet against the party's stand.

August 11: Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda agreed to take key decisions for completing the peace process including determining the modality of integration, number of combatants to be integrated and rehabilitation packages before Khanal's resignation. Dahal assured Khanal that his party would take some important decision on army integration soon and asked Khanal not to resign till then.

August 12: A planned cultural show was driving a wedge in the UCPN-M fold in Itahari in Sunsari District. While the panel of party Vice-chairman plans to go with the show at all costs, the faction of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' was hell-bent on stopping the show, saying it will promote factionalism and sow the seeds of disintegration in the party. Chairman of the Maoist-affiliated Nepal Cultural Federation Ishwor Chandra Gyawali pledged on August 12 to stage the show at any cost as it is against 'resident evils'. According to Gyawali, different cultural programmes and a play 'Sapana ra Uniharu' will be staged on August 14, 15 and 16 in Birtamod in Jhapa District, Dharan in Sunsari District and Inaruwa in Sunsari District, respectively.

August 15: UCPN-M Standing Committee Member Bahadur Rayamajhi claimed that his party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattari would be the next Prime Minister through majority basis if the parties fail to forge a consensus on the same. The Maoist leader said that his party was in favour of consensus Government, if Bhattari would not lead the majority Government. Rayamajhi also revealed that the Maoists are endeavoring to bring a concrete action plan on the peace process.

NC and the CPN-UML agreed to accept UCPN-M led Government if the latter presents a work calendar to logically conclude the peace process and forge consensus among the political parties on it. CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel and NC central member Arjun Narsing KC revealed such statement. Reiterating his party's decision not to accept the Maoist-led Government sans conclusion of peace process, KC said that he presented an agenda in the party to accept the Maoist leadership if the former rebel brings a logical calendar to conclude the peace process.

Caretaker PM Jhala Nath Khanal defended the Government's actions and his "efforts for consensus" made during his six-month tenure. Khanal said he fulfilled his promise to step down if no concrete progress on the peace process was made. He said he did not get desired cooperation from the UCPN-M to taking the peace process forward despite helping the Maoists in resolving their internal dispute by giving them the Home Ministry and inducting a new set of Maoist ministers. Saying that the peace process will not move ahead if the Nepali Congress and the Maoists do not show flexibility, PM Khanal described the start of profiling of the Maoist combatants, end of dual security of the Maoist leadership, and the "tentative understanding" on the modality of the army integration, especially on establishing a separate directorate in Nepal Army, as important developments in the peace process.

August 16: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that he fully backed party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai's candidacy for the PM berth and clarified that he himself recommended Bhattarai's name for the post. "We have a unanimous opinion inside the party that a national consensus Government should be formed under Bhattarai's leadership. It is baseless to say that I would not support him," Dahal said.

Meeting of the CPN-UML CC was postponed. According to CPN-UML central party office, the meeting was deferred till Aug 22 as top leaders remained busy in holding dialogue with NC and UCPN-M for the formation of consensus Government. CPN-UML leaders discussed with NC President Sushil Koirala at his residence in Maharajgunj as part of efforts to assist formation of national consensus. Government and discuss the developing scenario after Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's resignation.

August 17: UCPN-M started consultations with other Political Parties in order to garner support for its Prime Ministerial candidate Baburam Bhattarai. Maoist representatives, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, met five chairmen and other senior leaders of the constituent parties of (UDMF) at Singha Durbar for the purpose. Bhattarai said his party formally sought the support of Front and that both sides agreed that there was no alternative to a Government of national unity. This, Bhattarai added, was necessary to complete the peace and constitution writing processes.

NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattai-two prime ministerial candidates for the future Government-held a meeting in Kathmandu. In the presence of Maoist Chairman Prachanda and NC Central member Bimalendra Nidhi, the Maoists reportedly urged the NC to leave the burden of concluding peace process upon their shoulders. Moreover, Deuba and Bhattarai agreed on turn-wise leadership, but disagreed on first leadership.

August 18: UCPN-M Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun said that his party will lead the much anticipated national consensus Government as the political parties are close to reaching an agreement on important issues concerning the ongoing peace process including regrouping of the Maoist combatants - separating those to be integrated and rehabilitated. He further said that the next Government to be formed under the leadership of party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai will ensure timely constitution and take the ongoing peace process to a successful conclusion. Pun, who is also the member of the Army Integration Special Committee, said that his party is ready to finish regrouping of PLA combatants without prior agreement on rank determination and norms. He said the party reversed the earlier stance that all issues be settled before going for regrouping to create an atmosphere of trust among political parties. He hoped that the agreement on the modality of the reintegration of Maoist combatants, the number of Maoist combatants to be integrated and rehabilitation package will be reached by August 31, the deadline for drafting of the new constitution.

