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January 1
|
At a meeting of the CA's BAC,
CA Chairman Subash Nembang proposed that he be granted the right
to issue a draft of the Constitution, if the political parties
fail to forge consensus on disputed issues within four days. According
to leaders present in the meeting, NC and CPN-UML indirectly backed
CA Chair Nembang's proposal, while UCPN-M and Madheshi parties'
front said that the proposal was unacceptable.
|
January 2 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang's proposal
for entrusting him with the task of preparing a preliminary draft
of the new constitution has received mixed reactions from the
ruling and opposition parties. Though the main opposition UCPN-M
rejected his idea, the ruling NC and CPN-UML have approved of
it.
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January 3 |
Addressing an event organised
by Mahotari Pariwar Kathmandu, to felicitate chief justice Ram
Kumar Prasad Shah, PM Sushil Koirala said he believed that the
new constitution would be out on its January 22 schedule as a
consensus between the main parties will be reached in the next
three days.
A committee formed to recommend
members/chairpersons of TRC and CED is likely to publish the names
of shortlisted candidates by January 9. The TRC Recommendation
Committee will ask the public to lodge complaints, if any, against
the shortlisted candidates through chief District offices, District
peace committees and Peace Fund Secretariat, Babarmahal. According
to TRC Recommendation Committee member Pradip Pokhrel, the meeting
of the committee finalised the procedures for lodging complaints
against the shortlisted candidates.
|
January 4 |
Concluding that there are slim
chances of agreement among parties, the 30-party alliance led
by the UCPN-M decided to further strengthen the protest program
announced earlier, saying that the ruling NC and CPN-UML are in
favor of enforcing the statute through two-third majority. The
opposition alliance came up with the plan with a day remaining
for conclusion of deliberations at the CA on the report tabled
by the CPDCC. Member of the alliance RK Khusbu informed that the
alliance will protest if the new constitution is promulgated through
majority votes.
The proposal of the CA Chairman
Subas Nembang to entrust him for preparing a preliminary draft
of the new statute has come under fire even from the lawmakers
of ruling parties. Saying that it's not the task of the CA Chairman
to inscribe the draft, lawmakers criticized the proposal floated
by Nembang. During the meeting of the Constitution Drafting Committee
of the CA, CA members of ruling parties said that the onus should
not be transferred to the CA Chairman arguing that the responsibility
to prepare the draft of the statute lies with the committee.
Cross-party negotiators involved
in resolving disputed issues of the constitution drafting process
said an agreement on the long debated issues could be announced
within a couple of days. The ruling and opposition leaders who
have informally resolved some disputes such as electoral system
and the judiciary are trying to find a deal on federalism. They,
however, want to make public the details once all the issues are
settled officially.
The NHRC recommended action against
the guilty in four cases of human rights violations that took
place during the Maoist insurgency. According to a press release
issued by NHRC member Mohna Ansari, the commission has urged the
government to punish the guilty in four cases of human rights
violation and to provide a compensation of NPR 300,000 to the
families of each victim. It has recommended a compensation of
the said amount to the families of each victim who were killed
in a Maoist attack at Beni, the headquarters of Myagdi District,
on March 20, 2004.
Former Speaker and Senior Advocate
Daman Nath Dhungana has been nominated chairman of the proposed
TRC, and former appellate court judge Lokendra Mallik as head
of the CED. The major parties, agreed on the names, which will
be forwarded to the committee responsible for recommending officials
for both the commissions, to be enlisted in the roster of candidates.
|
January 5 |
Speaking at an interaction program
in Kathmandu, NC leader Dip Kumar Upadhyay said that a draft constitution
has to be readied by January 22, 2015 and a full-fledged constitution
has to be issued by May 29, 2015. Upadhyay said, "It is not possible
to issue a constitution on January 22. Therefore, we have to make
adjustments. Parties are narrowing differences on forms of governance,
electoral system and judiciary. Disputes are there only about
the delineation of provincial borders. We will soon reach an understanding
in this regard."
UCPN-M leadership presented a
common proposal, of the party-led thirty-party front, at a meeting
of the four major parties. On the matter of state restricting,
the concept paper has mentioned that there would be ten provinces
in total. Likewise, in terms of form of governance, the concept
paper has proposed division of power between directly elected
president and parliament-elected prime minister along with a mixed
electoral system.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said that the chances of confrontation in the CA
are growing as the ruling parties are preparing to move ahead
bypassing them on the constitution writing course. In a meeting
of the 30-party alliance, that he leads, Dahal said CPN-UML Chairman
KP Oli in particular wanted to promulgate the constitution by
January 22 in his rush to "ascend to power". Dahal informed his
allies that though there were positive indications no solid foundation
had been laid for cross-party agreement on the disputes.
|
January 6 |
Major political parties have started
discussion on an alternative (date) for January 22, the stipulated
date for promulgation of new constitution. A meeting between NC,
UCPN-M and Madheshi parties' front was held at the PM's Baluwatar
residence. According to leaders involved in the discussion process,
parties started discussion on an alternative at a time when the
CA's work-schedule (calendar) has already been affected. There
is confusion at all quarters regarding the date of constitution
promulgation after the parties have not been able to forge consensus
on disputed issues. The parties are now making preparation to
bring a draft of the constitution on January 22 and side by side
announce a new date for promulgation of the constitution.
The ruling coalition partners
NC and CPN-UML are all set to hold a 'decisive talks' with the
UCPN-M-led 30-party alliance, on making efforts to bring the draft
of constitution on the slated date. The meeting of NC and CPN-UML
held at Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, evening
took the decision to hold a decisive meeting with the opposition
alliance.
|
January 7 |
In what could be a positive step
for promulgating a constitution within the deadline, Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda, Chairperson of the UCPN-M, has said
that he would not be a hurdle for issuing a constitution on the
stipulated date of January 22, 2015.
The MJF-N decided to put forth
the common proposal of 30 political parties as its precondition
for consensus. A meeting of the party's political committee, decided
to seek assurance on the implementation of the past pacts signed
with the Madhesi parties and the provisions pertaining to federal
set-up mentioned in the interim constitution.
Top leaders of the four major
political forces have discussed sending the disputes over constitution
making back to the CPDCC of the CA for a few days for seeking
consensus. The chiefs of the four major political forces discussed
the option as they have failed to settle the major contentious
issues through consensus. PM Sushil Koirala from NC, CPN-UML Chairman
KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda and Bijay Gachchhadar from the Madhes-based parties
attended the meeting. "We are ready to send the disputes anywhere,
be it to the CPDCC or any other place, if that helps produce a
new constitution by January 22," Oli told reporters while emerging
from the meeting held at the CA hall at New Baneshwar, Kathmandu.
|
January 8 |
Three major political parties,
the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M have agreed to return the report containing
disputed issues of the new constitution back to CPDCC. A meeting
of the three parties has decided to request CA Chairman Subash
Nembang to send the report back to the CPDCC, in a bid to seek
consensus.
Madhesi parties snubbed cross-party
meeting seeking apology from CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli saying
that his remarks on federalism had hurt their sentiment. "We boycotted
the meeting as Oli has not furnished his apology," said Sadbhawana
Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato, who had a heated exchange with
Oli when the latter remarked that every plain land cannot be part
of Madhes. Oli, however, said he would not apologise at any cost.
"I was presenting my views decently but they abruptly walked out
of the meeting," Oli said after a three-party meeting in Baluwatar,
Kathmandu on January 8. "Convey my message that KP Oli won't apologise
as long as he's alive."
Closed session of the CPN-M first
national convention began in Dang District. Party coordinator
Netra Bikram Chand presented a political paper at the meeting
being held in Tulsipur in Dang District from January 7. Convention
participants are discussing the political paper, sources said.
The party has formed a four-member presidium including leaders
Santosh Budha, Ekraj Bhandari, Tilak Pariyar and Bandhu Chand
to facilitate the discussions. The first convention of the youngest
Maoist party is expected to finalise its plan of action.
|
January 9 |
Speaking at the inaugural function
of City Council of Pyuthan Municipality, Deputy Prime Minister
and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam remarked that the new constitution
will be promulgated on January 22 even if it has to be done through
voting. Gautam, who is also the vice chairman of CPN-UML, said
so at a time when the political parties are, apparently, nowhere
near consensus on the disputed issues of constitution drafting
while the January 22 deadline is just two weeks away. Minister
Gautam said the constitution would be drafted through process
if the parties failed to forge consensus.
The CPDCC of the CA authorised
its Chairman Baburam Bhattarai to forge consensus and table a
report in the next meeting scheduled for January 11. The cross-party
committee has asked Bhattarai to consult with senior leaders along
with CA Chairman Subas Nembang and members of the committee in
order to come up with a draft that is acceptable to all sides.
The Government is bracing for
a potential security threat that could come from extreme left
and right forces in and around January 22, a self-imposed deadline
set by the political parties to promulgate the new constitution.
Though no big security threats have been identified so far, the
Home Ministry's assessment has suggested that the Netra Bikram
Chand-led CPN-M and fundamental religious groups could spur tension
if there is no agreement on constitution drafting. "For instance,
some pro-Hindu outfits could try to derail the constitution drafting
process by demanding restoration of Hindu identity," a senior
Home Ministry official said.
Delegates of the breakaway party
- the Netra Bikram Chand 'Biplav'-led CPN M - have expressed demands
to bring back the Maoists' dissolved conflict-time institutions
like the 'People's Government', PLA and the 'People's Court',
CPN-M spokesperson Khadga Biswakarma told the media. During the
conference, the delegates discussed views regarding the party's
statute proposed by its coordinator Netra Bikram Chand and expressed
their desire to move forward with re-establishing the people's
government, PLA and people's court to fight back against the state.
|
January 10 |
A dissatisfied group from CPN-Maoist
has formed a new Maoist outfit bearing the name CPN-Maoist (Revolutionary).
A press conference was held to inform about the formation of the
party. The party has been formed under the leadership of Bhojendra
Prasad Chaulagain, who previously was involved in the decade-long
insurgency and has lately been active with the CPN-Maoist faction
led by Mohan Baidya. Akash Sharma has been appointed as the General
Secretary of the party. The chairman of the newly formed party
told the media that they were forced to open the new party as
the Maoist leadership deceived them by submitting arms and ammunition
to the government in the name of peace and prosperity. "Submitting
the arms to the government, the then Maoist party cheated us dragging
themselves to an unimpressive path, and hence we were compelled
to announce this new party", said Chaulagain.
The CPN-UML has officially declared
that January 13, 2015 would be the last date for cross-party consensus
and the Legislature-Parliament will formally begin the constitution-making
process on the same day. Organizing a press meet at its party
headquarters at Madan Nagar, Balkhu, Kathmandu, CPN-UML said that
opposition parties have to reach a consensus by Tuesday (January
13); otherwise, time will not wait for them.
In a joint meeting with ruling
NC and CPN-UML at PM Sushil Koirala's official residence at Baluwatar,
Kathmandu, the smaller parties represented in the CA have suggested
the NC and CPN-UML to be highly flexible, but without reaching
unnecessary agreements with the opposition parties including UCPN-M
and Madhesi Morcha, for issuing a constitution.
Ram Bahadur Thapa 'Badal', General
Secretary of the CPN-Maoist, has said that he and his party would
never support the promulgation of a new constitution through the
incumbent CA on January 22. "We will immediately burn the constitution
a day after its issuance," Thapa said at an interaction program
in Dang District.
|
January 11 |
In the interim, the chairman of
CPDCC of the CA, Baburam Bhattarai, briefed the CPDCC about the
informal meetings that he held with leaders of major parties.
Noting that the talks so far were positive, Bhattarai expressed
his hope that the CPDCC would be able to forge consensus on crucial
issues of new constitution by tomorrow (January 12).
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
has written to various key political leaders in Nepal to promulgate
new constitution within the set deadline of January 22 "in the
spirit of compromise and broad interest of the country." In separate
letters addressed to PM Sushil Koirala, NC Vice President Ram
Chandra Paudel, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and UDMF Coordinator Bijaya Kumar
Gachhadar, Secretary General Ban has expressed hope that political
parties in Nepal will be able to deliver an "inclusive and democratic"
constitution within the set deadline.
|
January 12 |
Bandh enforced by the
UCPN-M-led 30-party alliance and the CPN-Maoist, in several parts
of the country turned violent. In Janakpur, a protester identified
as Rajaram Jha (25), died at Bhramarpurachok in Dhanusha District.
Bandh organisers claimed that Jha died due to Police
brutality. Police, however, dismissed the claim and said the victim
was found unconscious on the street and was taken to hospital.
Clashes also erupted in Jhapa, Siraha and Dhanusha. In Parsa,
protesters vandalised half-a-dozen vehicles, some shops and ATM
booths for defying their general strike. Normal life was affected
in Tarai, western, mid-western and far-western Districts as transport
was disrupted while marketplaces and educational institutions
remained closed.
Four major political forces have
failed to iron out the differences over constitution writing within
the four-day time given by the CA, making the preliminary statute
draft impossible by January 22. This has further widened the rift
between the ruling and opposition parties ahead of the statute
promulgation deadline 10 days away. The ruling NC and CPN-UML
have been pushing for a vote in the CA on the disputed issues
while the Maoist and Madhesi parties insist on political consensus.
After a meeting of the CPDCC, Chairman Baburam Bhattarai said
he would submit the report to the Assembly on Tuesday (January
13) by incorporating the achievements made so far. He said that
the names and demarcation of federal states had been a sticking
point.
Retaining its position against
single identity-based federalism, the CPN-UML has decided to push
for the seven-state model it floated jointly with the senior coalition
partner NC. Majority of CPN-UML lawmakers, who spoke at the Parliamentary
Party meet, reiterated the party position against single identity
and called for ensuring equal rights to all the citizens. The
idea of single identity has been rejected by the electorate, lawmaker
Sherdhan Rai said. "We need to go for multiple identities given
our diversity."
At a time when the political parties
are struggling to end the statute stalemate, a senior UN official
arrives in Kathmandu on January 13, to take stock of the progress
in constitution writing. Under Secretary General for Political
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman will stay in the Capital for three days.
The Recommendation Committee formed
to name members for the TRC and CIED, submitted 69 names to the
government. The list does not mention which names are for TRC
and which others are for CIED. The Commission has asked public
to complain against any names within five days at the Ministry
of Peace and Reconciliation or Peace Fund Secretariat, if they
have any.
|
January 14 |
A meeting of the 30-party Front
held in Kathmandu criticised CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang
for holding the CA meet without informing the 19 parties of the
Front representing the CA. According to Gopal Dahit, senior leader
of Tharuhat Tarai Party, today's meeting of the Front held at
Singha Durbar to assess the Newa-Tamsaling and Tarai-Madhes bandh,
decided to deplore the CA Chair for holding the CA meeting after
expressing commitment to postpone it. CA member Dahit said Nembang
had said he would postpone today's CA meeting but did not keep
his word. He also did not inform the 19 opposition parties that
the CA meeting would continue today.
The NC CWC, decided to ask the
CA to make decisions on the proposals that the CPDCC presented,
and forward them to the Constitution Drafting Committee. The CA
meeting has been called on January 16. After it failed to convince
the major parties to forge consensus on crucial issues of new
constitution, the CPDCC-led by UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
had submitted its report, which incorporates several proposals
floated by different political parties to it earlier, to CA Chairman
Subas Chandra Nembang on January 13. The report was later presented
to the CA meeting. The NC further urged the UCPN-M and other parties
to cancel their protest programmes, including general shutdown,
and focus on the constitution-drafting instead.
The FRA led by UCPN-M discussed
their protest strategies within and outside CA and also discussed
how they could collaborate with Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist and
Janajati forces, including Padmaratna Tuladhar-led Indigenous
Nationalities' National Movement.
During a press conference at the
UN House, the visiting UN Under Secretary General for Political
Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, has strongly encouraged the political
leaders in Nepal to conclude the constitution drafting process
through compromise, flexibility and inclusivity. This is a clear
message to both ruling and opposition parties whose political
positions have cast uncertainty on the possibility of the constitution
being issued on January 22 deadline.
|
January 15 |
The UCPN-M is preparing to intensify
protests within the CA and on the streets as the January 22 constitution
promulgation deadline approaches. The opposition party also urged
the ruling coalition to suspend its plan of settling contentious
issues through a vote in the CA arguing that the document of far-reaching
consequence should be drafted on the basis of consensus among
the major stakeholders.
UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda kept himself busy throughout the day holding meetings
with the opposition alliance in a bid to make the alliance of
opposition parties stronger in CA and the streets. He held discussions
with lawmakers, office bearers and standing committee members
of his party in party headquarters Paris Danda, Kathmandu.
When the UCPN-M and Madhes-centric
parties are putting up a united front against the ruling NC and
CPN-UML, the Madhesi parties are also mulling over separate Madhes-specific
programmes. Madhesi leaders say that even though they have been
in alliance with the main opposition party, it is not necessary
that the Maoists and they see eye to eye on every issue.
|
January 16 |
Outside the CA, the UCPN-M has
formed an alliance with the breakaway CPN-Maoist and Janajati
groups and organisations to bolster its position through street
agitation. The party is against the idea of preparing a questionnaire
on the disputed issues for clause-wise voting in the Assembly.
As the CA chairman intends to form a special taskforce to prepare
the questionnaire, the party said it would not accept the move.
A group of CA members led by
the ruling NC and CPN-UML submitted a list of signatures of at
least 413 CA members from the ruling and various other parties
to CA Chairman Subas Nembang demanding promulgation of new constitution
by January 22. On behalf of over two-thirds majority of lawmakers,
Chairman of Rastriya Janamorcha, Chitra Bahadur KC, submitted
the list of signatures to Nembang at the CA hall at New Baneshwar
in Kathmandu.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda instructing party leaders and cadres
in Lalitpur District assured party cadres of foiling any attempt
to promulgate the new constitution through voting process in the
CA.
|
January 18 |
The 19-party block led by UCPN-M
has insisted on forging consensus rather than going for voting
on disputed issues and warned of consequences if the ruling NC
and CPN-UML went ahead with the voting process. During the discussion
on the CPDCC report in the CA, lawmakers representing the Maoists
and Madhesi parties insisted on consensus.