UDMF urged the NC and UCPN-M to agree on a single Prime Ministerial candidate for a national consensus Government.

UCPN-M and CPN-UML leaders said that the discussion held between the leaders of two parties was positive. Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, said CPN-UML is positive to accept the Maoist leadership for the national consensus Government.

August 19: Caretaker Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that the political parties are trying to push the nation towards doom by forming another majority Government, reports Kantipuronline. Khanal further said that the peace process and the constitution drafting have not gained momentum due to non-cooperation on the part of the UCPN-M and NC.

With NC and UCPN-M both refusing to budge from their respective stances and CPN-UML indecisive, a national unity Government by the August 22 deadline set by the President appears elusive. NC has made it clear that it won't support a Maoist-led consensus Government until the completion of the peace process and the Maoists have said they are unlikely to back NC's Sher Bahadur Deuba over their own efforts to form a consensus or majority Government under Bhattarai.

The parliamentary committee formed to monitor the implementation of the five-point agreement between the three major parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML- urged the parties to form national consensus Government. The committee asked the parties to go for national consensus Government as per as the five-point deal. The committee members emphasized that a consensus Government was a must to conclude the peace process and the constitution-drafting to a conclusion.

Top leaders of two leftist parties- UCPN-M and the CPN-UML- held talks on matters relating to the formation of the national consensus Government, reports Himalayan Times. The meeting focused on forging ahead by becoming united on the issues relating to the peace process, constitution drafting process and formation of the national consensus government.

August 21: With the Political Parties missing the first deadline to form a national consensus Government, the political leaders have started expressing skepticism about the possibility of forming the much-anticipated consensus Government UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said the probability of forming a national consensus Government was bleak. The Maoist chairman claimed that the political parties were far from consensus.

UCPN-M and the NC, which staked claim to the leadership of a national unity Government, are at loggerheads over the handover of weapons that are with former Maoist combatants. Maoist leaders told opposition leaders that they are ready to complete regrouping of combatants into integration and rehabilitation groups before August 31 and complete it within 10 days of the formation of a new government under their leadership.

August 22: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda admitted that 'intra-party' issues as opposed to 'inter-party' differences are forestalling a unity Government for now, but insisted that the parties have agreed to find consensus on peace process, even if a majority Government were to be formed.

Prachanda conferred with TMLP chief Mahanta Thakur regarding Government formation. Dahal told Thakur that it has become certain that the next Government will be a majority Government instead of consensus one and that Bhattarai will lead it.

August 24: The UCPN-M decided to go for majority Government under the leadership its vice chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai as party leaders said they lost confidence on garnering support from other political parties to form consensus Government under their leadership.

August 25: The UCPN-M came up with a time-bound action plan on integration and rehabilitation of its former combatants, with flexible positions on disputed issues.

August 26: UCPN-M Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai and NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel filed their nominations for the prime ministerial election scheduled for August 28.

August 28: The parliament elected UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai as the 35th Prime Minister of Nepal. Bhattarai received 340 votes while his rival, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, received 235 votes. Altogether 575 lawmakers participated in the voting. While UDMF with 65 lawmakers and few fringe parties supported Bhattarai, Ram Chandra Poudel was supported by the CPN-UML and few other parties in the voting. Pro-monarchist RPP-Nepal boycotted the election process.

The newly elected Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that expediting the peace process and constitution-drafting and providing relief to the people will be his main priorities.

August 29: Newly elected PM Baburam Bhattarai assumed his office in Singha Durbar soon after being sworn in by the President.

NC turned down the request made by newly-elected PM to the party to join the UCPN-M-led Government. However, it assured the PM of "constructive support" to the Government.

August 30: PM Baburam Bhattarai reshuffled the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), hours after the UCPN-M Standing Committee decided to expedite the regrouping process of the ex-combatants from August 31. Bhattarai, as the PM, will now chair the eight-member cross-party committee.

NC condemned the four-point deal signed between UCPN-M and UDMF saying that it was an 'ill-attempt' to challenge the rule of law, promote the culture of impunity and breach past agreements between the parties on peace and statute.

PM Bhattarai met CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and invited the CPN-UML to join his Government. However, Khanal turned down the invitation but expressed his determination to help the present Government in taking the peace process to logical conclusion and drafting a democratic constitution.

The United States said that Nepal´s Maoists needed to do more to be removed from a terrorism blacklist, even though it hopes to work with a new prime minister from the left-wing movement.

August 31: In a major breakthrough in the peace process, the UCPN-M agreed to hand over keys to arms containers to the AISC on September 1. The decision to acquire the arms containers installed at cantonment sites was formalised by the Special Committee led by newly-elected PM Baburam Bhattarai.

September 1: Camp secretaries at five places have handed over keys of the weapons containers to the AISC. The places are Dudhauli, Shaktikhor, Jhyaltungdanda, Chulachuli and Dahaban.

Issuing a press release shortly after the handover of the keys in Shaktikhor and Dudhauli, UCPN-Maoist vice chairman Mohan Baidya warned that the decision would be "suicidal" for the Maoist party itself.

September 2: All the seven divisions of the PLA submitted the keys to the AISC. Six divisions had submitted them on September 1.

At least one cadre of the UCPN-M was seriously injured as cadres close to outfit Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya clashed in Panchkhal of Kavre District. At least 11 other cadres are said to have been injured in the incident. It is understood that the cadres clashed over the issue of handing over the keys to the arms containers to the AISC. The hardliner faction led by Baidya has been protesting against the party's latest move dubbing it as "suicidal."

The Baidya faction called for an hour-long nationwide 'Chakka Jam' (transport strike) protesting against handover of the arms containers' keys. The Baidya faction also boycotted the party Standing Committee meeting. Likewise, party Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa also did not show up at the meeting. However, the reason for their absent was not known.

In a press statement, Prachanda said the decision was not against the party's policies and that Baidya's line did not represent the party's position.

In reaction to the four-point deal reached between UCPN-M and UMDF, human rights watchdogs appealed Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai not to withdraw the criminal cases filed during armed conflict and different movements and not to offer a general amnesty.

September 4: PM Baburam Bhattarai inducted 13 new ministers - six from UCPN-M and seven from main coalition partner UDMF - despite protest from within his party, the UCPN-M. The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M led by party senior vice chairman Mohan Baidya and party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa boycotted the ceremony.

NHRC chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya wrote a letter to PM Baburam Bhattarai and asked him not to withdraw cases filed against those allegedly involved in crime during various political movements.

NC President Sushil Koirala urged the UCPN-M not to be enticed by the international movements - RIM and COMPOSA. Speaking at a program organised in the Capital Koirala urged the Maoists to break out of RIM and COMPOSA's grip and work to conclude peace and constitution.

September 5: Expressing commitment to make all efforts to ensure lasting peace and draft new constitution, ruling UCPN-M chairman Prachanda said successful conclusion of peace process and constitution drafting is possible within the extended three months deadline of the Constituent Assembly.

UCPN-M secretary C.P Gajurel said PM Baburam Bhattarai and party chairman Prachanda must apologise for their decision to hand over the keys of the PLA arms containers to the AISC. He said the dispute seen inside the party could also end if Bhattarai and Dahal offer an apology over the episode.

Bhattarai and Dahal called on NC President Sushil Koirala and assured him that the internal problems would not stall the peace process as they had "strong command" over the party and that they also prepared to use their authority whenever needed.

September 6: PM Baburam Bhattarai said that the Maoists have 'well and truly' rejuvenated the defunct peace process by handing over the keys of the weapons containers to the AISC. He reiterated that the current Government will guarantee constitution and take the ongoing peace process to a successful conclusion.

Earlier in the day Prachanda said the party won't split over the keys handover issue.

September 7: The UCPN-M postponed the party's September 18 CC meeting until September 30. The meeting had been called to resolve a dispute between the party establishment and the hardliner faction led by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya over handover of keys of containers storing Maoist weapons to AISC.

September 9: The relief package of the Government promises, among other things, implementation of the agreement to return the properties seized by the UCPN-M during the insurgency.

September 11: PM Baburam Bhattarai reiterated that the extended three-month time period was the last chance for the parties to ensure peace and statue to people.

UCPN-M chairman Prachanda said the peace process will conclude within a month. He said the Maoist party is flexible on resolving the issues related to the peace process and that the major tasks would conclude in a month as the NC and the CPN-UML are also positive about it.

September 14: A meeting between UCPN-M and NC held to iron out the differences on Army integration ended inconclusively after both of the parties refused budge on their stance.

The hardliner faction of UCPN-M led by party vice chairman Mohan Baidya, which recently took to the streets against the party's decision to hand over keys to the Maoists arms containers, insisted that the public and private property seized by the party during the decade-long insurgency will not be returned even though Prime Minister (PM) and party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai has ordered party's organisations to immediately start the process of returning the property.

The UDMF, an alliance of five Madheshi parties asked PM Baburam Bhattarai to take initiation to implement the four-point deal reached with UCPN-M during the prime ministerial election.

September 15: Maoist vice chairman Mohan Baidya said he is not against the peace process but will not accept "disrespectful treatment" to the PLA and the Maoist party in the name of peace.

UCPN-M secretary C.P Gajurel, a leader close to the hardliner faction of the led by Mohan Baidya, warned to take to the streets again if the party leadership doesn't express regret over the decision to hand over the keys to the Maoist arms containers in PLA camps and satellite camps.