The NEFIN, an alliance of various
Janajati organisations in the country, has said it will not object
to promulgation of the new constitution through voting process
if the statute ensures the rights of Janajati people. In a memorandum
submitted to CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, NEFIN representatives asked
the ruling parties to abide by the past agreements, signed with
Janajati groups, while federating the country. NEFIN leaders also
clarified that there could be flexibility in the number and naming
of provinces. NEFIN leaders demanded that the new constitution
should include mixed electoral system, independent judiciary,
mixed governance system and secularism as enshrined in the Interim
Constitution. They also said that the electoral system should
have a provision of electing minimum of 60 percent seats through
proportional representation.
|
January 19 |
The late night meeting of the
CA was postponed for 1:00 pm on January 20, following strong protest
amidst scuffles by the opposition CA members against the effort
to table a proposal for a committee to develop questionnaires
on the disputed issues of the new constitution. As soon as CA
Chairman Subas Nembang called the name of NC Chief Whip Chinkaji
Shrestha to table the proposal for the formation of the committee,
the opposition members left their respective seats and rushed
towards the rostrum. Some of the opposition CA members resorted
to vandalism after the CA meeting was adjourned, breaking chairs
and microphone, jumping over the tables and throwing chairs towards
the marshals, and hurling their shoes towards the podium. Scores
of marshals were injured in the incident.
CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang
has said that he will take ahead the procedure as the political
parties failed to forge consensus on the contentious issues of
constitution drafting. Nembang summoned the meeting of parliamentary
BAC to take ahead the CA procedure as no agreement could be forged
on the agenda of the CA meeting.
The meeting of Parliamentary BAC
hit a deadlock after the ruling and opposition parties locked
their horns over whether or not to go for CA process. The proposals
tabled at the meeting to constitute a committee to prepare on
the disputed issues of constitution drafting have been turned
down by the opposition parties including the UCPN-M and Madhesi
parties.
Cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led
CPN-M, looted liquefied petroleum gas cylinders from Gwarko-based
main depot of Himal Gas in Lalitpur and distributed them to consumers
free of cost. Shiva Ghimire, president of the Nepal LP Gas Industry
Association, said Maoists looted the cylinders claiming that the
depot had been selling them in black. However, CPN-M cadres claimed
to have taken over 2,000 cylinders from the depot.
|
January 20 |
The standoff in the CA continued,
a day after the Assembly saw members belonging to the UCPN-M and
allies on the rampage following the CA chairman's call to table
a proposal to form a questionnaire committee. The 19-party alliance
continued to protest the bid to table the proposal. CA members,
however, confined themselves to the well of the Assembly Hall.
Preliminary estimates have shown
the unprecedented vandalism that took place at the CA hall on
January 19 caused damage of around Rs 3 million. The estimation
of the loss is based on the collection of details by the CA Secretariat
technical officials, said CA Secretariat.
|
January 21 |
The ruling NC and CPN-UML urged
CA Chairman Subas Nembang to proceed with the Assembly process
to clear the hurdles for the constitution writing. NC Joint Secretary
Purna Bahadur Khadka said "It is now up to the CA Chairman to
explore the options on how to move ahead, as we have asked him
to use his conscience to end the political deadlock. The CA business
should be continued."
Leaders of the NC and CPN-UML
said that it has become impossible to release the new constitution
on January 22 deadline because of the hindrance posed by the UCPN-M
and Madhes-based parties. CPN-UML senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal
said "There can't be any agreements against the national unity
and sovereignty. The promulgation of new constitution tomorrow
(January 22) seems unlikely. We will draft the constitution within
a month."
|
January 22 |
Around 1,000 SF personnel are
being deployed outside the CA building in Kathmandu, the deadline
for the promulgation of a new constitution which by now is highly
unlikely. Given the increasing polarization between the major
political parties over constitution writing process and the recent
spate of violence that erupted inside and outside the CA Hall,
the Government is stepping up security around the CA building
and in areas that have been designated as prohibited zones. Nepal
Police will deploy over 450 officers around the CA building while
an equal number of Armed Police Force personnel will accompany
them to secure the perimeter from possible incidents of violence.
A three-layer security ring has been planned to stave off protesters
from breaking inside the prohibited zones. The SF will be armed
with water cannons, tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
Ten packets of chilli powder have
been recovered from CA building. The packets were found on the
several corners of the building half an hour before the meeting
began.
Despite repeated attempts, the
ruling NC and its alliance partner CPN-UML as also the main opposition
UCPN-M and Madhesh-based parties failed to reach a consensus on
issues ranging from federalism, form of government, judiciary
and electoral system, which made the constitution elusive. This
is a second time that the parties in Nepal failed to deliver a
new constitution. The CA elected in 2008 was dissolved in May
2012 without a new charter. The second CA was elected in 2013
and at its first meeting on January 21, 2014, it resolved to draft
the country's new constitution within a year, by January 22. Nepal's
parties had agreed to draft a new constitution by signing the
Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2006, which ended a 10-year-old
insurgency.
CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang
has put forward a middle path proposal to allow the PP leaders
of all 31 political parties inside the CA to put their views on
finding a path of consensus to end the current deadlock in CA.
Nembang also proposed to give further time to seek consensus.
On the other hand, the ruling NC and CPN-UML said the process
of formation of Questionnaire Committee is underway and it cannot
be stopped.
Senior UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
has apologised to the people for failing to deliver the new constitution
on time as promised. "As per the commitment to promulgate the
new constitution, I take the responsibility on my part and apologise
from my heart," he said in a statement.
The opposition alliance has begun
deliberations on the consensus proposal floated by Bijaya Kumar
Gachhadar, chairman of the 'Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha',
who proposed to send the contentious issues agreed upon-judiciary
and electoral system-to the Constitution Drafting Committee. Gachhadar
also proposed to agree to NC and CPN-UML's stand on form of government
with a note of dissent. Likewise, Gachhadar has proposed carving
6 to 9 provinces and give a two-month period to decide on the
geography, boundary and names of the provinces.
The government has clarified to
the international community that the constitution writing process
would move ahead based on democratic norms and values. The government
informed the representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu
at a time when the international community was expressing concern
to the constitution writing process after the vandalism in the
CA and brawl among the lawmakers on January 20 morning.
|
January 23 |
In his televised address to the
nation, PM Sushil Koirala has said the new constitution would
be promulgated on the basis of mutual cooperation, dialogue and
democratic procedure. Koirala urged all the parties to make the
constitution writing process a success through the CA. "I want
to urge all the political parties to come together for the promulgation
of a democratic republic constitution with national unity and
reconciliation," Koirala said. He said timely promulgation of
the constitution is necessary to end the prolonged stalemate.
Amid the ruling parties' firm
position to initiate the voting process "unilaterally", the opposition
bloc led by the UCPN-M has warned that it could take the extreme
step of walking out of the CA. With CA Chairman Subas Nembang
stating, that January 25 meeting would be decisive in initiating
the voting process for deciding the contentious issues of statute
writing, opposition leaders said they will not accept any proposal
in the CA without agreement with them. Maoist leaders said it
would be easier for them to walk out of the CA process rather
than "abandon their progressive agendas".
Making the announcement to conclude
the agenda to form a Questionnaire Committee following continuous
obstruction of the opposition parties, CA Chairman Subas Nembang
has made it clear that the next CA meeting would be decisive.
"I would like to clear the doubts. The agenda, which belongs to
all of us, is pending at the CA for the last few days," said Nembang
amidst the noisy crowd of lawmakers.
|
January 26 |
A day after CA Chairman Subas
Nembang formed the Questionnaire Committee; former PM and senior
CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, said that the ruling coalition
had made a mistake by tabling its nine-point proposal at the CPDCC
earlier. ?The proposal [mainly for seven-state federation and
reformed parliamentary system] that the Nepali Congress (NC) and
the CPN-UML tabled was a mistake,? said Nepal at an interaction
in Kathmandu.
PM Sushil Koirala made a telephone
call to UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda
and urged him to sit for talks. Dahal is said to have asked the
PM to bring out a concrete proposal for consensus. A meeting of
the ruling parties had assigned the PM to hold talks with the
opposition parties in order to seek consensus on the key issues
of the new constitution. Dahal, made it clear to the PM that it
would be difficult for the opposition to come to the negotiating
table until the ruling parties corrected their decision to move
ahead with the majority process in the CA.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang has
scheduled the first meeting of the CA?s proposal drafting committee
for January 31. Nembang?s move comes a day after he announced
the formation of the committee at the CA plenary on January 25,
amidst sloganeering by UCPN-M and other opposition lawmakers.
?I have scheduled the committee?s first meeting for January 31,?
Nembang told reporters at his chamber at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has
suggested to the ruling coalition to make efforts for drafting
new constitution through consensus. During a meeting with CPN-UML
Chairman KP Sharma Oli and other leaders at the Presidentīs Office,
the president urged the parties to forge consensus.
The UCPN-M led 30-party opposition
alliance has announced a series of protest against the majority
process started by the ruling parties for bringing a new constitution.
A meeting of the alliance, decided to go to the people to demand
withdrawal of the majoritan move of the ruling coalition. The
alliance has said it will hold peaceful interaction, protest,
and sit-ins for a month till Febuary-28.
Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-M has
urged the UCPN-M to quit the CA. Issuing a press statement, Chand
has appealed to the UCPN-M to go to the people and prepare for
struggling for bringing a "peopleīs constitution" through
broader political consensus.
|
January 27 |
The ruling partners in the CA,
the NC and CPN-UML, respectively, have urged the main opposition
UCPN-M including other parties in its alliance for positive support
and cooperation in the constitution drafting process. The alliance
headed by the UCPN-M resorted to violent activities and chose
the way of strike and shutdown in instead of coming to a consensus.
But still we, with a great patience and sense of responsibility,
have focused on democratic system, the ruling parties claimed
in the statement.
As the UCPN-M clings to the faint
hope that there would finally be consensus, its breakaway faction
CPN-Maoist, led by Mohan Baidya, sees no hope at all. ?With the
minimal representation of the progressive forces in the CA, the
UCPN-M is not in a strong bargaining position,? CPN-Maoist Secretary
Dev Gurung said, adding, ?They can only create pressure by staging
street protests.?
|
January 28 |
The UCPN-M, has decided to boycott
the meetings of all parliamentary committees to press the ruling
NC and CPN-UML, into resolving the disputed issues of constitution
writing through consensus. The party has already announced that
it will not be attending the meeting of the Questionnaire Committee
formed despite protests from the opposition to settle the disputes,
as the parties failed to issue a new constitution by the January
22 deadline. The UCPN-M Parliamentary Party meeting, concluded
that there was no point attending the meetings of the parliamentary
committees when the ruling parties were trying to bypass the opposition
parties in the constitution drafting process. The decision of
the Maoist party announcing street protests to exert pressure
on the ruling coalition will affect the functions of more than
one dozen parliamentary committees.
The leaders of MJF-L have been
mounting pressure on their Chairman Bijay Gachhadar not to renege
on the party?s position on the disputed issues of constitution
writing. The leaders have asked Gachhadar to ensure that party?s
position on federalism, forms of government and electoral system
is implemented during the cross-party talks on January 28. Gachhadar
had floated the idea of settling for six to nine states whose
demarcation could be settled later, and on other issues, if agreed
could be sent to the Drafting Committee.
CPN-UML Senior leader Jhala Nath
Khanal said the constitution writing process forwarded by the
CA would not be halted at any cost. Receiving a memorandum submitted
by the Reporters' Club Nepal with an objective to exert pressure
for writing constitution , at his residence in Dallu in Kathmandu,
he said the disputed issues witnessed during the constitution
writing process could be settled through political consensus.
|
January 29 |
The CPN-UML standing committee
meeting, decided to ask the UCPN-M-led opposition alliance to
sit for interparty talks to end the stalemate constitution writing.
The ruling party described the decision to form the Proposal Drafting
Committee as a positive development in constitution making although
the opposition parties have threatened to boycott the CA over
the issue. The ruling parties had decided to form the committee
amid protest by opposition lawmakers.
UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai,
speaking at the Reporters Club Nepal, has said that consensus
is still possible if the parties decide not to go voting to settle
disputed issues in constitution writing and promulgate a new constitution
through majority. Bhattarai, however, said that fruitful talks
with the ruling parties are not possible unless the latter decides
not to bring new constitution through the majority process. The
19-party alliance led by the UCPN-M has decided not to sit for
talks with the ruling parties, unless the latter agrees to settle
the disputed issues in constitution writing through consensus.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda accused the ruling parties of trying to sideline
the party in the constitution drafting process. Presenting a report
on the current political scenario in the country, Dahal said the
ruling parties were deliberately trying to force the UCPN-M into
quitting the CA. He, however, said that his party would not walk
out of the CA as it was his party that had demanded election to
the CA to draft a new constitution.
|
January 30 |
The ruling NC and CPN-UML have
said that the questionnaire formulation process on the disputed
issues of constitution writing will go ahead even if the opposition
parties stay out of the Questionnaire Committee. A day before
the first meeting of the committee responsible for developing
a set of objective questions on the disputes, the ruling parties,
said there was no point in delaying the CA process. Stating that
efforts at consensus could materialise even when questionnaire
formulation is in progress, the ruling parties have asked the
opposition bloc to join the committee without further delay.
Among the proposals are the joint
paper of the ruling NC and CPN-UML that calls for a seven-state
federation with reformed parliamentary system. The Maoists stand
for 10 states, based on the report of the State Restructuring
Commission during the first CA, a position backed by the Madhes-centric
parties too. The latter have also registered their separate proposals
on the contentious issues. The Maoists are for directly-elected
President as the executive head. To woo the opposition, ruling
leaders have been reaching out to the key players informally,
to no avail. Opposition parties have said they will not be on
the questionnaire panel.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said, that the opposition front his party
leads finds it hard to sit with the ruling parties for talks without
first scrapping the Questionnaire Committee formed to prepare
for voting on the disputed issues. In an unplanned meeting with
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala at his residence in Lazimpat, Dahal
urged the NC chief to create an environment for consensus through
dialogue with the ruling NC and CPN-UML.
As the ruling and opposition parties
are at loggerheads over the way to resolve the disputed issues
of the constitution writing process, President Ram Baran Yadav
reiterated his call for consensus. A day before a scheduled meeting
of the Questionnaire Committee, he asked the opposition parties
to prioritise national interests and settle disputed issues even
by resorting to a give and take.
|
February 1 |
The UCPN-M has warned the NC and
CPN-UML not to push it to the brink by going ahead unilaterally
in the constitution drafting process. If the ruling parties continue
to sideline them and try to draft the new constitution on the
basis of their numerical strength in the CA, said party Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in a press conference
at the party headquarters, Perisdanda, Kathmandu, such circumstances
could force them to opt out of the CA process altogether.
Dahal reiterated that there can
be no negotiations with the ruling parties until there is the
guarantee of scrapping of the ongoing majority process in the
CA and returning to consensus process in constitution drafting.
The Maoist chief said the top leaders will reach the people to
inform them about the ?conspiracy being made by the ruling parties?
to dampen the political gains. According to the official decision
of the party, leaders Dahal, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji
Shrestha will stay outside the Capital to lead political movements.
Dahal will take the command of the central region, Bhattarai western,
and Shrestha will lead the movement in the eastern region. The
Central Committee has decided to intensity the agitation across
the country.
The SLMM has reiterated its position
of not holding talks with the ruling NC and CPN-UML until an environment
?conducive? to consensus is created. The Madhesi alliance has
also directed its lawmakers to visit their respective constituencies
to ensure effective implementation of the protest programme. Sadbhawana
Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato also informed that the SLMM remains
firm on the position of the alliance on the contentious issues.
|
February 2 |
The Questionnaire Committee of
the CA, formed a nine-member subcommittee to formulate objective
questions on the contentious issues of constitution writing for
voting purpose. According to cross-party leaders, the subcommittee
will formulate questions by February 4 and submit them to the
committee. CA member from CPN-UML Agni Kharel leads the sub-panel
which prepares questions mainly on the disputes related to federalism,
forms of government, judiciary and electoral system. The subcommittee
will prepare questions on the basis of the reports submitted by
the CPDCC and the discussions held in the full House on the contentious
issues of the new constitution.
The fourth-largest RPP-N boycotted
the committee meeting after the ruling parties turned down its
proposal to prepare questions on federalism, republicanism and
secularism. The UCPN-M and Madhes-based parties are outside the
committee stating that they do not support a majority approach
in constitution drafting. Out of the 31 parties in the CA, 20
have expressed dissatisfaction at the committee.
Deputy PM and Minister for Home
Affairs Bam Dev Gautam has said that the constitution will be
promulgated within the next four months. He made such remarks
at a time when other leaders of ruling parties have been claiming
that the constitution will be promulgated within few weeks. Minister
Gautam, who is also the vice chairman of CPN-UML, said the threats
and intimidation would not affect the constitution writing process.
Speaking at a press conference Gulariya in Bardiya District, Gautam
remarked that one cannot get their demands fulfilled through weapons.
He went on to say that the opposition's threats of possible civil
war in case of failure to promulgate the constitution are just
rants.
Top UCPN-M leaders - Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji
Shrestha - are set to leave Kathmandu to lead the protests in
the central, western and eastern region respectively. The three
leaders will go in their constituencies as decided by party's
Central Committee on February 3, leaders said. Dahal, Bhattarai
and Shrestha held the meeting of their respective commands.
|
February 3 |
CPN-UML Chairman K. P. Sharma
Oli said that the constitution will be promulgated even if the
UCPN-M-led opposition alliance does not come on board the constitution
drafting process. Oli made it clear that his party is working
on the foreground of constitution drafting rather than for government.