September 18: PM Bhattarai presented a proposal on regrouping of the UCPN-M combatants in the meeting of AISC held. The meeting, however, failed to arrive at a concrete conclusion following differences among the members of the committee on the matter.

September 21: Energy Minister Post Bahadur Bogati warned of unilateral step to gear up peace process if opposition parties- NC and CPN-UML - do not support the UCPN-M-led Government.

The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M held a "secret meeting" in the capital to work out its strategy to counter the party establishment. Most of the central leaders supporting vice chairman Mohan Baidya, including Secretary C.P Gajurel, standing committee members Dev Gurung and Netra Bikram Chand were present in the meeting held at a party venue at Naya Baneshwor.

September 23: UCPN-M vice chairman Mohan Baidya met party chairman Prachanda to 'assert' his faction's position. He informed Prachanda about the recent gathering of the central leaders and cadres loyal to him in the capital.

The YCL announced its different programmes to maintain law and order and assist the commoners during the upcoming festive season.

September 24: UCPN-M chairman Prachanda came down heavily on the Mohan Baidya faction of the party, indirectly terming the hardliners as 'opportunists' and 'rightists'.

September 26: PM Bhattarai held a meeting with UCPN-M chairperson Prachanda to discuss the steps their party ought to take to ensure peace.

Police issued an arrest warrant against Minister for Land Reforms and Management, Prabhu Sah, in connection of the murder of Hindu Yuba Sangh leader Kashi Tiwari. Prabhu Sah belongs to the UCPN-M. Tiwari was shot dead on June 27, 2010 at Ashokbatika in Birgunj Municipality allegedly by Sah's personal secretary Shiyaram Kushawaha and one Aman Kushwaha. In May 2010, Maoists had called an indefinite bandh (general shut down) against the Government led by Madhav Kumar Nepal. Activists of the Hindu Yuva Sangh, then chaired by Tiwari, had then launched an anti-bandh movement, during which they had looted and set fire on food meant for Maoist cadres picketing the strike. A few weeks after the incident, Tiwari was shot dead. However, Minister Sah has claimed that the Police have not issued any arrest warrant against him. He claimed that the news report was part of an attempt to defame him and the Maoist party.

September 28: An unidentified group detonated a bomb at the residence of a UCPN-M leader, Raj Kumar Gaim, in Bhardaha-1 of Saptari District. A bomb disposal team of the Nepal Army diffused two other socket bombs, also planted at Gaim's house. According to Gaim, there was no casualty as only the thread bomb detonated. Gaim has claimed that the motive behind the attack was a political revenge.

September 30: Leaders of the hardliner faction of the UCPN-M started a separate training programme for their cadres. General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa and Secretary C.P Gajurel reached Rajhar of Nawalparasi District to give training to the hardliner cadres.

Top leaders of the ruling UCPN-M and the main opposition, Nepali Congress (NC) said they have sorted out most of the issues [regarding a package deal, aimed at settling all contentions in the peace process and power sharing issues] and are likely to reach consensus immediately after Dashain [15-day national (religious) festival of Nepal], provided things go uninterrupted by inter- or intra-party differences.

October 1: UCPN-M chairman Prachanda said the formation of the Government led by party vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai was a compulsion for him. Speaking at a programme oraganised by a pro-Maoist group of intellectuals in the capital, Prachanda revealed that he recommended Bhattarai unwillingly as he did not have other options before him.

October 2: Police arrested four cadres of the UCPN-M from Jhumka in Sunsari District alleging them of being involved in extortion from one Suman Thapa who was bringing four tractors loaded with timber and firewood to his Jhumka-based sawmill.

October 8: The rival factions within the UCPN-M led by Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya are functioning parallelly creating "parties within a party", according to Maoist leaders close to both the camps.

As the frequency of interaction between the NC and the UCPN-M grows, CPN-UML, the third largest party in the Constituent Assembly, feels increasingly sidelined from key negotiations, several senior UML leaders said on condition of anonymity.

October 20: In a meeting, the AISC decided to assign the technical committee for recounting of the PLA combatants in all seven camps.

The three major parties reportedly struck consensus on integrating of former PLA combatants by forming a new directorate with a non-combat mandate as proposed by the Nepal Army. Leaders, who attended the talks said the parties have 'almost settled' their differences on numbers, modality and rehabilitation package, but are yet to find a meeting point on rank determination and norms of integration.

CPN-UML senior leader KP Sharma Oli accused the UCPN-M of misusing the caliber of its combatants by keeping them at bay in the various cantonments.

October 21: UCPN-M General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa said there should be a serious review of the Government's performance as it is not working in satisfactorily.

UCPN-M Secretary C P Gajurel claimed that the purported agreement between the major three parties regarding the integration of Maoist combatants was wrong.