PM Sushil Koirala said that the
constitution drafting process will not stop at any cost. He said
the constitution drafting process will not stop because of threats,
brags, and blackmails from the UCPN-M. "The obstruction caused
in the constitution drafting process has been criticised and rejected
ubiquitously. They [oppositions] don't want to forge consensus
and try to blackmail us when we ask them for an agreement?As the
prime minister, I have raised myself above party politics and
even gatecrashed Prachanda's [Pushpa Kamal Dahal] party meeting
for talks. But he put a condition of dissolving the Questionnaire
Committee. Who am I to dissolve a committee formed by the CA [Constituent
Assembly]? I replied him [Dahal] I don't have the authority to
dissolve it," Koirala said. Koirala made it clear that no meetings
will be held with pre-conditions and the constitution will be
promulgated even through process.
The CPN-Maoist-Baidya has decided
to join forces with other agitating parties to launch a joint
protest against the ongoing constitution writing process. It said
that it could also forge an agenda-based alliance with the main
opposition, UCPN-M. In a political document tabled at the party's
central committee meeting on February 1, CPN-Maoist-Baidya Chairman
Mohan Baidya said that the party's relations with other protesting
forces will depend on their agendas.
|
February 4 |
The Proposal Drafting Committee
under the CA has sought additional five days to complete its tasks
of converting unresolved issues of the new statute into questions
in objective format for voting. A meeting of the committee, made
the decision after its failure to complete assigned tasks within
the set deadline of February 4.
Chairman of MJF-L Bijaya Kumar
Gachhadar has said that there should be three states in Madhes
for political consensus. Talking to reporters in Biratnagar Airport,
Gachhadar said three states in Madhes would facilitate political
consensus over the issue of federalism. "Biratnagar should be
the capital of one of the Madhesi states as the people in the
East are not ready to accept Janakpur and Birgunj as the capital,"
said the MJF-L chief, but declined to divulge details on federalism.
After two-and-a-half years of
party split, the Central Committee meeting of the Mohan Baidya-led
CPN-Maoist has formally decided to approach the UCPN-M for reunification.
The CPN-Maoist that had boycotted the election to the second CA
has also urged the UCPN-M to quit the CA and join forces with
them against the existing system.
|
February 6 |
The UCPN-M Chairman and Coordinator
of the opposition alliance Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda
during a meeting held at Shital Niwas, informed President Ram
Baran Yadav that their protest was a compulsion as ruling parties
NC and CPN-UML started working unilaterally. The UCPN-M Chairman
remarked that the ruling parties have not initiated any stern
efforts for consensus, and said that they had no option than to
hold programs of protest.
President Yadav urged the opposition
alliance to cease their protest programmes and sit for talks.
"There is a danger that the nation will move towards conflict
and consensus cannot be forged with increasing bitterness," said
Yadav, "The leaders of ruling parties have also said that they
are ready for consensus, stress on consensus."
|
February 8 |
The questionnaire subcommittee
formed under the Proposal Drafting Committee of the CA has prepared
a total of 242 questions relating to disputed issues in constitution
making. The subcommittee prepared the questionnaire related to
state restructuring. "We prepared a list of 72 questions on the
disputes related to state restructuring," Communist Party of Nepal-Unified
Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chief Whip Agni Kharel told reporters
at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. On state restructuring, various proposals
ranging from five-province model to 14-province model registered
by various political parties and lawmakers have been included
in the list of questionnaires.
Madhes-based parties protesting
against the formation the questionnaire committee in the CA have
said that the letter from Prime Minister Sushil Koirala appealing
the opposition to sit for talks was vague, unclear and abstract.
Vice-chairman of MPRF-D, Jeetendra Narayan Dev said the opposition
parties would respond to the letter after a meeting of the 30-party
alliance on February 9.
Talking to journalists at the
District headquarters Siraha, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda has said that his alliance was ready to
sit for a dialogue if the ruling parties created trustworthy environment
for the same. Chairman Dahal also said that the environment conducive
for talks would be created if the government sent a letter inviting
them for a dialogue. He said that the country would go on the
way to conflict if the ruling parties did not stop constitution
drafting process on the basis of majority. It was unfortunate
that the constitution drafting process has been taken ahead by
ignoring the spirit of past agreements held among the parties.
|
February 9 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang, while
receiving the report of the questionnaire committee at Singha
Durbar, Kathmandu has said he will take the majority course of
constitution making process ahead on the basis of the report of
the CAīs questionnaire committee if the political parties fail
to settle disputes through consensus. The CA chairman said that
he is still for giving priority to consensus course and the report
prepared by the questionnaire committee can be a strong basis
for forging consensus among major political forces. He urged the
leaders of the major political forces to reach political agreement
before the CA plenary is convened on February 12.
|
February 10 |
PM Sushil Koirala while addressing
a party gathering at the NC headquarters in Sanepa, said his party
is ready to adopt ?maximum flexibility? in talks with the opposition
parties in order to bring the constitution drafting process back
on track.
MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar
has said PM Sushil Koirala?s failure to create an atmosphere for
dialogue could lead the country into another conflict. Gachhadar
said that the PM?s role is crucial in finding consensus; else
the nation will suffer if the PM fails to take the lead.
The government in a Cabinet meeting,
appointed former ambassador Surya Kiran Gurung as the Chairman
and Lila Udashi, Krishna Subedi, Madhavi Bhatta and Manchala Jha
as members of the TRC, likewise, former Chief Judge Lokendra Mallik
has been appointed to the post of Chairman of the CED, while,
Bijul Bishwakarma, Bishnu Pathak, Nara Kumari Gurung and Aai Bahadur
Gurung as members, said Law Minister Narahari Acharya. The tenure
of the newly appointed chairmen and the members would be of two
years and might be extended by one year if they are unable to
complete their assigned tasks within two years, Minister Acharya
added.
|
February 11 |
UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai,
addressing a press conference organized by the Revolutionary Journalists
Association in Mahendranagar in Kanchanpur District, has said
that the new constitution could be issued only on the consensus
among the four major forces. Bhattarai said consensus has become
elusive because the leadership of the NC and CPN-UML were averse
to institutionalizing the change. He called on the ruling parties
to put on hold the process if it was not possible for them to
scrap the Proposal Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly
altogether. Bhattarai said the opposition alliance could sit for
dialogue or talks if the NC and CPN-UML or the PM issued another
public statement addressing the allianceīs new demand, describing
the PMīs last statement as lacking concreteness.
Addressing the 24th anniversary
of the CIAA in Kathmandu, President Ram Baran Yadav expressed
his hope that political parties would resolve the current political
stalemate to produce a new constitution very soon. He also urged
the ruling and the opposition parties to show flexibility and
sit for talks as early as possible. Stating that CIAAīs recent
efforts at controlling corruption has made a positive impact,
the president expressed hope that the anti-graft body would keep
up its spirit in the days to come as well. The president also
suggested that the CIAA should be careful while prosecuting people
involved in corruption.
President Ram Baran Yadav urged
Chairman of CA Subas Chandra Nembang to play a role for creating
conducive environment to bring the political parties into consensus.
President advised Nembang, who reached President Yadav?s official
residence this morning, to go ahead with consensus after forging
common understandings among the political parties, said Lalit
Basnet, President?s personal aide.
|
February 12 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda has warned of running a parallel government
at the center if the ruling parties move ahead with the process
of bringing a majority-based constitution. Addressing a program
organized to announce a joint youth volunteer force, Dahal said
he would ask the UN and the international community as to which
government is a legitimate one after forming a parallel government
at the center. Accusing the ruling NC and CPN-UML of going against
the spirit of past accords and the peace process, Dahal claimed
that his party would set up a force of one million youth volunteers
after February 28.
UCPN-M Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji
Shrestha has said that his party is in favor of a multiple-identity-based
federal system that empowers people at the local level. Speaking
at a function in Taplejung, Vice-chairman Shrestha said that the
UCPN-M is against a single-identity federal structure. "We
can carve out federal provinces on multiple-identity basis such
as Mechi-Limbuwan-Purbi Pradesh. It is impossible to have a constitution
that calls for the creation of single-identity federal structure
in Nepal which is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural
country," Shrestha said while elaborating the federal province
model of his party. He claimed that the UCPN-M is ready to sit
for talks if ruling parties come up with an agreeable solution
to constitution drafting.
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has
said that the constitution will be drafted at any cost despite
the reluctance of the UCPN-M. He accused the UPCN-M of not wanting
constitution as they failed to draft the constitution when they
were at the helm of the government in the first CA and also have
been obstructing the constitution drafting process in the second
CA too. As the UCPN-M does not seem to have the intention of bringing
the constitution, the constitution will be drafted through majority
basis if the [Maoists] do not come for consensus, Deuba said.
Speaking at a ceremony organised to unveil the statue of Harka
Bahadur Rai at Chispani in Khotang, Deuba said the NC has been
making efforts to bring the Maoists on board the main stream politics
as they are diverging towards non-political line.
|
February 13 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda speaking on the occasion of 20th anniversary
of Maoist People?s War at UCPN-M party office in Paris Dada in
Kathmandu, called his party cadres to move ahead adopting the
path of revolt, revolution and struggle. He has stressed on the
need to protect the Maoist agitation by learning from their past
mistake and said that it was time to wake up in order to protect
the achievements obtained so far. ?We have roused after January
22,? said Dahal, ?we are ready to make any kind of sacrifices.?Dahal
said, ?Even if the Prachanda and Baburam (Baburam Bhattarai) were
perished, Maoist struggle will resurrect from the grave.?
UCPN-M Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji
Shrestha has said that the nation will head towards a severe confrontation
if the constitution could not be drafted through CA. Talking to
journalists Ilam in Ilam District, leader Shrestha pointed out
that the nation would fall prey to a grave disaster if the parties
inside the CA do not work in agreement. Shrestha remarked
that the parties inside the CA should have basic unity as separatists
and religious extremists, among other threats, have started emerging.
Making it clear that the UCPN-M is not against dialogues and consensus,
Shrestha said the ruling parties should assure them (opposition)
of stopping the majority vote process.
UCPN-M has formed a volunteer
force in Sunsari District avowedly to retaliate against possible
suppression of their protest activities. Organizing a press meet
on the occasion of the 20th ?peopleīs war? day, Maoist ?central
committee? member Ram Kumari Chaudhari informed about the formation
of the volunteersī force and its week-long campaign.
The CPN-Maoist has launched the
Mechi-Mahakali Campaign aimed at strengthening the party organisation
and building what it said a ground for fresh agitation. Party
Chairman Mohan Baidya formally announced the launching of the
campaign from Basantapur in Sunsari District on the occasion of
ī20th Peopleīs War Dayī. The campaign will go nationwide, according
to the party. On the occasion, Baidya said the party agitation
would continue until objectives of the peopleīs war were achieved.
There was no alternative to revolutionary parties to unite to
materialise the dream of peopleīs war. He urged the UCPN-M to
leave the CA and come to the street if it desired to go for an
agitation.
During a press conference in Janakpur
in Kathmandu, MJF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav has claimed that the
street protests of the opposition parties will destroy the arrogance
of the ruling parties. ?Constitution cannot be promulgated by
sidelining the 30-party alliance,? He said. ?Our protest programmes
will destroy their egos,? he added. Yadav put forth the condition
of dissolving the questionnaire committee to sit for talks with
the ruling parties. ?No talks are possible without the dissolution,?
he said.
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
has expressed his confidence that the new constitution would be
promulgated on the basis of a consensus, despite some differences
among the political parties. Speaking at a programme organised
by the ACORAB in Kathmandu, he said that the parties should reach
to a consensus for the interest of the country.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang has
asked the political parties and civil society members to strive
for concrete results with regard to ending the ongoing political
stalemate. Nembang, who deferred the CA meeting until further
notice upon request from the opposition parties, told a group
of civil society members that at least the major political forces
should resume talks and make tangible progress within a few days
to expedite the constitution making process.
|
February 14 |
At an interaction program in Salleri
in Solukhumbu District, Treasurer of UCPN-M and lawmaker Haribol
Gajurel warned that the 30-party opposition alliance will stage
a īdecisiveī agitation after February 28 deserting the CA. He
said that the announced agitation programs would not postpone
until the ruling parties were flexible for consensus. He also
accused the ruling NC and CPN-UML of disturbing the environment
for consensus, considering that the Maoist party would take credit
of constitution promulgation. He added the opposition would run
a parallel CA after February 28 if the NC and CPN-UML moved ahead
based on majoritarian process.
|
February 15 |
Addressing a programme at the
party headquarters in Kathmandu, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda said that the presence of supporters
on the street would determine the party's future direction in
national politics. Dahal said the ruling parties would start the
voting process in the CA if there was a small number of people
and cadres at the planned mass meetings of the alliance of Maoist,
Madhesi and Janajati parties.
The leaders of different political
parties have reiterated that the government and the opposition
parties must return to the negotiating table to end the deadlock
facing the constitution drafting process. The participating leaders,
at an interaction programme held at Reporters Club in Kathmandu,
said lack of cooperation and confidence among the parties have
prolonged the deadlock.
Speaking at a press conference
organised by UCPN-M-aligned Revolutionary Journalists Association,
Surkhet in Kathmandu, UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai ruled out
the possibility of resuming talks with the ruling parties unless
the ongoing process to draft constitution on majority basis is
scrapped. Bhattarai said that the constitution must be issued
from the CA with participation of the parties that signed the
peace agreements.
MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar
has made it clear that the 30-party alliance would not sit for
dialogue until assurances from the ruling parties. At a press
conference organised by Dhanusha Chapter of MJF-L, Chairperson
Gachhadar accused the ruling coalition of opting for promulgating
a new constitution brushing aside the path of consensus on the
backing of majority against the past agreements and understandings.
|
February 16 |
CA Chief Subas Nembang hinted
at resuming the CA business if there is no headway in restarting
stalled dialogue between the ruling and opposition parties.
Ajra announced to resume its protest
while extending its 'conditional support' to the UCPN-M-led 30-party
alliance.
|
February 17 |
UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
accused the ruling parties, NC and CPN-UML, of demonstrating their
arrogance in the name of drafting new constitution.
|
February 18 |
Deputy Prime Minister Prakash
Man Singh said that the ongoing process for new constitution in
the CA would not be scrapped at any cost.
|
February 19 |
Fringe parties outside the CA
announced the 'revival' of the 33-party alliance to struggle for
a consensus-based constitution and decided to launch a mass rally
in Kathmandu on March 9, to ensure consensus-driven consensus.
To protest against the ruling
parties' decision to initiate the voting process on disputed issues
of constitution writing, the 30-party alliance led by UCPN-M is
organising rallies across the country on February 21. The first
phase of protest will continue until February 28 when the alliance
will hold a mass meeting in Kathmandu. The second phase of the
protest will conclude on March 29 before the alliance launches
what they call "decisive movement" from March 30.
|
February 20 |
UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
accused the NC and CPN-UML of trying to revive the 1990 constitution.
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
renewed his call to the opposition alliance, led by UCPN-M, to
withdraw its agitation and return to talks while assuring that
the new constitution would be promulgated as per the spirit of
the Interim Constitution.
|
February 22 |
The Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist
has "started groundwork" to assemble members of the former PLA
and YCL to form "an active army of civilians". The party, which
earlier this month decided to transform itself into a full-fledged
"militant party", plans to recruit people with prior military
experience to start with. The party has also issued a circular
to its leaders and cadres to carry out activities in "semi-underground"
style.
UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai
talking to journalists in Jajarkot District refuted the allegations
levelled against him that he ruined the talks.
|
February 23 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda while addressing a cadres' training organised
in Lalitpur District said that the process for talks could not
move ahead as PM Sushil Koirala has not expressed any commitment
to stop the majority process even if he called the opposition
alliance for talks twice. Dahal stressed that the NC and CPN-UML
have to become active like the Prime Minister for talks.
|
February 24 |
In the run-up to a mass demonstration
scheduled by the 30-party alliance led by the UCPN-M for February
28, lathi-wielding cadres of YCL, the youth wing of UCPN-M
marched in Kathmandu in what they called a show of strength and
a prelude to a ?decisive movement?. Sporting red caps and carrying
lathis, YCL cadres in thousands started their rally from
Bhrikutmandap and passed through Shahid Gate, Ratna Park, Jamal,
Kamaladi and Putalisadak before converging again at the point
of origin.
|
February 25 |
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
speaking in a programme in Kathmandu said that there is no meaning
in launching an agitation, violence and other protest programmes
as all political parties are already incorporated into the mainstream
of democracy.
Following the YCL, the youth wing
of UCPN-M, demonstration in Kathmandu on February 24, the Ministry
of Home Affairs warned the agitators against terrorizing the public.
Home Ministry spokesperson Laxmi Prasad Dhakal said ?Terrorizing
people in the name of demonstration is strictly prohibited.? If
Police find protestors wielding bamboo staves in any demonstration,
such protestors would be immediately arrested, he said.
|
February 26 |
CPN-Maoist-Baidya chairman Mohan
Baidya said that discussions were underway for a joint agitation
with the 30-party alliance. Baidya said his party was supporting
the agitation launched by the Alliance. He also urged the UCPN-M
to come to street by denouncing the CA.
NC Vice-president Ram Chandra
Poudel said there is no need to raise batons and hit the streets
in order to forge consensus. He urged the opposition alliance
to give up their agitation and join the talks saying that no efforts
would be successful by showing sticks in the streets.
|
February 27 |
Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that NC and CPN-UML are
attempting to repeal the CPA and push the country towards a serious
crisis. Dahal urged the ruling parties to clarify their position
on the peace deal and other past agreements. He warned of launching
a revolt if the ruling parties flout the past agreements which,
he said, has laid the foundation of new constitution.
The UCPN-M-led 30-party opposition
alliance during a press conference claimed that around 200,000
party leaders and supporters would be joining forces in their
show of strength in Kathmandu on February 28. Party insiders said
that UCPN-M alone have pledged to bring in more than 100,000 people,
with other fringe parties assuring 15,000 each.