NC President Sushil Koirala accused Maoists of posing hindrance in the peace process through the issues of integration of the combatants, returning the seized property and the paramilitary structure of the YCL.

October 22: NC President Sushil Koirala said UCPN-M was responsible for hindering the peace process due to its reluctance in implementing the past agreements.

October 23: The UCPN-M chairman Prachanda urged his deputy, vice chairman Mohan Baidya to come up with a clear position about the ongoing peace and constitution-writing processes.

October 24: UCPN-M chairman Prachanda expressed serious reservation on his party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa's allegation that he is following the directive of Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

October 27: Police arrested the four Maoists in connection with an attack on the UCPN-M lawmaker and trade union leader Salikram Jamarkattel on August 27. Police said the reason behind the attack was internal party dispute.

October 30: Four persons were injured after UCPN-M and RJM cadres clashed at Hile in Argha VDC-8. While three of the injured belonged to RJM, one belonged to UCPN-M.

UCPN-M combatants of Lokas Memorial Brigade in Gorage of Baliya VDC-9 of Kailali District assaulted four civilians of Pathariya VDC-2.

October 31: The 'decisive meeting' between top leaders of three major parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML - held at a resort in Budhanilkantha, Kathmandu, to find a common ground on the controversial issues seen in constitution drafting and peace processes has ended inconclusively. However, the three parties decided to meet again on November 1.

November 1: In a much awaited breakthrough in the peace process, the political parties arrived at a consensus following hectic talks held in Baluwatar in the evening. UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal, and Bijay Gachchhadar, as representative of the Madheshi Front, signed the agreement.

As per the agreement, 6500 Maoist combatants will be integrated into the Nepal Army while those opting for rehabilitation will be entitled to NPR 500,000 to 900,000 depending on their ranks and the type of package they choose.

The combatants will be inducted into a separate Directorate of the Nepal Army, which will look after development projects, industrial and forest security and rescue works during disasters. 65 percent of the workforce in the new Directorate will come from different security agencies while the integrated combatants will make up for 35 percent of the force.

Likewise, the combatants will be integrated after completing a bridge course. While the integration will be done as per the recruiting standards of the Nepal Army the candidates will get some concession in terms of academic qualification and age limit (up to one level of academic degree and maximum of three years of age threshold).

Likewise, regrouping of combatants will start within seven days and the process will complete by November 23.

Similarly, the properties seized by the Maoists will be returned by November 23. Those not getting their properties back will be compensated by the State.

The Mohan Baidya faction of UCPN-M opposed the agreement.

A cadre of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Pemba Lama of Bhotang VDC-1, was injured when two local UCPN-M cadres - Raju Tamang and Mangale Tamang - attacked Lama with Khukuris on the charge of having different political belief.

November 3: Nanda Kishor Pun, the Chief of the PLA said that the two-day meeting of the General Staff of PLA held at party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's residence in Naya Bazaar decided to focus all attention towards ensuring proper implementation of the deal. He said the PLA fighters were fully committed to the 'historic' deal and will support the Government for its prompt implementation. The meeting directed all the commanders of the seven divisions of the PLA to help implement the agreement, he said.

The UCPN-M Central Committee meeting was put off till November 13 after VIce Chairman Mohan Baidya tabled a 10-point note of dissent.

The UCPN-M cadres captured paddy harvested in 13 bighas (8.804419 hectare aprox.) of land in Gopka village of Chuha VDC-3 in Kailali District.

November 4: The AISC directed its secretariat to start the regrouping of PLA combatants opting for integration or rehabilitation by November 16. A meeting of the AISC approved the regrouping schedule prepared by the secretariat. As per the 7-point agreement reached between the major parties on November 1, the regrouping of the combatants was to start by November 11, but the secretariat sought five more days to arrange the required logistics. As per the schedule, the regrouping will complete by 23 November.

The Special Committee also directed the secretariat to prepare detailed work plan on implementing the rehabilitation package for combatants, who would not join the Directorate to be established under the Nepal Army. A maximum of 6500 members of the PLA will be integrated into the Army.

November 5: A job seeker, Bir Bahadur Majhi (30), of Rakam Karnali VDC-5 in Dailekh District, issued a statement asking for security claiming he received death threats from UCPN-M leader and Bheri Karnali State Committee member Yogendra Raj Bikram Thapa alias Anam.

November 7: The Maoist hardliner faction led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya said it would resist every effort that is made to take away the land from the poor farmers and the landless.

UNDP Resident Coordinator Robet Piper said the UN was willing to extend all possible assistance for the rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants as per the recent political agreement.

Jit Bahadur Thapa, a local leader of the CPN-UML in Limba VDC-1 of Panchthar District was threatened of dire consequence by Gyanendra Thapa, a local leader of the UCPN-M of the same area. Gyanendra accused Jit Bahadur of playing a role in convicting his son in a rape case.