The NHRC urged the opposition
parties to keep their demonstration in Kathmandu peaceful and
drawn the attention of the law enforcement agencies toward ensuring
public security during the protest.
|
February 28 |
The UCPN-M led 30-party alliance
begun rallies from different parts of Kathmandu. UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal led the rally at Kamalpokhari, while senior
leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai at Kalimati and Vice-Chairman Narayankaji
Shrestha at Koteshwar. Similarly, top leaders of the Madhes-based
parties have led the rallies at Babarmahal. The rallies also emanated
from Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. The rallies would merge at Khulamanch
before a programme, which would be addressed by the top leaders
of the alliance.
Around 30,000 protesters
staged a demonstration during a rally organized by the 30-party
alliance of the opposition parties to demand that political parties
reach a consensus on a new constitution. Police lobbed teargas
shells and used cane batons to stop demonstrators from advancing
to the parliament building, leaving more than a dozen people injured,
witnesses said.
|
March 1 |
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
turned down the demand of the opposition alliance to dissolve
Questionnaire Committee formed by the CA as a condition to resume
the stalled talks between ruling and opposition parties.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal said the opposition
parties were ready to sit for talks if the ruling parties ensured
the environment to promulgate the new constitution on the basis
of a political consensus.
|
March 2 |
Conflicting views in the UCPN-M
about resuming formal talks with the ruling parties have placed
party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in a tight
spot. Senior leader Baburam Bhattarai says the party should not
sit for talks until the ruling coalition agrees to scrap the ongoing
majority process in the CA and return the disputed issues of constitution
writing to the Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee that
he leads.
Threatening to walk out of the
Government if the NC is not ready to push the ongoing majority
process of constitution writing, the ruling CPN-UML decided to
mount pressure on the largest party to proceed with the CA process.
|
March 3 |
Ruling parties NC and CPN-UML
during a meeting in Kathmandu decided to urge CA Chairman Subas
Nembang to resume the stalled CA process. Both the parties also
asked the UCPN-M-led alliance to sit for talks without further
delay.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said that it would be difficult to forge
consensus on disputed issues in constitution making if the opposition
alliance is forced to launch second phase of protests.
|
March 5 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda met PM Sushil Koirala and urged him to prepare
ground for formal talks between the ruling and the opposition
parties.
|
March 6 |
UCPN-M leader Agni Prasad Sapkota
speaking during a programme in Kathmandu said that his party is
ready to seek public opinion on the disputed five Districts Jhapa,
Morang, Sunsari, Kailali and Kanchanpur regarding their annexation
to which federal state in the new constitution.
|
March 7 |
Major parties resumed formal talks
ending the country?s long standing political deadlock at PM Sushil
Koirala?s official residence in Kathmandu. The disgruntled opposition
parties decided to sit for talks following the PM Koirala?s verbal
commitment to draft the constitution through consensus.
CPN-UML Assistant General Secretary
Ghanshyam Bhusal at press meet in Myagdi District claimed that
new constitution would be promulgated by May 29. He said that
constitution would be promulgated on maximum consensus as the
ongoing talks between the ruling and opponent parties were positive.
|
March 8 |
At a news conference in Lamki
in Kailali District, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local
Development Prakashman Singh said that the new constitution would
be promulgated through consensus.
PM Sushil Koirala has said that
an environment conducive for drafting the constitution through
consensus is being created. PM Koirala urged the UCPN-M led opposition
alliance to take this opportunity and lend support for drafting
the new constitution. PM Koirala, who held discussions with UCPN-M
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, has been continuing
parleys with other leaders as well.
|
March 9 |
The UCPN-M objected to a recent
verdict of the SC that prohibits the Commissions of Inquiry on
TRC, and Enforced Disappearances from looking into cases sub judice
in court. UCPN-M said that all war-era cases should be handed
over to the newly formed commissions.
The SC has issued a mandamus order
to the government to form a Madhesi Commission. The apex court
issued the ruling in a writ filed by advocate Sanilranjan Singh
demanding the Madhesi Commission. A division bench of Justice
Girish Chandra Lal and Justice Dipakraj Joshi issued the order
to the government to enact appropriate laws in order to address
the empowerment of Madhesi community and to ensure their equal
rights.
|
March 10 |
The opposition alliance led by
UCPN-M, deferred the announcement of its second phase of protest
programmes which was scheduled to declare another round of stir
on March 10. They have decided to wait till March 14 for the ruling
parties to initiate dialogue.
Talking to media persons in Chitwan
in Kathmandu, NC Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel said the opposition
parties should cooperate with the ruling parties to forge consensus.
He urged the opposition alliance to hold intra-party discussions.
Inaugurating the eighth District
council of Kanchanpur District Development Committee in Kanchanpur,
NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said the 601 lawmakers elected
as the people's representatives should go for process if the disputed
issues of the new constitution remain in limbo due to lack of
consensus. Deuba urged everyone to stay assured that the new constitution
would be promulgation through the CA.
Describing the current lapse of
protests as ?temporary ceasefire?, UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
has said consensus among the political parties on the disputed
issues of the new constitution would be hard to build in the near
future. Bhattarai said both Nepali Congress and CPN-UML had not
been taking concrete measures to make cross-party talks meaningful.
In a meeting with select journalists at his residence in Sanepa,
Bhattarai charged that the ruling parties were not responding
to their repeated calls for dialogue and consensus.
The CPN-Maoist?s plan to revive
the 33-party alliance for another round of protest has suffered
a setback after several parties withdrew their support in favour
of the UCPN-M led opposition bloc. Several fringe parties previously
associated with the alliance, spearheaded by the Mohan Baidya
-led CPN-Maoist, have joined the bloc under the leadership of
UCPN-M, while many other parties have shown reluctance to launch
another round of protest, citing obscure position of CPN-Maoist
regarding the CA.
|
March 12 |
NC and CPN-UML during a meeting
of the ruling parties held at the Prime Minister Sushil Koirala's
official residence in Kathmandu decided to hold 'decisive talks'
with the 30-party alliance led by UCPN-M by March 13. They concluded
that they would not wait the opposition alliance for a long period
in the name of consensus. The parties also decided to resume talks
regarding issues of the constitution from the point the parleys
between the ruling and the opposition parties derailed on January
19.
A meeting of senior leaders of
NC and UCPN-M agreed to seek accord on key contentious issues
of the new constitution before March 15.
|
March 13 |
The ruling and opposition parties
started fresh negotiations to seek consensus on the disputed issues
with a view to wrapping up the prolonged constitution writing
process by May 29, 2015, the Republic Day. Before sitting for
formal negotiations on the disputes, mainly the names and borders
of Federal States, the parties held discussions in two groups.
Top leaders from both the fronts reviewed their previous positions
and discussed possible ways to arrive at a conclusion.
|
March 15 |
The alliance of 30 opposition
parties led by UCPN-M unveiled its second phase of protests to
press the ruling parties to draft the new constitution through
consensus. A meeting of the alliance convened, finalised programmes
for its second phase of protests starting from March 19 to April
9. The programmes include mass assembly, demonstration, sit-in
and general strike. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda will announce the decision about their protests at a
press meet.
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala?s
request, to UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal not to announce
protest programmes went futile after the opposition parties declared
their second phase of agitation.
The UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist have
taken initiatives for party unification two years and nine months
after they split. In a bid to give momentum to the unification
of the two parties, CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya visited UCPN-M
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's residence in Lazimpat.
The meeting decided to take ahead the unification process in an
organised manner, UCPN-M General Secretary Krishna Bahadur Mahra
said.
|
March 16 |
RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa said
that there is no alternative except the adoption of two-thirds
majority to promulgate the new constitution. He was speaking at
a programme organised by FNJ, Saptari chapter, Rajbiraj in Saptari
District. "As long as RPP-N remains in the Constituent Assembly
(CA), political parties cannot draft the constitution through
any measures other than the two-thirds majority," Chairman Thapa
said, adding, "It is because our party cannot accept secularism,
federalism and republican order. Therefore, the decision should
be made through voting."
A meeting of NC and CPN-UML, decided
to make maximum efforts to settle disputes with the opposition
alliance in consensus. "The opposition alliance's announcement
for further protests is a wrong decision. We decided to urge them
to withdraw the protest program," CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary
Bishnu Paudel said. "We will also employ all efforts to bring
them back to the CA and resume the stalled CA procedures soon."
|
March 17 |
Stating that ruling parties' unilateral
push for majority-based constitution making process has left them
with no choice, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda instructed lawmakers from his party to be prepared for
resigning from the CA en masse at anytime. Addressing an informal
meeting of party central committee at party office at Koteshwar,
Dahal said finding a meeting point with the ruling sides was not
possible while they insist on majority-based process for new constitution.
Concluding that the UCPN-M led
opposition alliance is in a dilemma over enforcing the second
round of protests, the ruling NC decided to take talks and the
voting process on disputed issues in the CA side by side. A meeting
of top NC leaders held in the presence of Prime Minister Sushil
Koirala, decided to keep the door for negotiations open and press
the CA chairman to push the Assembly proceedings forward for deciding
the contentious issues of statute drafting.
|
March 18 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang urged
top leaders of the major political forces to invest another week
to make consensus efforts. In a strongly-worded speech over the
lack of progress in the constitution writing, Nembang told the
top leaders during a meeting in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, that
he would resume the majority course if there is no consensus within
March 25.
|
March 19 |
The UCPN-M started approaching
senior leaders of the ruling parties involved in the peace process,
asking them to facilitate consensus on the disputed issues of
the constitution writing process. The opposition has often said
that problems have exacerbated as the current leadership of the
NC and the CPN-UML fails to grasp the spirit of the Comprehensive
Peace Agreement. Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda, met senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, asking
him to increase his role in the drafting of the new constitution.
Speaking at a program organized
by Siraha chapter of the RPP-N in Lahan, Chairman Kamal Thapa
said the nation would have to face the huge political setback
the major political parties did not become serious regarding the
current political impasse. The political situation would go out
of the control of the political parties if it was not settled
in time.
Addressing the national conference
of lawyers at Ratna Nagar, Chitwan, President Ram Baran Yadav
expressed serious disappointment at the political leaders' failure
to deliver a new constitution. He, however, wished that the new
constitution would see the light of the day soon enough.
|
March 20 |
Talking to the media persons at
Biratnagar Airport, Morang District, UCPN-M vice-chair Narayan
Kaji Shrestha said that the constitution drafting process would
not be complete without consensus. Shrestha said the constitution
drafting process would be incomplete if the major partner of the
peace process and different movements was kept in isolation.
|
March 21 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang asked
the leaders of major political parties to expedite negotiations
on the disputed issues of constitution writing to keep the March
25 deadline. He is of the view that consensus is still possible
if the parties sit for the talks and adopt flexibility.
|
March 22 |
CPN-UML Vice Chairperson Bidhya
Bhandari claimed that the new constitution will be issued on the
Republic Day, May 29. Speaking at a press meet organised in Hetauda,
Makwanpur District, leader Bhandari said the ruling parties-NC
and CPN-UML- were waiting for a consensus to be forged with the
opposition alliance. She remarked that the ruling parties, however,
were considering releasing the constitution on the Republic Day
if consensus could not be forged on the republic day.
The UCPN-M formed a working alliance
with five of its splinter parties to oppose the SC verdict that
curtails the jurisdiction of the newly formed TRC and the CIED
to look into cases sub judice in court. A joint meeting held at
the CPN-Maoist office in Buddhanagar, announced the alliance concluding
that the ruling parties had breached the CPA and the Interim Constitution
by "not following the statute and the CPA in their true spirit".
As constitution writing is deadlocked,
President Ram Baran Yadav increased his effort to get the major
parties together to settle the contentious issues of the new statute
by pressing the parties to choose consensus over voting in the
CA to decide the disputed issues.
|
March 23 |
President Ram Baran Yadav and
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal held meeting at the President's
official residence in Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu in which President
Yadav said that the new constitution should be promulgated through
consensus on time. He also stressed on the need of consensus among
political parties for the same.
|
March 24 |
CPN-Masal General Secretary Mohan
Bikram Singh during a press meet organised by Pyuthan chapter
of Pragatishil Patrakar Sangh at Khalanga, said that the UCPN-M
should accept the CA process as the political situation is deteriorating
further. He alleged the UCPN-M of rejecting the majority voting
process in order to draft a constitution favourable to them.
UCPN-M proposed the continuation
of efforts to seek consensus on the disputed issues, arguing that
following the majority process of constitution writing or enforcing
more street protests would both be counterproductive. In separate
meetings with the NC and CPN-UML, Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai
asked the ruling parties to persuade their leadership about the
need for consensus.
|
March 25 |
As leaders from the major political
forces make no progress in settling disputes on the constitution-making
front, CA Chairman Subas Nembang is preparing to resume the stalled
CA proceedings in the next couple of days.
Police arrested five students
of the ANNISU-R, student wing of UCPN-M, identified as Kshitiz
Sapkota, Laxmi Prasad Subedi, Netra Chapagain, Dinesh Poudel and
Bishal Gurung for pelting stones at Finance Minister Ram Sharan
Mahat's vehicle at Simpane in Pokhara in Kaski District.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang granted
the parties four more days to reach a consensual settlement on
the disputed issues of constitution writing on the request of
President Ram Baran Yadav. The cross-party negotiations, however,
are yet to find a common ground on key disputed issues. If there
is no agreement by March 29, 2015, Nembang said he will have no
choice but to initiate majority process in the CA and settle the
contentions through voting.
|
March 26 |
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
claimed that maximum flexibility has been adopted to write a new
constitution based on consensus among all stakeholders. But he
also did not rule out the situation in which a majority process
would be used in the CA to settle the disputes concerning constitution
writing through voting.
|
March 27 |
The Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist,
and Pari Thapa-led CPN (Unified) moved a step closer to unity
by forming an eight member Party Unity Coordination Committee.
Baidya and Thapa issued a joint release and said they decided
to form the committee after reaching understanding on Marxism,
Leninism, Maoism, people's democracy, people's revolt, democratic
centralism and immediate working strategies.
In a press statement, Home Minister
Bam Dev Gautam urged the UCPN-M led alliance of 30 opposition
parties to call off their protest programme and come to the negotiating
table for talks. The Home Minister said "In my capacity as the
Home Minister, I request the opposition alliance, including the
UCPN-M, to give up their agitation programmes, if not, cancel,
at least, the stick rally, torch rally, obstruction of Government
offices and three-day general strike.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang while
addressing a programme organized by the CA Secretariat in Kathmandu
urged Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to play a pro-active role
for cross-party negotiations in order to resolve the contentious
issues of the constitution drafting process through a broader
consensus.
Senior leader of the UCPN-M former
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai speaking at an interaction in
Kaski District proposed a middle way solution for ending the current
political deadlock centered on the majority-based constitution-writing
process. Stating that a middle way can be found between the majority-process
and the street protest, Bhattarai said "We are for a middle way
solution for ending the standoff. Although we are very close to
agreement on the contentious issues of the constitution, a few
things remain to be resolved. We don't want people to suffer the
impact of strikes, but the ruling parties do not understand any
other language."
|
March 28 |
Nepal Government decided to provide
remaining NPR 500,000 each to conflict victims out of NPR 1 million
each promised by the Baburam Bhattarai-led Government. Minister
for Information and Communications Minendra Rijal said the Cabinet
agreed to provide compensation due to the kin of those who died
and disappeared during the conflict without exceeding Rs 500,000.
|
March 29 |
42 people were injured when sporadic
clashes erupted between the agitating activists of 30-party alliance-led
by UCPN-M and Police in different parts of the country. In Kavre
District, 12 protestors and five Policemen were injured in clashes
between Police and demonstrators. In Chitwan District, seven people
including two Policemen were injured after Police tried to intervene
opposition alliance agitation at Bharatpur. In Rupandehi District
nine protestors were injured in a clash with the Police at Bhairahwa.
In Rautahat District, six protestors and two Policemen were injured
in a clash that occurred at Gaur. In Sindhuli District, DSP Shyam
Kumar Mahato, who is also the DPO chief, was injured in a clash
with agitating party activists.
|
March 30 |
41 people were injured in clashes
between Police and demonstrators during the lathi rally
organised by the 30-party alliance-led by UCPN-M across the country.
In Pokhara District, 18 persons including three Policemen were
injured when a clash erupted between Police and demonstrators
at New Road. In Sindhuli District, seven protestors and one Policeman
were injured when cadres of the alliance clashed with Police at
Sindhulimadhi. In Chitwan District, six demonstrators were injured
in a clash ensued when Police intervened against agitators who
were protesting with lathis at Pulchowk. In Kabhrepalanchok
District, four UCPN-M cadres and a minor were injured in a clash
at Chardobato. In Rautahat District, three protestors and one
Policeman were injured in a clash in Gaur.
After the parties failed to find
consensus on the contentious issues of constitution writing, a
meeting of the CA has been called on April 6. The latest time
frame served by CA Chairman Subas Nembang for the ruling and opposition
parties to build accord on the contents of the constitution being
drafted expired on March 29. After announcing the date, Nembang
said the parties still have the time to seek accord on the disputed
agendas if they try in earnest.
The UCPN-M -led alliance of 30
opposition parties called off its agitation programmes other than
the three-day general strike called for April (7-9). But the opposition
front has decided to boycott the CA meeting summoned for April
6 unless the ruling parties commit to consensus-based constitution.
A meeting of the opposition alliance decided to withdraw its agitation
programmes such as picketing government offices, blockade of entry
points and obstruction of tax collection and focus on general
strike of April 7-9.
|
March 31 |
NC Vice President Ram Chandra
Poudel speaking at a training programme of NC leaders and cadres
in Myagdi District said that the demonstration of sticks on the
streets by the cadres of UCPN-M-led 30-party opposition alliance
will not write the Constitution.
|
April 1 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda told Central Committee members and CA members at
an emergency meeting in Kathmandu that a minor blow wouldn't have
any effect on NC and CPN-UML and therefore they needed to go for
a stronger movement. During the briefing, he said the change in
the previous plan was made with a view to strengthen the internal
party structure so as to make necessary preparations for the three-day
nationwide strike from April 7-9 and to keep some space for official
talks if the ruling parties wished.