November 8: PM Baburam Bhattarai and UCPN-M Prachanda decided to visit cantonment sites to encourage combatants to participate in the regrouping process.

The cabinet decided to recommend to President Ram Baran Yadav to grant amnesty to Maoist lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to life by the Supreme Court. Maoist lawmaker Dhungel was given life sentence by the Supreme Court in 2010 for his involvement in the murder of Ujjan Shrestha of Okhaldhunga, but has so far avoided arrest. Shrestha was shot dead by the Maoists at Tarkerabari-7, Okhaldhunga on June 24, 1998, allegedly for spying on the Maoists.

November 9: The hardliners in the UCPN-M said they would not obstruct the regrouping process of ex-Maoist combatants.

November 10: UCPN-M affiliated All Nepal Peasants' Association (ANPA) declared that it would not be returning the properties captured during the conflict.

November 11: The UCPN-M-affiliated employees of Shree Gas Industry in Satkilo, Thakre VDC-4 padlocked the industry after a staff, Bidur Paudel of Thakre VDC-5, was dismissed by the industry administration on corruption charges.

The SC issued an interim order to the Government not to implement its decision to recommend murder convict UCPN-M lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel for presidential pardon.

Speaking at a press conference at the Tribhuvan International Airport on his return from the Maldives PM Baburam Bhattarai said the cabinet's decision was "well thought out" and that he did not consider the opposition parties' objection to the decision as something unusual.

November 13: Different organizations close to the UCPN-M said that the property seized by the party in Chitwan District during the conflict period will not be returned.

November 14: During a meeting held at Shital Niwas, the President's office, President Ram Baran Yadav asked PM Bhattarai to reconsider the controversial cabinet decision to recommend murder convict UCPN-M lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel Dhungel for presidential pardon.

November 15: The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M-led by Vice Chairman urged the party combatants, cantoned in various cantonments across the country, to stay away from the army integration process.

The Maoist leaders and activists close to the Baidya faction were found issuing threats to landowners for selling the captured land cheaply.

November 17: CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal claimed that the collation Government led by Baburam Bhattarai will fall soon. Khanal added that internal dispute of the UCPN-M will create hurdle in the implementation of the 7-point deal signed among the major political parties.

Senior NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said that though the implementation of seven-point agreement is a prerequisite to take the ongoing peace process to a successful conclusion, the recent stance and activities of the coalition Government and the party that heads it - UCPN-M - has raised doubts over whether the deal will actually be implemented.

UCPN-M leaders close to the hardliner faction led by party Vice-chairman warned that they will retaliate against the party leadership and the government over the issue of returning of the seized property.

November 18: The regrouping of the members of the PLA started in three of the seven main cantonment sites (MCS), located in Nawalparasi, Chitwan and Kailali Districts. The process will start in the four other cantonments from November 19. During the regrouping the combatants will be asked to voluntarily choose one of the three options - integration, rehabilitation and voluntary retirement. Before the combatants are asked to choose the options they will get counselling on the packages available. As per the action plan passed by the Army Integration Special Committee, the regrouping process will conclude on November 28.

Secretary of the CPN-UML Shankar Pokharel ruled out the possibility of the Moist-led Government taking the shape of the national consensus Government.

November 23: Regrouping of 5,217 former PLA combatants among the 19,503 of them cantoned in 7 main cantonment sites (MSC) and 21 satellite camps was finished. As per the action plan passed by the Army Integration Special Committee, the regrouping process will conclude on November 28.

According to AISC coordinator Balananda Sharma, the number of former PLA combatants opting for the rehabilitation package is still negligible while the number of those opting for either integration in the armed forces or voluntary retirement is almost the same.

Among commanders supporting the hardliner faction, Division Vice-commander of the Fourth Division Bashu Dev Ghimire 'Pawel' and Brigade Commander Om Prasad Poudel have shown interest in integration.

November 24: General Secretary of ruling UCPN-M Ram Bahadur Thapa warned that the party may suffer a split if its leadership doesn't try to resolve the increasing ideological contention inside the party.

The Supreme Court issued an interim order in the Bal Krishna Dhungel case, asking the Government not to go ahead with the recommendation to pardon the murder-convicted Maoist lawmaker.

November 25: Giving its final verdict on a writ petition challenging repeated extension of the CA's term, the Supreme Court said the CA's term can be extended only one more time and that the Assembly will be defunct if the constitution is not promulgated within the extended term. The court also asked the defendants to decide the duration of the extension after determining whether the constitution would be promulgated through referendum, or to elect new CA, if the current CA fails to do so.