CA Chairman Subash Nembang urged
the political parties publicly to conclude the ongoing constitution
drafting process through consensus as quickly as possible. Taking
part at an interaction on "import replacement and cooperative
for social justice", organised by the National Cooperative Federation
of Nepal on the occasion of 58th National Cooperative Day in Lalitpur,
Nembang, however, hoped that political parties would hammer out
the disputes over the constitution-drafting soon and lead the
country to right track. He pledged to incorporate the issues concerning
cooperative in the new constitution.
The UCPN-M refuted the accusation
that party politburo member Prabhu Shah moblised a racket for
the murder of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda.
In a press statement, UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma refuted
the accusation and said an investigation would be launched against
the leaders including lawmaker Ashok Jaiswal who made the accusation.
Taking strong exception to the
recent SC verdict (February 26) on transitional justice mechanisms,
UCPN-M led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist,
Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-M, Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist, Mani
Thapa-led RCP and Pari Thapa-led CPN (Unified) have decided to
stage joint protest campaign seeking its review. The six Maoist
parties have also decided to submit a memorandum to the prime
minister on April 3 and stage joint rally across the country on
April 6 against the SC verdict.
|
April 2 |
UCPN-M sought revision of the
nine-point joint proposal forwarded by NC and CPN-UML in line
with the January19 understanding between parties as a way out
of the current political stalemate. Talking to journalists at
the parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, and
UCPN-M Chief Whip Giri Raj Mani Pokhrel said consensus has become
illusive as ruling parties continue to stick to their nine-point
proposal. The ruling NC and CPN-UML had forwarded a nine-point
joint proposal to the CPDCC of the CA on November 3 as their first
move toward bringing majority-based constitution.
|
April 3 |
General Secretary of the NC Krishna
Prasad Sitaula speaking at a press meeting in Damak in Jhapa District,
said that the political parties would work together to promulgate
the new democratic constitution through the second CA. Hinting
towards the opposition parties' protest, Sitaula said the street
protest announced by the 30-party alliance led by the UCPN-M has
no meaning at all for the constitution could not be written at
the force of street protests rather it should be written by forging
consensus. Sitaula urged the UCPN-M not to disrespect the public
mandate and be serious to write constitution as desired by the
public.
Six Maoist parties including the
UCPN-M, submitting a joint memorandum to PM Sushil Koirala at
his residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, said that the recent SC
verdict on transitional justice was against the spirit of peace
accord. The leaders of the six Maoist parties-who were a major
party to the conflict-demanded immediate nullification of the
SC's verdict, release of those arrested on charges of war-era
cases, and enforcement of legal provision for reconciliation in
war-era political cases. The SC ruling has barred the commissions--TRC
and CED - from initiating reconciliation on their own without
victims' consent.
|
April 5 |
In a meeting between two leaders,
PM Sushil Koirala urged UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda to agree on initiating the constitution drafting process
by incorporating issues resolved so far and continue discussions
on unresolved issues such as the model of federalism. PM Koirala
tried to convince Dahal, on starting the CA proceedings and eventually
voting over disputed issues of the new constitution. PM Koirala
suggested the Maoist-led opposition front to shun protest programmes.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad
Sitaula claimed that Sushil Koirala-led government would continue
until the promulgation of the new constitution. At a news conference
organised by Nepal Press Union, Morang, at Biratnagar, Kathmandu,
Sitaula expressed the view that different political parties including
the UCPN-M have been misinterpreting the term 'consensus'. He
further said that it was necessary to hold discussion among the
major political parties after focusing on the issue of constitution
writing, saying the new constitution would not be promulgated
as per the interest of a single party.
UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
accused the ruling parties, NC and CPN-UML, of holding the CA
hostage, and added there is no point in attending the CA that
has been held hostage. Speaking at a press meet organised in Baglung
District by Baglung chapter of revolutionary journalists, Bhattarai
said his party would not participate in the CA unless consensus
is forged on the disputed issues of constitution drafting. He
made it clear that his party would not, at any cost, agree on
the agenda of those intending to promulgate the new constitution
by putting the federalism on back burner.
|
April 5 ? 6 |
The government has urged the UCPN-M
led opposition bloc to agree on preparing the draft of the new
constitution by incorporating the issues resolved so far and continue
discussions on federalism, instead of staging protests. In his
recent meetings with opposition leaders, PM Sushil Koirala urged
the parties to withdraw their scheduled protest programme as it
could spoil the environment for consensus on the disputed agendas.
PM Koirala held meetings with UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda and MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar
on April 5 and April 6, respectively. During the meetings, Koirala
assured them of flexibility on the names and borders of federal
provinces if they roll back their scheduled protests.
|
April 6 |
The UCPN-M led 30-opposition parties
decided to go ahead with its three-day nationwide general shutdown,
beginning on April 7. A meeting of the alliance convened at Singha
Durbar, Kathmandu decided to make their general strike a success
despite calls from several quarters to cancel their agitation
programmes.
The UCPN-M, along with its five
splinters, took out a rally demanding nullification of a recent
verdict of the SC that curbs the jurisdiction of the transitional
justice mechanism. Addressing a gathering at Shanti Batika in
Kathmandu, Maoist leaders warned of abandoning the peace process
and reviving the disbanded PLA.
|
April 7 |
As many as twenty persons, including
eight SF personnel, sustained injuries in clashes erupted during
the first day of the three-day (April 7 ? 9) Banda called
by UCPN-M led alliance of 30 political parties in various parts
of Kathmandu Valley. Banda enforcers clashed with Police in Kavre
during a torch rally organised by the alliance. Eight Police personnel,
including an inspector, and 12 banda enforcers were injured. In
Bhairahawa, banda supporters set ablaze a motorcycle with Indian
registration in the morning. Police said the cadres fled the scene
after torching the two-wheeler (UP 56 J-2707) at Barmaili Tole.
Four protesters in Bhojpur were
seriously hurt and were referred to Kathmandu for treatment. At
least 19 vehicles were vandalised while banda enforcers set ablaze
four vehicles, according to Police. Police held 55 banda enforcers
from across the country on the first day of the banda. Police
also detained 16 Maoist leaders including party?s Kathmandu committee
Chairman Himal Sharma. Kathmandu District Secretary Renu Dahal,
ANNISU-R, student wing of UCPN-M, leader Surendra Basnet, among
others, were detained at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Tinkune.
They were released in the evening.
Cadres of the opposition alliance
gathered at major thoroughfares in Biratnagar, Janakpur, Saptari,
Bhojpur and Panchthar, among other Districts, shutting down marketplaces
and halting vehicular movement.
In Saptari, party cadres and banda
supporters vandalised a motorcycle belonging to the District Public
Health Office while stones were pelted at the Land Revenue Office.
In Jhapa, the Mechi Municipality
office was vandalised, causing a loss of property worth NPR 100,000.
Effects of the shutdown were felt
in Udaypur, Gulmi, Myagdi and Kaski Districts as markets were
closed and vehicles garaged.
In Pokhara, five vehicles were
vandalised for defying the call. Police said three buses and two
trucks faced the wrath of party cadres at Sainikbasti and Prithivi
Chowk. Police made seven arrests for vandalism.
The strike had no effect in Mustang
District where vehicles ran as usual. The market also remained
open. The alliance had called off the strike in Taplejung District
in view of the recent fire that destroyed 35 houses and displaced
90 families.
The UCPN-M led alliance of 30
political parties, decided to call off its general strike planned
for April 8 and April 9. A meeting of the alliance convened at
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, shortly after announcing the end of
strike at 5 pm on the first day of the three-day general strike
made the decision to this effect.
Dahal told the media that the
strike was withdrawn following calls from several quarters. Upendra
Yadav of the MJF, Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato and
Federal Socialist Party Nepal Chairman Ashok Rai had pressed for
enforcing the banda for two more days. Dahal was supported by
MJF-L chief Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar in calling off the strike.
Some in the alliance had even proposed an indefinite strike but
Dahal said the people would retaliate against such a move. In
a meeting with a team from the FNCCI earlier, Dahal had pledged
to table a proposal in the 30-party meeting for withdrawing the
banda. This brings to end the opposition?s second phase of agitation.
Alliance leaders said they will soon unveil the third phase of
protests.
The parties had called a three-day
closure demanding that the new constitution should be written
on the basis of consensus among the key stakeholders of the peace
process. The opposition decision has created an environment for
talks with the ruling parties on the contentious issues of the
constitution writing process. The CA meeting has been postponed
for a week to provide time for the parties to discuss the agenda.
|
April 8 |
Chairman of CA Subas Nembang,
urged the major parties to end the logjam in constitution drafting
before the next CA meeting, scheduled for April 13.
The UCPN-M party asked PM Sushil
Koirala to take an initiative to end the present political impasse
between ruling and opposition parties. UCPN-M General Secretary
Krishna Bahadur Mahara who called on the PM Koirala, at the latter's
residence at Baluwatar, Kathmandu, said that he had conveyed his
party's decision in the meeting.
|
April 9 |
President Ram Baran Yadav and
CA Chairman Subas Nembang are pressing both the ruling and opposition
parties to forge consensus on key issues of new constitution before
April 13 CA meeting. The meeting is likely to start a voting process
on disputed issues if the parties fail to reach consensus. President
Yadav met CPN-UML Chair KP Oli and Vice-president Bidhya Bhandari
to consult on the statute drafting process and asked Oli to give
priority to consensus over voting process to resolve the contentious
issues of new constitution.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda expressed optimism over reaching consensus
with the ruling parties on key contentious issues of new constitution.
The main opposition party leader maintained that consensus is
possible if the ruling parties respect the past agreements, especially
the CPA.
In a bid to end the current deadlock
situation seen at the CA, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and
CA Chairman Subas Nembang held a discussion at latter?s quarter
at Baluwatar. Chairman Nembang had drawn the Dahal?s attention
to hold a meaningful dialogue with the ruling parties to forge
consensus prior to the CA meet.
|
April 10 |
Chairman of the CA Subas Chandra
Nembang said the process for the promulgation of the new constitution
would be forwarded if political parties failed to forge consensus
within April 13. At a programme organised by the Koirala Sewa
Samaj Nepal in Kathmandu, Chairman Nembang said that there was
no alternative to forward the process as per the rule of the CA
if political parties failed to forge consensus on the disputed
issues of the constitution or the due process within the next
three days.
|
April 12 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said the disputed issues of constitution
writing--federalism, forms of government, judiciary and electoral
system-- should be settled simultaneously. The Maoist party will
not accept piecemeal solution, Dahal told CA Chairman Subas Nembang
in a meeting in Kathmandu.
PM Sushil Koirala and CA Chairman
Subas Nembang held discussion on the efforts being made for promulgating
the constitution through consensus. The meeting held at the latter's
office, focused on reviewing the consensus efforts and the steps
to be taken for meaningful talks.
The ruling NC and CPN- UML have
agreed to come up with a concrete work plan to complete the constitution
drafting process. The meeting of the top leaders from the two
parties, decided to set a target to complete the remaining tasks
of constitution drafting.
In an interaction programme of
Reporter?s Club in Kathmandu, Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra
Mahato said that the Madhes-based parties will not participate
in the meeting of the 30-party alliance as the relevance of the
front has ended. Mahato claimed that Madhesi people will not be
able to secure their rights through the alliance.
|
April 13 |
The meeting of the CA has been
postponed until next week to provide time for the parties to settle
contentious issues of constitution-writing in consensus. The CA
meeting was adjourned after passing a condolence proposal on the
demise of former parliamentarian Salim Miya Ansari. The Assembly
is now scheduled to meet on April 19. Chairman Subas Nembang decided
to provide one week of extra time after the major parties claimed
that they were close to consensus on key issues of the new constitution.
|
April 14 |
PM Sushil Koirala inaugurating
Janajati Art and Cultural Festival at VDC Taksera in Rukum District
said that the country would get a new constitution within the
year 2072. He claimed that the Nepali New Year, which began on
April 14, would be a year of constitution and peace for all Nepali
people. Koirala claimed that the political parties within the
CA have already agreed to issue new constitution through consensus
and the constitution will be drafted soon. He also claimed that
the differences between political parties are narrowing down and
the constitution drafting process is heading toward consensus.
|
April 15 |
The UCPN-M said that it is ready
to make a compromise on the issues of federalism if the ruling
NC and CPN-UML agree to make more concessions on the electoral
system. The main opposition party claims that it wants to conclude
the statute drafting process as soon as possible if the ruling
parties are ready for the inclusive and proportional representation
of marginalised communities through a new electoral system.
Giving preference to negotiations
over street protests, the Maoist leaders said they were not in
a mood to announce the third phase of protest despite pressure
on UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda from
allies of the 30-party front to unveil the street protest.
|
April 16 |
SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato accused
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal aka Prachanda of betrayal and said,
the Madhesi and the Janajati parties are forming a separate alliance.
Speaking at 25th anniversary of his party, Mahato said there is
a need of separate alliance as Dahal had failed to lead the protests
to establish their demands effectively. Further, he said that
the new alliance consist TMDP, MJFN and SP.
|
April 18 |
The UCPN-M said that it will raise
objection to the process of constitution drafting through majority
if the CA moves ahead by disregarding the opposition. The Maoist
party made such reaction in the wake of the decision made by the
ruling parties- NC and CPN-UML-to take the CA process ahead so
as to promulgate the new constitution by mid July, if the consensus
cannot be forged with the opposition parties.
|
April 19 |
The ruling NC and CPN-UML decided
to send the agreed upon issues in constitution writing to the
drafting committee of the CA if there is no agreement on issues
concerning federalism at the three-party meeting scheduled for
April 20 morning. A meeting held at PM Sushil Koirala's official
residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu morning also decided to continue
negotiations on disputed issues of federalism while the CA's drafting
committee prepares a draft of the new statute.
|
April 20 |
Three major political parties
said they were closer to reaching an agreement over the disputes
of the new Constitution and expect to resolve disputes within
three days. With the UCPN-M agreeing to explore a previous understanding,
the parties have agreed to prepare a draft of the new statute
on the contentious issues they have already forged an understanding
- model of governance, electoral system and judiciary. Meanwhile,
they would try to reach consensus on the most entangled issue
of all, federalism.
|
April 21 |
A group of activists belonging
to Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Moist-Chand attacked and injured
an advocate at his law firm in Nepalgunj-13, Banke. Claiming the
responsibility, CPN-Moist-Chand district secretary Man Bahadur
Rokaya said that the party took 'physical action' against Barma
as he was found illegally acquiring land in the name of other
people by producing fake documents.
|
April 22 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang is learnt
to have planned to send disputes in constitution making to the
CA"s CPDCC and give it a few days to resolve them in consensus.
Leaders from major political parties closely involved in interparty
negotiations, however, said that the CA chairman also has an alternative
plan if the CPDCC and leaders fail to settle the disputes in consensus.
|
April 23 |
Chairman of CA Subas Nembang said
that the voting process would begin on April 30 if parties failed
to reach consensus on contentious issues of new constitution.
After having deferred the CA meeting for more than two months,
Nembang made it clear at the CA meeting that he would move ahead
as per the report submitted by Questionnaire Committee. However,
again the CA meeting scheduled to be convened on April 23 has
been put off for the next seven days, and the next meeting is
slated for April 30 for the last time to forge consensus on the
disputed issues of constitution writing as the CA's priority is
still agreement.
The three major parties- NC, CPN-UML
and UCPN-M-had agreed on April 20 to initiate drafting process
on already agreed upon issues and continue discussions on the
disputed issues. Though parties are closer to consensus on judiciary,
electoral system and form of government, they are yet to prepare
a framework of agreement. According to cross-party leaders, they
plan to prepare a draft if there is a final agreement on these
issues and get back to discussions on federalism after a while.
CPN-UML senior leader Jhalanath
Khanal ruled out any possibility of federalising country based
on ethnic line. Inaugurating the party constituency-1 convention
in Ilam District, leader Khanal warned that the country would
plunge into disintegration if federal states were declared on
the basis of ethnicity.
|
April 24 |
In an indication of mending rift
in the alliance, leaders of the UCPN-M-led 30-party opposition
bloc have reached an understanding to form a task force to deal
with the ruling parties on constitution-writing. The team under
Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara will take its shape when
the meeting of the alliance scheduled for April 28 inducts members
from the Madhesi and Janajati parties.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda refuted the rumors that he forged a separate deal
with the CPN-UML and NC. Talking to journalists at his Lazimpat-based
residence in Kathmandu, leader Dahal said no progress has been
made towards agreement except the 'abstract commitment' for consensus
during the bilateral meeting held before PM Koirala left for Indonesia.
Leaders from the ruling NC and
CPN-UML responded positively to UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's
proposal to prepare a draft of the new constitution by including
both the federal models -- the one proposed by ruling coalition
and the other floated by the UCPN-M led opposition camp.
Talking to a few journalists at
his residence at Lazimpat in Kathmandu, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal said that his party is positive towards forging consensus
on federalism, putting both the 7-province model of the ruling
parties and the Maoist-proposed 10 province model in the draft
new constitution and then going for public feedback. Dahal also
said the constitution should not be promulgated without finalizing
the major disputes over state-structuring.
|
May 4 |
Deputy Prime Minister Prakash
Man Singh said the process of drafting the new constitution has
been affected due to the devastating earthquake. "We will start
deliberations on various issues of constitution drafting after
a couple of weeks," he said, adding that the contentious issues
will be dealt in by framing questionnaire and the disputed matter
will be decided by majority votes. Deputy Prime Minister Singh
said the government was hopeful of Nepal having a new constitution
soon. "We will not allow anyone to use this national disaster
to delay the drafting of the constitution, which is in its final
stages," he said.
|
June 8 |
Four major parties, NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L, signed a 16-point agreement on the key contentious
issues including federalism, paving the way for promulgating a
new Constitution. The deal signed by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala,
CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and
MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar states that the country
shall be federated into eight provinces on the basis of economic
viability and identity. Two key components of federal states-names
and delineation-remain unsettled, though. According to the deal,
the government will form a commission with a six-month mandate
to finalize the demarcation of federal units.