The process of returning property seized by the Maoists officially started with the handover of around 30 hectares of land owned by Binod Dhwoj Chand and his family members at Rajapur VDC-7 in Bardiya.

November 26: Just a day after the UCPN-M returned land seized during the insurgency to its owner Binod Dhwoj Chand in Bardiya, activists from the hardliner faction led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya put up party flag on the land declaring its recapture. However, Police removed the Maoist flag from Chand's property.

UCPN-M Secretary C.P Gajurel said his party will not return seized land as the decision towards that end was not an official party decision. He said the decision to return seized land was a personal decision taken by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and PM Baburam Bhattarai and that the party doesn't abide by personal decisions. Gajurel, who is from the hardliner Baidya faction, further stated that cadres of his faction would recapture the seized land if it is returned forcibly.

November 28: With the UCPN-M failing to issue a clear directive, all the senior-ranking commanders of the PLA decided to opt for integration during the ongoing regrouping process.

November 29: Regrouping process of Maoists combatants was completed in six of seven PLA Divisions in the evening of November 28. The process of regrouping former Maoist PLA combatants that started since last week ended in the First Division cantonment at Chulachuli of Ilam, Second Division at Dudhauli of Sindhuli, Third Division at Shaktikhor of Chitwan, Fourth Division in Nawalparasi, Fifth Division at Dahaban of Rolpa and Sixth Division at Dashrathpur of Surkhet on Monday [November 28] evening while some work remained to be done in the Seventh Division at Talaband of Kailali. Altogether 15,774 combatants among the 19,503 cantoned in seven main cantonment sites (MCS) and 21 satellite camps were regrouped as of November 28. Of the total combatants, 8,738 have opted for integration, 7,031 have opted for voluntary retirement and 5 have opted for rehabilitation package. The final reports, however are yet to come. According to reports, more than 2,500 former Maoist combatants were absent in the regrouping process that came to an end in six main cantonments sites.

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, along with UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, is scheduled to visit PLA Seventh Division Kailali on November 30 to observe the regrouping process and monitor the work being carried out by the Special Committee.

December 1: The regrouping of the members of the PLA concluded in all the seven main cantonment sites located in different parts of the country. According to the secretariat of the AISC, a total of 16,508 combatants have been categorised as per their choices for three options - integration, voluntary retirement and rehabilitation package. Earlier, 19600 combatants were registered in the second verification conducted by the then UNMIN. More than 40 percent of the combatants have chosen integration, which exceeds the agreed integration quota of 6500, while the remaining have gone for voluntary retirement except for around a dozen combatants.

The Mohan Baidya faction of the UCPN-M condemned the killing of senior CPI-Maoist leader, Mallojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishanji by SFs in West Bengal (India).

December 3: UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that his party has not given up the strategy of 'people's revolt' and that the party was prepared to capture power either through election or through a revolt.

The PLA Spokesperson, Chandra Prakash Khanal aka Baldev remarked that the cantonments would be vacated only after the completion of rank harmonization of combatants.

December 5: The members of the PAC of Parliament asked Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to return the allowance issued in the name of proxy People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants.

The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M asked the Dang local administration to suspend the process of returning seized property in the District. The hardliner faction led by Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya suggested that the property seized by the party during the insurgency should not be returned to their rightful owners unless the Government introduces a new system of land- reforms in favour of poor-farmers.

In the presence of some UCPN-M leaders close to the hardliner faction, disqualified PLA combatants have formed an organisation-Discharged People's Liberation Army (DPLA) to fight for their rights and dignity.

A clash occurred between the UCPN-M and CPN-UML cadres at Ghatbazar in Khalanga. The clash ensued when both groups were campaigning for the general assembly of Darchula chapter of Federation of Nepali Chambers and Commerce Industries (FNCCI) which would elect its new leadership.

December 8: Leaders of opposition parties in the Parliament accused Baburam Bhattarai-led Government and the UCPN-M of indulging in corruption and promoting irregularities in an organised manner.

December 9: Nearly two dozen former UCPN-M combatants who were transferred to the YCL at the outset of the peace process have said they have been discriminated against by the party leadership. They demanded equal perks and treatment as enjoyed by the Maoist combatants in the ongoing integration and rehabilitation process.

December 10: Six locals got injured when cadres of the UCPN-M attacked members of a Road Consumers' Committee over a dispute at Khanayokharka of Thakre VDC-4 in Dhading District.

December 12: Over two weeks after the AISC completed the regrouping process, the Nepal Army (NA) and the former Maoist combatants continue to remain at odds over the very basics of army integration. NA spokesperson Ramindra Chhetri went on record saying that the combatants should meet the physical criteria, pass the selection process and attend trainings specified for each rank before serving in the new directorate. However, Suk Bahadur Rokka, the Commander of the Second Division of the PLA said that "None of our friends will opt for integration if they have to go through each and every test and training like that of the regular recruits."