28 constituent parties of the
30-party opposition alliance, except the UCPN-M and MJF-L, at
the 30-party meeting strongly objected to the political agreement
between the big four political parties, arguing the agreement
does not resolve the issue of federalism.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
welcomes the 16-point agreement concluded between four major political
parties. Issuing a statement, the Secretary General said "The
UN applauded the diligent efforts and constructive leadership
demonstrated by Nepali political leaders in reaching the agreement.
This achievement is particularly laudable as it was reached amid
challenging circumstances caused by the major earthquakes of April
and May."
Voicing dissent over the agreement
reached by major parties, NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L, CPN-Maoist
Chairman Mohan Baidya remarked that the 16-point pact signed by
the four big political parties has reinstated regression. "The
agreement between the four parties is regressive. Consensus on
the contentious issues of constitution should be sought by holding
all-party meeting," said Baidya. He said the unification process
with UCPN-M have been put on hold as the latter is a signatory
of the regressive agreement.
|
June 9 |
The UCPN-M-led 30-party opposition
alliance has split after the four major parties on June 8 reached
a 16-point agreement on major contentious issues of the new Constitution.
Opposing the agreement, some of the constituent parties in the
alliance including MPRF-N, TMDP, FSPN and SP held parallel meeting
of the alliance. The dissident faction has claimed that as many
as 13 constituent parties in the alliance are supporting them.
On the other hand, UCPN-M, MPRF-D and various other parties in
the alliance have decided to join the CA.
RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa talking
to media persons following the meeting of CA said that the agreement
signed by the four big political parties is an attempt to sideline
other parties in the process of promulgating a new Constitution.
He argued that leaders of these parties were belittling CA by
imposing the decisions they made without consulting other parties
represented in the CA. It was their arbitrary decision, he blamed.
|
June 10 |
A sub-committee formed by CPDCC
failed to arrive at consensus electoral system for upper house,
provincial parliament and granting citizenship through mother.
The sub-committee was also divided on the number of constitutional
commissions to be formed in the new set-up. The sub-committee
members will be holding separate and joint discussions with the
top leaders of their respective parties in a bid to forge consensus
on the disputed issues.
SLMM expelled MJF-L Bijay Kumar
Gachhadar from the alliance of Madhesi parties. During the meeting
convened at the office Rajendra Mahato led SP in Nayabaneshwor,
Kathmandu, the alliance of Madhesi parties announced formal break-up
from Gachhadar's party citing that his party signed the agreement
16-point agreement against the objective and concept of the front.
|
June 11 |
The CPDCC submitted a consensus
report on the disputed statute agendas to the CA clearing the
way for preparing the first draft of the new Constitution. The
report presented by PDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai will be forwarded
to the Drafting Committee after deliberation in the full House
on June 12. The Drafting Committee headed by NC leader Krishna
Prasad Sitaula will have to prepare the first draft of the constitution
within 15 days.
|
June 12 |
The CA meeting forwarded the report
of the CPDCC to the CDC and directed the latter to prepare the
first draft of the new Constitution within the next 15 days. The
proposal to forward the report to the Drafting Committee was endorsed
by an overwhelming majority of the 601-seat CA. Only the lawmakers
from RPP-N, which has 25 members in the CA, opposed the proposal.
Five other small political parties - MPRF-N, TMDP, SP, FSP-N and
TMSP - had walked out of the meeting earlier on the day. The parties
have 35 seats in the CA among themselves.
|
June 14 |
The CDC of the CA has begun drafting
the Constitution after it received the report of the CA's CPDCC.
Addressing a meeting, the CDC Chairman Krishna Sitaula announced
to complete the given task within 12 to 15 days.
The CDC at the meeting directed
the five Sub-committees under it to prepare draft proposals as
per the recent 16-point Agreement made by four major political
parties. The CDC has asked the Sub-committees to complete the
job and submit their reports by June 17.
|
June 16
|
A writ petition has been filed
at the SC against the recent 16-point agreement signed by four
major political parties to resolve the contentious issues of the
new constitution. The writ was filed only after a single bench
of justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR issued an order to register
the agreement reached among the four parties, SC Joint Spokesperson
Baburam Dahal said.
The CA Secretariat is struggling
to finalise the new calendar for constitution writing as the ruling
NC and CPN-UML leaders are divided over the issue of duration.
Various five subcommittees formed
under the CDC of the CA have failed to settle some of the disputed
issues in constitution writing. The subcommittees are scheduled
to submit their reports on June 17, while the disputes would be
sent back to the full CDC meeting.
CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya
claimed that the 16-point agreement among NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M
and MJF-L will not yield a new constitution. The only way to ensure
the promulgation of the constitution is an all-party political
conference, Baidya told reporters in Kavre District. Baidya also
said that the UCPN-M, which had led the alliance of which CPN-Maoist
was a member, betrayed its allies by becoming a signatory to the
16-point deal.
SP organizing a press conference
reiterated that it may quit the CA and launch protest if the major
political parties try to promulgate constitution without delineating
and naming the federal provinces. SP argued that the 16-point
agreement between the four major parties is unconstitutional.
|
June 17
|
Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said his party was committed to federalism
with identity but made some compromises on certain issues in order
to forge consensus. Receiving a memorandum submitted by the NEFIN
at his residence in Lazimpat in Kathmandu, Chairman Dahal said
his party had to be flexible on some issues for consensus but
the party had not given up the issues it had been raising in the
past and urged the delegation to take the deal positively.
The CDC of the CA forwarded the
list of disputes in constitution writing to a taskforce comprising
members of the committee and asked it to prepare an integrated
draft of new constitution and submit it to the full committee
within a week.
Chairman of the CA, Subas Nembang,
said that the new constitution should be promulgated as soon as
possible by institutionalizing the achievements on the basis of
maximum consensus as the new constitution could not address cent
percent demands of all. After receiving a memorandum at his office,
Singha Durbar, submitted by a delegation of the NEFIN regarding
the 16-point agreement signed among four major political parties
on June 8, CA Chair Nembang urged all not to make any activities
that lead to dissolve the CA as the first CA was dissolved without
promulgating the new constitution due to some argument over the
issues that were close to consensus.
|
June 18
|
PM Sushil Koirala said the constitution
drafting task should be carried out through 'double' fast track.
?Others are saying fast track. But i say mere fast track is not
enough, let?s go to double fast track,? PM Koirala said while
talking to a delegation of NEFIN at his official residence in
Baluwatar, Kathmandu.
UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
remarked that a national government would be formed immediately
after the promulgation of new constitution. Talking to journalists
in Gorkha at his home-District Gorkha, Bhattarai said the new
constitution would be announced within the current Nepali month
of Ashad (mid July).
|
June 19
|
The SC ordered the government,
the CA and concerned political parties not to implement the 16-point
political deal recently struck by major political forces with
a view to settling key contentious issues in constitution making.
Issuing an interim order, the court said issues like delineation
and nomenclature of provinces should be settled before the dissolution
of CA.
Taking strong exception to the
apex court?s interim order, four major political forces, NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L have termed the move as an act of intervention
in the jurisdiction of the sovereign CA elected to promulgate
the new constitution. The four parties said that the order would
not affect the set statute-drafting process. An emergency meeting
of the ruling and opposition parties held at Prime Minister Sushil
Koirala?s official residence in Baluwatar immediately after the
court?s ruling said the order was against the spirit of the Interim
Constitution-2007 and the principles of the separation of powers.
SC's order on 16-pt deal has been
found to have contradicted its own previous ruling and precedents.
The Supreme Court, ordered the government, the CA and concerned
political parties not to implement the 16-point political deal
stating the issues like delineation and nomenclature of provinces
should be settled before the dissolution of CA since the deal
on forming eight provinces, assigning provincial assemblies to
name them and forming a federal commission to finalize delineation
would be against Article 138 of the Interim Constitution. While
issuing the interim order, a single bench of Justice Girish Chandra
Lal has accepted the deal between the four major parties as a
constitutional and legal issue and described it as contradictory
to Article 138.
|
June 21
|
The UCPN-M said that the interim
order issued by SC would not affect the task of constitution writing.
A meeting of office bearers of the UCPN-M decided to continue
the constitution writing task, while at the same time cooperate
with the other parties in the matter, informed party Vice Chairman
Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
The UCPN-M charged that the ruling
parties are trying to move ahead against the spirit of the 16-point
deal signed on June 8, on the contentious issues of the new constitution.
In a meeting of UCPN-M, the party?s top leaders concluded that
the NC and CPN-UML had taken a tough stance on some minor issues
of the new constitution. The main opposition decided to hold ?serious
negotiations? with the coalition partners on the matter.
CA Chairman Subas Nembang said
that no obstacle can stop the constitution writing process. CA
Chair Nembang said the 16-point agreement signed among the four
major political parties has ensured the constitution writing.
"All bases for constitution writing are now ready. Consensus
has already been forged among political parties. Constitution
writing process will not be obstructed in this situation",
he said.
|
June 22 |
President Ram Baran Yadav and
CA Chairman Subas Nembang held discussions focused on the entire
scenario of the constitution writing and the situation following
the SC's order in connection to the 16-point agreement signed
among the four political parties. The CA chairman, during his
meeting with the President at the President office in Shital Niwas,
Kathmandu, briefed the Head of State that the work related to
the constitution writing was going ahead in an expeditious manner
and has reached the draft writing stage, and the committee was
working day and night to take it to a conclusion at the earliest.
On the occasion, President Yadav reiterated on moving ahead maintaining
balance of power and cordiality among the Executive, the Legislature
and the Judiciary, not to escalate dispute and to keep patience.
The meeting of the CDC scheduled
was postponed as the Preliminary Draft Taskforce under it could
not complete the task of writing the draft. Committee secretary
Rabi Aryal said the taskforce would prepare the draft, so that
it could be presented in the committee's meeting scheduled for
June 24.
|
June 23 |
The task force under the CDC prepared
an integrated draft of the constitution based on 16-point agreement
between the four major political parties. The draft prepared by
the committee has recommended 35 sections and 312 Articles. The
taskforce in its draft has recommended 33 fundamental rights and
nine constitutional bodies in the new constitution.
|
June 24 |
The CDC of the CA has once again
extended the deadline of its taskforce due to dispute among the
parties. This is the second time the taskforce has received deadline
extension from its supervisory body. The taskforce was originally
supposed to complete the work by June 22. But, after the taskforce
failed to get the job done by the deadline, the CDC has instructed
the taskforce to come up with the integrated draft of the new
Constitution by June 26. The taskforce failed due to dispute among
the parties on issues like structure of local bodies, interim
election for local bodies and provisions relating to amendment
to constitution and wordings on citizenships.
|
June 26 |
The taskforce of CDC formed to
prepare an integrated draft of the new Constitution has prepared
the preliminary draft. The draft was tabled at the CDC of the
CA. After endorsement, it will be presented to the CA. Taskforce
members say the draft was submitted to the CDC despite failing
to resolve some of the disputes.
PM Sushil Koirala during an interview
said "You might consider the constitution done and dusted". He
said "There is no reason to doubt the trajectory of new Constitution.
It has already entered a process. Every Committee of the Constituent
Assembly is working on war footing. There is not a moment to waste.
You might consider the constitution done and dusted. No force
can stop it now. There is no time like now to reconstruct the
country and take it on the path of development and prosperity.
The recent disaster has only added to the urgency. Our commitment
is peace, development, democracy and prosperity and there is no
better time to institutionalize them."
|
June 28 |
The CDC endorsed the preliminary
draft of the new constitution, which will be tabled in the CA
on June 29 for deliberation among the CA members. Though the CPN-UML
and the UCPN-M and some fringe parties voiced some reservations
over some of the provisions, they fully backed the passage of
the preliminary draft, in a step towards promulgation of the new
constitution.
Four major political parties have
agreed to allocate 60 percent seats under the FPTP electoral system
and 40 percent seats under proportional electoral system in the
provincial assembly election. A meeting of the four major political
parties -- NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and UDMF -- held at Baluwatar,
Kathmandu, decided to keep the same ratio in the electoral system
as agreed earlier for the federal assembly. The four parties have
agreed to ensure 33 percent women in both provincial and federal
assemblies.
The first draft of the new constitution
has proposed to give more powers to the president than he enjoys
under the existing Interim Constitution. The draft has proposed
to authorize the head of state to dissolve the federal House of
Representatives and fix a date for the next election within six
months if the leader of the largest political party heads a minority
government and fails to secure a vote of confidence in the House
within a month of becoming Prime Minister.
|
June 29 |
Major opposition UCPN-M warned
of not signing the first draft of the constitution citing that
the draft contained provisions against the spirit of 16-point
agreement. UCPN-M expressed its dissatisfaction saying that the
CDC Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula added some words which is
against the 16-point understanding reached among the political
parties on June 8.
The CDC failed to table the preliminary
draft of the constitution in the CA as UCPN-M objected to some
of its provisions. The CA meeting that convened after midnight
on June 29, was postponed for June 30, after passing a condolence
message on the demise of former lawmaker Padma Sundar Lawoti.
|
June 30 |
Seventeen months after the second
CA election, the preliminary draft of the new constitution was
tabled in the CA, paving the way for promulgation of the new national
charter. Even though several more steps remain before the constitution
is finally out, leaders termed the move as a great achievement
considering that the first CA elected in 2008 was dissolved in
2012 without producing the first draft. CDC Chairman Krishna Prasad
Sitaula presented the draft, proposing wider discussion among
the CA members.
|
July 1 |
The united Madhes alliance, burnt
the copies of preliminary draft of the constitution that was presented
at the CA meeting on June 30. After tearing and burning the constitution
draft in front of Department of Road office in Babar Mahal, Kathmandu,
TMLP vice chairman Brishesh Chandra Lal, NSP vice chairman Laxman
Lal Karn and SSP General Secretary Rajendra Shrestha, and TMSP
senior leader Ram Naresh Ray Yadav, addressed the gathering. The
disgruntled came down heavily upon the preliminary draft of the
constitution and warned of stern protests if the major political
parties did not pay heed to their demands.
|
July 2 |
As per the previous understanding
among the major parties to fast-track the constitution drafting
process, the CA, suspended some clauses of the CA Rules of Procedure
to kick start deliberations on the preliminary statute draft.
As per the rules, the CA should give members at least a week to
study the preliminary draft before engaging them in a discussion.
The UCPN-M decided to urge the
government to bring budget as per the spirit of 16-point pact
since the agreement has created environment of consensus in the
country. A Parliamentary Party meeting of the UCPN-M convened
at CA building in Kathmandu made the decision to this effect.
|
July 3 |
PM Sushil Koirala said that no
one could obstruct the constitution writing process as it has
already been initiated. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of
BP Highway at Dhulikhel in Kavrepalanchowk District, PM Koirala
said the new constitution would be promulgated at any cost. Stating
that establishment of federal republicanism in the country was
not a minor issue; and the time has come to institutionalise the
achievements gained from the people's movement. PM Koirala further
said that there would be drastic change in the country within
the next 10 years if there would be good governance, transparency,
accountability and corruption-free in the country.
Despite protest from the RPP-N,
deliberation started in the CA, on the preliminary draft of the
new constitution. The meeting called to discuss the draft before
publishing a revised version in the Nepal Gazette for public consultation
was delayed by five hours after the fourth largest party demonstrated
claiming distortions in the document without the consent of Drafting
Committee members. The party accused a handful of leaders from
the major parties of altering several provisions that were finalised
on June 28. It charged that "socialism-oriented state" was included
in the preamble unilaterally. The RPP-N also claimed that the
proposed fundamental right to abandon one's religion was tantamount
to conversion-a provision absent from the preliminary draft agreed
to earlier. The draft, however, says in another clause that changing
someone else's religion is a punishable act.
In an indication of new unity,
almost all the Madhes-based parties in the CA and outside agreed,
to launch a unified movement to press the ruling parties to incorporate
their agendas in the new constitution. In a meeting held at the
TMLP office, the leaders agreed to launch their Janajagaran Campaign
soon. Upendra Yadav, chairman of FDA, who was in Pokhara, is said
to have assured his party's participation in the joint struggle.
|
July 5 |
Four fringe political parties
boycotted the CA meeting, reiterating their demand that the constitution
should be promulgated only after delineation of federal units.
These parties include SSP, TMLP, SP and TMSP, walked out of the
meeting. TMLP General Secretary Sarbendra Nath Shukla said that
federalism without demarcation of state boundary was like a body
without its head.
The RPP-N, announced protest programmes
demanding termination of secularism and re-establishment of Hindu
state. The party has announced District centered stir all over
the nation starting July 7. Announcing the protest programme,
RPP-N said that the party is planning to stage protest outside
the CA building on July 7. As part of the protest, separate rallies
would be taken out from three Districts of Kathmandu valley (Kathmandu,
Lalitpur and Bhaktapur) and the rallies will converge outside
CA building.
|
July 6 |
A full court meeting of SC asked
the CA to revoke the provision for forming a constitutional court.
The SC full court meeting decided to urge the CA in writing to
remove the provision to create a constitutional court. The meeting
presided over by Chief Justice Ram Kumar Prasad Sah held deliberations
on the provisions of the preliminary draft of the new constitution
and urged the CA to uphold the international practice on independent
judiciary by removing the provision for constitutional court.
The full court meeting maintained that constitutional court would
create unnecessary hassle in the judiciary system and is likely
to arouse conflict among the courts.
When four Madhes-based parties
are boycotting discussions in the CA, the UCPN-M said that the
delineation of federal units should be decided before constitution
promulgation. Citing the changed circumstances, the party argues
that it is better to settle the demarcation as the constitution
draft undergoes modifications over the next few weeks. The UCPN-M
believes that state demarcation could be decided within a month
if the two ruling parties (NC and CPN-UML) take it seriously.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said it was improper
to decide the numbers before laying out other details. There are
growing voices in the NC and the CPN-UML as well that delineation
should be decided before the new charter gets its final shape.