December 13: UCPN-M general secretary C. P. Gajurel said that the party has already split internally and that only the formal announcement is yet to be made. He also said Baidya will head the 'new party'. He also said there are two blocs in the party - the revolutionaries and the 'pro-Baluwatar' bloc. He said the UCPN-M will in fact divide into four parties when it actually splits.

December 14: UCPN-M vice chairman Mohan Baidya dismissed the remark made by party secretary and his confidante C.P Gajurel that the party is on the verge of split, saying that the disputes seen inside the party is in fact getting resolved.

December 15: Just before the regrouping process began, the UCPN-M had decided to send at least 50 percent of the fighters cantoned in the seven cantonments and 21satellite camps for integration. Politburo member Hari Bhakta Kandel, who is loyal to Baidya faction, said the Dahal camp had issued the circular as the number became a "prestige issue" for Dahal due to the party's internal rift.

December 16: The Prime Minister-led AISC failed to endorse a time-bound calendar for vacating cantonment sites after major parties remained sharply divided on implementing the army integration and voluntary retirement programmes together.

December 18: The disqualified combatants of the UCPN-M announced nationwide protest programmes putting forth four-point demands including the cancellation of their disqualified recognition.

Maoist leaders said some senior commanders will go for voluntary retirement once the senior-most rank to be offered to the combatants is decided at the political level.

December 19: In a fresh drive of property seizures, UCPN-M cadres close to the hard-line faction led by party Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya captured two houses and around 22 hectares of land in Kapilvastu District.

December 20: The UCPN-M bid to incorporate "People's War" phrase into the preamble of new constitution that is being drafted has failed as political parties instead agreed to replace it with "Armed Struggle" phrase. A meeting of the Dispute Resolution Sub Committee formed to settle contentious issues seen in constitution drafting and peace process ended the disagreement among the parties over the issue of whether to incorporate "People's War" or "Armed Struggle" into the preamble.

December 22: It has been revealed that half-a-dozen Indian nationals are among the 19,602 PLA combatants verified by the UNMIN in 2007, according to UNMIN's database provided to the Government. The issue came to light during the regrouping process carried out at the seven main cantonment sites last month. A PLA commander acknowledged that six Indian nationals were among those in the PLA ranks and four of them visited the Third Division Cantonment in Shaktikhor, Chitwan. Three of them are said to have opted for voluntary retirement and one for integration.

December 24: The Government is all set to withdraw over a dozen cases involving more than 130 individuals accused of being part of serious crimes including murder, arson and robbery. The withdrawal process initiated in line with the four-point deal signed between the ruling UCPN-M and the UDMF could come into effect at an "appropriate time", a highly-placed Government source said.

December 25: Hundreds of disqualified former PLA combatants, who were discharged last year from the cantonments after being disqualified in the verification conducted by the then UNMIN, staged demonstration against the UCPN-M leadership in Nepalgunj. Local leaders of the Mohan Baidya faction of the UCPN-M were also present during the protest. 4008 disqualified combatants were discharged from the cantonment sites without being provided any benefit.

The intra-party rift within the UCPN-M seemed to have reached a critical stage with the hard-line faction led by Mohan Baidya flatly rejecting party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's formula proposed to patch up the internal differences.

December 26: According to UCPN-M leaders, party Chairman Prachanda will urge the NC and UML top leaders to be flexible on the adjustment of 3,000 additional combatants though the seven-point understanding signed on November 1 has set the limit of only 6,500 for integration.

Addressing a program organised to mark Mao Zedong's 119th birth anniversary in Butwal, UCPN-M Secretary CP Gajurel said Chairman Prachanda is no longer the chairman of the cadres as he agreed to sideline the combatants against the party decision and the sentiments of the People's Revolution.

December 27: Vice chairman of the UCPN-M Mohan Baidya presented separate political paper in the CC meeting stressing that the party should adopt the strategy of immediate revolt.

December 28: CC members of the UCPN-M started discussions on the two separate political proposals presented by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and vice president Mohan Baidya in the ongoing CC meeting at the party headquarters in perisdanda, Koteshwor.

December 29: Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament summoned secretariat of the AISC to clarify about the fund released by the Government for the 2,449 UCPN-M combatants who were not found in the cantonments during the regrouping process.

The disqualified PLA combatants of the UCPN-M enforced far-western region bandh putting forward several demands. The Maoist ex-fighters have been agitating from the past couples of weeks expressing dissatisfaction that the State has kept them out from the cantonments labelling 'disqualified' in an indecent and discriminatory manner.

December 30: Emerging from a meeting of the dispute resolution Sub-Committee under the CC, Sub-Committee coordinator and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that all the disputed issues except the state structuring have been resolved in principle.