Lawmakers pointed out the need
of ensuring proportional and inclusive representations in every
bodies of the state in the draft of a new constitution. Participating
in a meeting of CA deliberations on the proposal tabled before
it, seeking permission to publish the first integrated draft of
the new constitution in Nepal's gazette for people's feedbacks,
lawmakers stressed on including the provision death penalty to
those who were approved culprits of rape, genocide and other serious
crimes.
Minister for Information and Communications,
Minendra Rijal, called all political parties to involve in the
journey of prosperity by ending political tussle. Taking part
in the ongoing discussion at the CA seeking permission to publish
the first integrated draft of the new constitution in Nepal's
gazette for people's feedbacks, Minister Rijal urged the political
parties to put their views and demands in the CA without boycotting
it.
|
July 7 |
After weeklong deliberations,
the CA endorsed the preliminary draft of the constitution, clearing
the way for public consultation on the statute blueprint. The
CA meeting endorsed the draft amid protests by the RPP-N and four
Madhes-based parties. The Committee on Citizen Relations and Public
Opinion Collection has got 15 days beginning July 9, to gather
people?s views on the draft and submit its report to the Assembly.
CA members and Secretariat staff will visit 240 electoral constituencies
and 75 Districts to seek people?s feedback on the draft.
|
July 8 |
CPN-UML Senior leader Madhav Kumar
Nepal claimed that he tried hard to make UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda agree to take ahead the constitution
drafting process. Speaking at a programme to lay the foundation
stone for the construction of a community building at Gangapipara
in Rautahat District, Nepal said the people would not forgive
if the constitution could not be drafted this time around. He
claimed that the new constitution would be in favour of the people
of mountain, hill, and Tarai. He said the new constitution should
not encourage religious conversion and end the Hindu identity
and that the constitution should not hurt the sentiment any caste
or religion.
|
July 9 |
The Committee on Citizen Relation
and Public Opinion Collection finalised an action plan for seeking
public opinion on preliminary draft of the new constitution. The
plan will come into effect after its endorsement by the full House
of the CA. According to the plan, officials of the CA Secretariat
will start visiting 240 electoral constituencies beginning July
10, with a copy of preliminary draft. Once the officials complete
preparations for holding interactions at the grass-roots level,
lawmakers will visit their electorate after the budget presentation
at Parliament next week. The CA has provided 15 days beginning
on July 9, to gather people?s views on the document and submit
its report to the Assembly.
|
July 10 |
The Committee on Citizen Relation
and Public Opinion Collection came up with a 15-day action plan
to collect public opinion on preliminary draft of new constitution.
The action-plan endorsed by full House CA on July 9, drew criticism
for allotting only two days for holding direct interaction with
common people though the Committee got 15 days. People can register
their comments through online, fax and telephone numbers. For
the rural areas, printed copies will be transported. There will
be two-day long interaction programmes in each electoral constituency
in the presence of lawmakers. Four Madhes-based parties took exception
to the action plan stating that only two days are allocated for
collection of feedback through interaction. Organising a press
conference at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, after CA endorsed the
action plan, CA Chairman Subas Nembang said the draft constitution
would be revised and amended according to public suggestions.
He requested the people to provide their feedback and opinions
on preliminary draft of constitution.
President Ram Baran Yadav advised
four major political parties to promulgate the new Constitution
only after the delineation of provinces, a key demand of the leaders
from Madhesi and Janajati constituencies, in accordance with the
Supreme Court?s stay order. Inviting Prime Minister and
NC President Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar
at Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the President in Kathmandu,
President Yadav expressed his dissatisfaction at the major parties?
decision to promulgate the new charter without resolving the federalism
row, and by suspending some constitutional provisions to speed
up the process.
UDMF, a four party alliance of
MPRF-N, TMDP, SP and NMSP launched protest programmes demanding
the major parties to correct the 16-point agreement. Unveiling
a joint protest programmes the Front said the agreement is ?unconstitutional?
as it attempts to federate the country into eight provinces through
an arrangement to decide names and boundaries of the states later.
The Madhesi leaders said they are in favour of delineation of
federal boundaries and naming them in accordance with past agreements
signed with Madhesi, Janajati, Dalit and other marginalised and
excluded communities.
|
July 12 |
Backtracking on its earlier stance,
top leadership of the UCPN-M decided to mount pressure for delineation
of provinces prior to promulgation of the new constitution. Addressing
a function organized by ANNISU-R, the student wing of the party
in Kathmandu, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed student
leaders to start campaign to mount pressure on the CA and political
parties to delineate provinces before promulgation of the new
Constitution.
Claiming that the final draft
of the new constitution attempts to curtail their rights, Janajati
and Madhesi activists and intellectuals met President Ram Baran
Yadav at his official residence in Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu and
sought President?s intervention in promulgation of a new Constitution
that guarantees equal rights to all communities living in the
country. The group led by senior Janajati activist Padma Ranta
Tuladhar said that the draft does not live by promises the Government
made to Madhesi, Janajati, women, Dalit and other marginalised
and excluded communities. They claimed that the major parties
are trying to promulgate ?regressive? statute against the spirit
of the Interim Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling.
Dispute between UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leader Baburam Bhattarai has escalated
further over several sticking points, most notably the party?s
leadership. The duo publicly accused each other of weakening the
party, fostering factionalism. Indicating parallel activities
inside the party, Dahal said that actions of his deputies Bhattarai
and Narayan Kaji Shrestha often differ from their words. Bhattarai,
who spoke ahead of Dahal, floated the idea of forming of a new
political force, consequently irking Dahal.
|
July 13 |
CA Chairman Subas Nembang instructed
lawmakers to collect public feedback on the first draft of the
new constitution and to assure them of delivering the new statute
by mid August, while visiting their respective Districts. Participating
in an interaction program organized by the CA's CRCSC on draft
constitution in Kathmandu, Nembang said that new constitution
is most likely to be delivered within a month. On the occasion,
Nembang urged political parties, those boycotting CA process and
remaining outside it, for submitting their feedbacks to the CA
while assuring them of accommodating their feedbacks in the new
statute. "Since the draft constitution is document of compromise,
it includes common ideas of all parties rather than all ideas
of all parties," said Nembang at the program participated
by lawmakers and representatives from FNJ and NBA.
The fourth-largest party RPP-N
said that it will not participate in the collection of public
opinion regarding the preliminary draft of the new constitution.
Issuing a press statement, the party termed the collection of
public opinion as a dramatic event. RPP-N said that the CA was
used as a rubber stamp and barring enough discussions on the contents
of the draft, regulations were suspended and the interim order
of the Supreme Court was not implemented. The party has said that
people?s opinion will not find any space in the constitution draft,
as preparations are underway to submit the report prepared on
July 22, itself, the very next day.
Top-notch leaders of major parties,
who arrived in Jhapa District, to lay foundation stone of Girija
Prasad Koirala memorial building, said that promulgation of the
much-awaited constitution is inevitable, and the statue will come
into effect within mid-August. Addressing the function, Prime
Minister and NC President Sushil Koirala stated that the change
was possible owing to sacrifice and struggle, adding the nation
is heading to institutionalize it. Saying that people were awaken
by the change, PM Koirala expressed his belief that the consciousness
in them will help to preserve democracy in coming days. Also speaking
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that
the constitution writing has entered final phase. Saying that
lawmakers have reached people to collect feedbacks on the draft
of the new constitution, Dahal claimed that the voices of dissenting
parties will also be incorporated in the constitution. ?There
is still room for amendment,? Dahal said, ?Public feedbacks are
being collected for that.?
|
July 14 |
Speaking at a program organized
by the Bhanu Foundation on the occasion of the 202nd birth anniversary
of Adikavi Bhanubhakta Acharya at Nepal Academy, Kamaladi, Kathmandu,
PM Sushil Koirala said, that the new federal republic constitution
would unite people from different communities and religions. Likewise,
Rastrakavi Madhav Prasad Ghimire said that Bhanubhakta?s vision
of the nation expressed through his literary creations at that
time is still significant in the present. Ghimire expressed the
belief that the new constitution going to be promulgated soon
would be very useful for the nation's welfare.
|
July 15 |
Six months on, the commissions
formed to investigate the conflict-era cases of human rights violations
and extrajudicial punishments have still not finalised their organisational
regulations. Without the regulations, these transitional justice
bodies- TRC and CIEDP - are barely functioning. The two commissions
also do not have any staff members, except a secretary each appointed
not so long ago. The government had formed TRC and CIEDP in February,
eight years after the signing of the CPA, with the mandate to
complete their tasks within two years of their formation.
|
July 16 |
Cadres of Madhes-based parties
have obstructed a programme held to collect public opinion on
the preliminary draft of the new constitution at Gaur Municipality
in Rautahat District. They tore the statute draft and chanted
slogans at an interaction programme organised by draft sub-committee.
SP central member Yogendra Yadav seized mike from the hands of
organiser and said his party has serious objection to the first
draft of statute as it neglected Madhesi issues. Following him,
other cadres chanted slogans and tore copies of the draft. Chief
District Officer Madan Bhujel and security personnel were in dilemma
when the Madhesi cadres were vandalising chairs and tables and
burnt documents and banner of the programme. Later Police intervened
and took control of the situation.
|
July 17 |
The UDMF staged a protest programme
against the draft constitution in Janakpur District, saying that
the draft is against the demands raised by the front. A protest
rally organised from the Railway station turned into a corner
assembly at Janaki Chowk after marching around the town. Various
leaders and cadres from Madhes-based parties, affiliated to the
front, participated in the protest rally. Madhesi leaders warned
that they would not accept the constitution without demarcation
of federal borders. They expressed their rue for discriminating
Madhesi in all provisions ranging from Preamble to citizenship
issue. Also, the Madhesi leaders warned of stronger protest s
against the programmes summoned for July 20 and 21 to collect
public opinion on the draft constitution.
The government has announced public
holidays on July 20 and 21 to facilitate public opinion collection
on the preliminary draft of the new constitution. A Cabinet meeting,
took the decision with an aim to ensure maximum public participation
in interactions on the constitution draft, said Minister for Information
and Communications Minendra Rijal. The holidays, however, are
not for SF personnel and government officials involved in feedback
collection. The preliminary draft has been sent to the people
in order to solicit their suggestions on the provisions of the
proposed constitution. Through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Nepali missions abroad are also entrusted to seek feedback from
migrant Nepalis there.
Concerned with anti-accord statements
from the signatories themselves, the CPN-UML is preparing to raise
the issue in a cross-party meeting. Against a clause in the 16-point
agreement that says the borders of the eight provinces would be
marked on the basis of the recommendations of a commission to
be formed after constitution promulgation, some leaders of the
coalition partner NC and the main opposition UCPN-M have stood
for deciding the delineation now. The CPN-UML has concluded that
such attempts would delay the new constitution. On June 8, major
political parties?NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L ? signed the deal
agreeing to let the Federal Commission decide on the demarcation
of provinces.
|
July 18 |
The Committee on Citizen Relations
and Public Opinion Collection of CA so far received over 12,000
feedback s on preliminary draft of constitution. People have registered
their feedbacks through toll free number, website, email and direct
mailing at CA Secretariat from the Nepali people living across
the globe. The Committee is planning to organise feedback collection
programmes in all 240 electoral constituencies on July 19 and
July 20.
|
July 19 |
A total of 41 areas have been
designated inside Kathmandu Valley for CA members to collect feedback
s on the preliminary draft of the constitution that will begin
from July 20. For the two-day gathering, 32 areas inside Kathmandu
District have been prepared while seven areas in Lalitpur and
two areas in Bhaktapur have been designated. According to the
provision, each constituency should have at least two lawmakers.
Speaking during an interaction
at Bheri Technical Academy in Nepalgunj in Banke District, PM
Sushil Koirala urged the people to rest assured about a statute
that addresses the concerns of all.
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli,
said that they would begin the geographical demarcation of Pradeshes
only after promulgating the new statute.
|
July 20 |
At least 40 people were injured
when the agitating cadres of Madhes-based parties clashed with
Police in Janakpur District on the first of the two-day public
consultation campaign on the preliminary draft of the new constitution
saw overwhelming participation across the Tarai region. The injured
include District-level leaders and some central committee leaders
of the Madhes-based parties. In Biratnagar, the consultation was
hampered by the cadres of Madhes-based political parties who disrupted
the programme by shouting slogans against the constitution. Consultation
in Morang-5 was affected after CPN-UML cadres said that they did
not receive enough copies of the draft. They have also demanded
that the consultation programme be held at open places.
In the interim, CPN-UML leader and former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal
was hurled with chairs and stones by protesting cadres at Gaur
municipality in Rautahat District. According to sources, two clashes
have been reported to have occurred in Saptari where at least
two persons, including a Police constable, were injured. The protesting
cadres have obstructed transportation along the East West Highway
stranding hundreds of travelling passengers.
Cadres of Madhes-based parties
disrupted the public opinion collection programme in Mahottari
District. Madhesi cadres vandalised the programme in District
Development Committee assembly hall at Region no. 3 in Jaleshwar
municipality in Janakpur Zone, the headquarters of Mahottari District.
The programme podium and several mikes were destroyed in the vandalism.
They were chased away by SF personnel deployed in the hall. The
consultation campaign, however, was held successfully at constituency
no 4 and 5 while lawmakers are about to reach constituency -2.
The public opinion collection
programmes in Parsa were marred by tension after the cadres of
Madhes-based parties posed obstruction in all five venues. A Nepal
Police DSP and few protestors were injured after the agitating
cadres of Madhes-based parties clashed with the Police. Pokhariya
in constituency-5 of the District witnessed the most serious tension
where Police had to fire 14 rounds of tear gas shells to contain
the situation. A team led by Nepali Congress lawmaker Surendra
Prasad Chaudhari found it extremely difficult to conduct the programme
amidst such tension. Similarly the public opinion collection at
constituency-2 in Birjung also saw tension as Police wielded batons
to chase the protestors who tried to obstruct the programme. DSP
Yadav Gharti was injured in the clash.
Cadres of Madhesi Morcha, Mohan
Baidya-led CPN-Maoist-Baidya and Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist-Matrika
pelted stones at UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda during a programme organised to collect the public opinion
on draft constitution at Mohan Higher Secondary School in Mirchaiya
of Siraha District. Scores of people were injured in a clash between
police and cadres that followed after the incident. Mirchaiya
Police said the number of people injured is yet to be ascertained.
The programme venue remained tense after cadres tore the copies
of draft and started hurling stones. Police fired 15 rounds of
tear gas shells to contain the situation.
Three Petrol bombs were hurled
targeting the vehicle carrying Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat
in Suryamati VDC in Nuwakot District. Minister Mahat was on his
way to Nuwakot Constituency-2 to collect people?s feedback on
the preliminary draft of new constitution. However, no one was
hurt in the incident. An unidentified person had hurled three
petrol bombs targeting the vehicle carrying the Finance Minister.
During a public hearing held to
draw feedback on the preliminary draft of ?Nepal Constitution,
2072? in Lalitpur District, majority of residents put forth the
demand for including Hinduism as state religion, provision guaranteeing
citizenship in the name of both mother and father, free health
treatment for elderly citizens and banning child labourers.
|
July 21 |
More than two dozen cadres of
the RPP-N including lawmaker Ganesh Thapa were injured in a clash
with Police during a feedback collection programme on the preliminary
draft of new constitution organised in the District headquarters
of Makwanpur, Hetauda. The clash ensued after a group of cadres,
led by RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa, forcefully entered into the
hall where feedback collection was under way and vandalised chairs
and stage, demanding the Hindu state.
Public opinion collection on the
constitution draft was affected in some Tarai Districts due to
protests by some Madhes-based parties on the second day. The Madhesi
Morcha enforced a banda in the plains protesting ?Police
excesses? on July 20. The campaign was obstructed in Dhanusha,
Siraha, Sarlahi and Kapilvastu Districts while violent clashes
were reported in some other Districts. About 60 persons, including
SF personnel, were injured in the clashes in Dhanusha, Bara and
Rupandehi. People had difficulty reaching the venue for registering
their views as transportation was disrupted due to the shutdown.
Fifteen people were injured as banda enforcers clashed
with Police at several places in Janakpur. Police lobbed tear
gas canisters and resorted to baton charge to disperse protesters.
In Bara, about 10 persons, including SF personnel, were hurt as
the cadres of Madhes-based parties defied security restrictions.
Clashes erupted as the demonstrators attempted to enter the interaction
centre at Chhatapipara. Police said the protesters had hurled
stones at the venue. Some three dozen people were injured.
NHRC urged the government to show
restraint against protesters and to create an environment for
the people to present their opinion on the constitution draft.
?The government and security agencies should have observed restraint,?
the NHRC stated, adding that the use of force to quell demonstrations
had flared up tension.
CA Secretariat concluded collection
of people?s opinions from within and outside the country with
overwhelming and enthusiastic participation of people despite
some obstruction from a few parties and groups at some places.
The CA panel is likely to take two more days for preparing report
on the suggestions.
The CA will follow a three-layer
process to incorporate suggestions put forth by the public and
other stakeholders on the preliminary draft of the new constitution.
The feedback collation process ended on July 21, amid protests
by the Madhes-based parties, RPP-N and some parties outside the
CA.
At the first stage, the PDCC will
try to amend the draft on the basis of reports presented by the
CCRPOC. The CCRPOC has been mandated to prepare a comprehensive
documentation of the people?s feedback. Second, the CDC will also
incorporate the views recorded during nationwide public hearings.
Finally, any CA member desiring to register an amendment to the
draft bill within one week from the completion of theoretical
discussions on the Constitution Bill can do so after a presentation
by CDC Chair Krishna Prasad Sitaula.
|
July 22 |
The CCRPOC sought more time for
analysing and processing feedback provided by public and various
organisations on the draft constitution. The committee said it
would take another 3-5 days to prepare a report. The committee
was supposed to submit the report at full House of the CA on July
23, for deliberations among political parties. But committee members
said it would be difficult to prepare the report within the allotted
time due to a large volume of suggestions collected from electoral
constituencies, via website, email and direct mail. They met CA
Chairman Subas Nembang, and requested for additional time. From
240 electoral constituencies, 33,316 suggestions on the draft
constitution were gathered until July 21 midnight. According to
the committee, 20,722 pieces of suggestions were collected through
website, while 8,800 from email, 2,471 from toll-free number,
1,080 (fax) and 243 (direct mail).
SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav has
taken a lead to form a broader alliance among Madhes-based parties
in a bid to add steam to the ongoing protest against the constitution
writing process. Yadav?s effort to expand the existing alliance
follows the growing public resentment over the final draft of
new constitution that he believes could be translated into a decisive
moment. He, together with other leaders of the SLMM, started consultations
with other Madhes-based fringe parties for a joint protest aimed
at keeping up the momentum.
The NA said, as an apolitical
institution, it is ?accountable to the constitution but not to
democratic principles.?. In a set of suggestions submitted to
President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Sushil Koirala and CA
Chairman Subas Nembang, the NA raised reservations on eight Articles
of the draft charter. The Article 262 which mentions the NA as
an organisation ?committed to democratic principles, inclusive
in character and national in form, for the protection of national
sovereignty, integrity, independence and national unity?, contradicts
with its nature, the NA argues. ?An apolitical institution can
never be accountable to the democratic principles.?
Giving its inputs on the preliminary
draft of the new statute, the MoFA suggested that the country
?shall pursue its relations with neighbours based on sovereign
equality and reciprocity, but the country shall not align one
neighbour against another.?
CA speaker Subas Nembang issued
a ruling to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam
to furnish clarification regarding scuffles that took place in
Hetauda, the District headquarters of Makwanpur, during feedback
collection on draft statute on July 21.
RPP-N had enforced banda
in Hetauda, to protest against the Police crackdown on its cadres
when they tried to disrupt the public hearing on the preliminary
draft of Constitution in the District headquarters of Makwanpur
on July 21.
|
July 23 |
Seven persons were arrested in
Banepa of Kavre District, as they were organising a torch procession
on the eve of the banda, according DSP Raj Kumar KC.
The CA?s CCRPOC is likely to table
its report at the CA on July 29. According to committee chairperson
Pramila Rana, the committee has compiled the reports on public
opinion of only 33 Districts until July 24. She hoped the reports
from the remaining Districts will be compiled and submitted by
July 29.
|
July 24 |
Normal life across the country
has been hit hard by the Banda called by Netra Bikram Chand
led CPN-Maoist-Chand against the Constitution drafting process
and ?Lipulekh agreement? (India-China bilateral agreement over
Lipulekh - a piece of land in Nepal bordering the two neighboring
countries). The Chand-led CPN-Maoist has called a nationwide strike
stating that the CA endorsed an anti-public draft of the Constitution
and the India-China ?Lipulek agreement? was a ?dangerous interference?
in the national sovereignty. Police arrested 52 persons including
the party?s leader Tilak Pariyar and Sharad Rasaili, Chairperson
of ANNFSU-R, the student wing of the CPN-Maoist-Chand, from various
parts of Kathmandu, SP Biswaraj Pokharel said. Some of those arrested
had carried petrol with them, he added.
Police also arrested 10 persons
forcing people to shut the bazaar and resorting to vandalism in
Hetauda, Makwanpur, DSP Sishu Sharma informed.
Speaking at the outset of the
legislature-parliament meeting, RPP-N Chief Whip Dil Nath Giri
had warned that RPP-N would not allow parliamentary proceedings
until Home Minister gives convincing clarification over the incident
in parliament.
Leaders from four major political
forces at a meeting, decided to complete the task of Constitution
making within the next three weeks and promulgate it by August
15. Top leaders from NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MPRF-D, decided to
meet CA Chairman Subas Nembang on July 25, and inform him about
their latest plan. NC Joint General Secretary Purna Bahadur Khadka
said the meeting with CA chairman would set the timeline and chalk
out a plan to expedite the Constitution making process from July
25. "The main emphasis of the meeting's decision is on carrying
out the task on a war-footing and to complete it by August 15,"
Khadka said.
The Police arrested altogether
247 bandh enforcers from across the country, of which 99
were detained from the Kathmandu Valley. According to SSP Narayan
Singh Khada, the bandh organizers belonging to Netra Bikram
Chand-led CPN-Maoist-Chand set ablaze nine vehicles and vandalize
19 others. Out of the nine vehicles burnt across the country by
the bandh organizers, only one was from the valley. SSP
Khada said that four people set a car on fire at Sorhakhutte area,
Kathmandu, though the driver managed to escape unhurt.
The UCPN-M submitted a memorandum
to CA Chairman Subas Nembang demanding directly elected executive
presidential system in the new Constitution. Party vice-chairman
Narayan Kaji Shrestha-led team of party leaders also sought necessary
amendments to some provisions in the draft Constitution in line
with past accords and the 16-point agreement. Party leaders also
accused the CDC of CA of not abiding by the directive of the CA
plenary and the 16-point agreement. Though the party agreed to
parliamentary system in the draft statute, its leaders, including
Baburam Bhattarai and Shrestha have stood for directly elected
executive presidential system.
UCPN-M submitted a 13-page memorandum
to CA Chairman Nembang suggesting the Constitution-writing body
to fix ?tentative boundaries? of the eight Pradeshes in the new
Constitution itself. The party, however, said the detailed works
of boundary demarcation should be finalised after promulgation
of the Constitution.
In a meeting held between President
Ram Baran Yadav and CA Chairman Subas Nembang at former?s official
residence in Sheetal Niwas, Kathmandu, President Yadav urged CA
Chairman Nembang to allocate enough time for the remaining tasks
of Constitution drafting process. Discussions were held on public
suggestions collected on the preliminary draft of the Constitution
and the remaining tasks of Constitution promulgation. ?Constitution
should be promulgated in time after following all the due process
of Constitution writing,? said Chairman Nembang quoting President
Yadav as telling at the meeting. ?All the dissenting factions
within and outside the Constituent Assembly must be brought together
in this task.?
|
July 26 |
The CCRPOC has prepared a report
on public suggestions on the preliminary draft of the Constitution
which will be submitted to CA Chairman Subas Nembang on July 27.
Prabha Devi Bajracharya, the committee member, said the report
needs some minor modifications before submission. Bajracharya
said the committee has segregated the suggestions into 37 parts
and 297 articles of the draft constitution. The suggestions collected
during the campaign will also be kept at the CA for record. The
meeting of full House of the CA on July 28, will deliberate on
the report. After completing the deliberation, the report will
be forwarded to the CPDCC. The CPDCC will amend the report on
the basis of the suggestions collected from the public and forward
it to the CA.
Four major parties ? NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L ? are holding consultations on how the people?s
feedback could be incorporated in the new constitution. They have
agreed to bring out the new constitution on August 16. The CA
has started preparing the calendar to promulgate the constitution
on the date.
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli,
said that new constitution would be promulgated by incorporating
maximum inputs from the people and in accordance with the 16-point
deal signed by major political parties. Defending the draft constitution
and spirit of 16-point agreement, Oli said the draft charter was
a progressive document and he will do his best to improve by taking
other parties into confidence. ?Otherwise we have to compromise
on it as the constitution drafting will become a number game this
time too. We need a two-third majority to promulgate the new constitution
while our party commands just a one-third votes,? said Oli.
Disgruntled Madhes-based parties
have been pressing for demarcation of federal states before statute
promulgation. The UCPN-M demanded revision to the preliminary
draft of the new constitution, claiming that the CDC made a number
of mistakes while putting the issues together. In a letter submitted
to the CA chairman, the main opposition party said the committee
overstepped its jurisdictions and violated the directives issued
by the CA. Handing over by party?s Constitution Drafting Department
head Narayan Kaji Shrestha says that the draft does not address
the issue of inclusion and proportional representation of the
oppressed and marginalised communities. ?The provisions are objectionable
and need correction,? Shrestha said.
|
July 27
|
Chairman of CA?s CPDCC, Baburam
Bhattarai, revealed that an understanding has been reached to
promulgate the new Constitution with demarcation of federal states.
At an interaction with Madhesi lawmakers, leaders and rights activists,
Bhattarai informed that the CA is doing homework for delineation
of federal states honouring the feedback provided by people during
public opinion collection.
In a meeting held at PM Sushil
Koirala?s residence in Baluwatar, four political parties ? the
NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L, said they were likely to agree
to demarcate the boundaries of federal units before promulgating
the new Constitution and write religious freedom instead of secularism
in the new Constitution.
Upendra Yadav, Chairman of SSF-N,
said that the draft Constitution is regressive as it has obscured
the federal democratic norms, inclusion, proportional system and
identity-issue. Speaking at a protest assembly organised by SLMM
in Biratnagar, Chairman Yadav said, ?If the draft constitution
is promulgated without amending the discriminatory provisions,
its fate will be similar to that of the past constitutions.? SP
Chairman Rajendra Mahato claimed the draft constitution has been
rejected by the people and the new constitution based on such
draft will not be implemented in Madhes. TMSP, Ram Naresh Raya,
said their obstruction activities during the two-day public feedback
collection on the preliminary draft constitution were just a trailer.
Their remaining protest programme would uproot the monopoly of
the four parties.
On the basis of suggestions received
from the people on the new constitution, the four major parties
will consider seven main constitutional issues- directly elected
executive head, rights of Dalits and women, citizenship, religion,
electoral provisions for local bodies, demarcation of federal
units, and judiciary, while finalising the Constitution draft.
The CA meeting has been summoned for July 28.
Addressing a program organized
to hand over report on the activities carried out by NIC over
the past six years at the PM's official residence in Baluwatar,
PM Koirala reiterated that new Constitution would guarantee people's
rights to information in Nepal.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said, that the term ?secularism? is not an
appropriate one and it would be replaced by a suitable term in
the new Constitution.
|
July 28
|
Four major political parties --
the NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L, -- are scheduled to hold talks
with dissenting Madhes-based parties on July 29. UCPN-M Vice Chairman
Narayan Kaji Shrestha said they plan to hold talks with the Madhes-based
parties in two different groups.
Despite strong pressure from the
leaders to take a firm stance on directly-elected prime minister,
the CPN-UML leadership refused to backtrack on the 16-point agreement
that proposes House-elected Prime Minister as the executive head
and a ceremonial President. The party?s CC meeting that concluded,
did not agree to the demand of a majority of leaders stating that
it wanted to ensure the promulgation of the new constitution by
mid-August as planned.
|
July 29
|
The CA instructed CPDCC to come
up with a consensus report by incorporating the feedback provided
by the public and other stakeholders on the preliminary draft
of the Constitution within four days. CPDCC Chairman Baburam Bhattarai
demanded a few more days to prepare the consensus report, saying
that it would not be possible to prepare the consensus report
within four days. Top leaders of major parties are, however, of
the view that the CPDCC must submit the report, even if there
is no consensus on all the issues.
In a meeting with PM Sushil Koirala
at latter?s official residence in Baluwatar, CPN-Maoist Chairman
Mohan Baidya expressed his party?s dissent to the overall Constitution
drafting process and the first draft of the statute. Baidya urged
the government to respect the people?s aspirations in the new
Constitution. A statement issued by CPN-Maoist-Baidya after the
meeting reads, ?Chairman Kiran (Baidya) expressed the party?s
dissatisfaction to the draft that undermines the people?s aspirations
expressed through people?s war, various people?s movement and
Madhes uprising.?
The SLMM ruled out the possibility
of talks with the major parties unless the latter agree to take
ownership of provisions ensured by the interim Constitution. Morcha
leaders have demanded amendment in the final draft of the Constitution
as per the spirit of the interim Constitution and past accords
signed with the Madhesi forces. Four major parties invited Madhesi
parties for talks in an effort to incorporate views of forces
inside and outside the CA in the Constitution. Morcha leaders
have particularly objected to the draft?s provisions pertaining
to the citizenship rights and inclusion, besides protesting against
?deliberate? delay in demarcation of the state. Four Madhesi parties
of the front also boycotted the CA?s deliberation on the report
tabled by CCRPOC.
SSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav said
there cannot be negotiation unless the major parties agree to
abide by past accord with marginalised and excluded communities
including Madhesi and Janajati.
|
July 30
|
The CPN-Maoist led 33-party alliance
announced fresh protest programmes demanding annulment of the
draft Constitution. A meeting of the alliance, agreed to hold
a nationwide demonstration on August 21, against the draft that,
according to them, has undermined the public aspirations expressed
through various movements including the People?s War, People?s
Movement-II and Madhes revolution.
The CPDCC of the CA formed a special
committee comprising leaders of four major political parties to
integrate people's feedback on the preliminary draft of the new
Constitution in a systematic manner. The special committee comprises
PM Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Chairman of the MJF-L
Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar. Committee chairman Baburam Bhattarai will
coordinate the works and functioning of the special committee.
The CA has instructed the committee to present its report within
four days after incorporating people's feedback.
|
July 31
|
Former PM and senior leader of
the NC Sher Bahadur Deuba, said his party is in favor of promulgating
new Constitution with delineation. Speaking at an interaction
organized in New Delhi, Deuba said the top-notch leaders of the
major political parties are holding talks on promulgating the
new Constitution with delineation by taking Madhes-based parties
into confidence.
Seven Janajati parties started
forming an alternative political force by uniting all like-minded
fringe political parties. According to Pasang Sherpa, leader of
SDP, recent meetings of the eight parties including RJP, FRSP,
KNF, FLP, INNM, NRP, TTP-N and SDP have taken the initiative.
Currently, the parties have been working together as a front ?
Federal Alliance based on Identity.
|
August 1
|
UDMF, an alliance of four Madhes-based
parties, which has been protesting against the draft for the last
several weeks, unveiled an additional programme of protest.
|
August 2
|
Janajati and Madhesi forces have
agreed, to launch a unified protest against the draft Constitution.
According to them, the draft Constitution does not live up to
the past promises made to the marginalised and excluded communities.
Leaders from both the sides said they are making final preparation
to unveil a joint programme of protest within the next few days.
Janajati and Madhesi leaders from across the socio-political spectrum
have objected to several provisions in the draft pertaining to
identity, autonomy, citizenship, proportional representation and
electoral system. Other excluded communities, including Dalit,
have also been voicing reservations about many provisions in the
draft. Padma Ratna Tuladhar, leader of Ajra, which is struggling
for single identity-based federalism, said discussions were also
underway to incorporate other disgruntled groups, including Dalit,
Muslim, Khas, in the joint protest.
Serious differences emerged among
the four major parties, the NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L, on
whether to delineate the federal provinces before the promulgation
of new constitution. The senior ruling coalition NC has proposed
delineating the federal provinces ahead of the Constitution promulgation
as suggested by the public during the feedback collection campaign
on the preliminary draft of the Constitution. The proposition
goes against the 16-point agreement signed by the four parties
which states that the task of demarcating the federal boundaries
would be mandated to a commission after the new Constitution has
been adopted. While the Maoists and MJF-L are also in favour of
finalising the federal boundaries before Constitution promulgation,
the CPN-UML is the only party which has rejected the idea. CPN-UML
leaders have said that if the parties get into the task of delineating
federal states now, it will further delay the already-delayed
Constitution writing process. The four parties have set the target
of issuing the new constitution by mid-August.
|
August 3 |
The SLMM, who stands
against the preliminary draft of new Constitution, has initiated
efforts to forge working alliance with Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist-
Baidya and other fringe parties to escalate the protest against
the draft Constitution. The Madhesi leaders proposed a working
unity with Baidya and the leaders of eight other parties against
the draft Constitution. SP General Secretary Manish Suman said
an agreement has been forged between four parties of Madhes and
eight other parties to get united for annulment of the draft Constitution.
Even as the major
parties are engaged in serious discussions over delineation, the
ruling NC and CPN-UML proposed revising the numbers of federal
units to 6-7 from eight provinces as mentioned in the 16-point
deal. The four parties have been exploring ways to promulgate
the new Constitution by delineating federal units following pressure
from President Ram Baran Yadav, disgruntled forces as well as
the public to resolve the delineation issue. During a meeting,
the ruling alliance said the numbers of federal units should be
revised as the country could not sustain more than 6-7 provinces.
CPN-UML Chairman
KP Sharma Oli assured that the new Constitution would be promulgated
by mid-August with delineation of provincial borders finalised.
Inaugurating a ceremony marking the Destination Nepal's 11th anniversary
in Kathmandu, leader Oli claimed the parties would forge consensus
on the delineation of borders within one or two days.
The UCPN-M boycotted
the Legislature- Parliament meeting accusing the government of
endorsing a discriminatory budget. The parliament meeting has
been deferred following the Maoist?s protest. Earlier on August
2, lawmakers from the ruling parties had objected to the budget
for fiscal year 2015-16.
|
August 4 |
CPN-UML Chairman
KP Sharma Oli said the new Constitution will be promulgated by
mid-August, despite the ?conspiracies that are afoot to foil the
constitution drafting process?. Speaking at the party?s Parliamentary
Party office, Oli also said that he was not against federalism.
The CPN-UML chairman also said that he is in favour of keeping
fewer provinces than what the four major parties had agreed in
the 16-point deal signed on June 8.
Speaking at an interaction
on 'New Constitution and Dalit Rights' organized by Bhagat Sarwajeet
Memorial Academy in Kathmandu, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal
stressed on the need for drafting a Constitution that would bring
real changes in the life of the Dalit community and women that
have remained in the back burner.
Amendment to the
transitional justice Act is a must for TRC and CIEDP to function
efficiently, NHRC Chairman Anupa Raj Sharma said. Speaking at
a programme organised by Family Society of the Disappeared Fighters
by the State, Chairman Sharma said the government needs to amend
the existing law in line with the Supreme Court order.
|
August 5 |
The leaders from
NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MPRF-D decided to federate the country
into six provinces. The leaders while emerging from a meeting
held at Singha Durbar claimed to have resolved all remaining disputes
and said the final decision would be made by August 6. The leaders
this time have not only fixed the number but also drawn the boundaries
of the proposed provinces, although disputes remain over three
Districts. They have also resolved the dispute over five Districts
-- Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari in the east and Kailali and Kanchanpur
in the west. However, they are yet to agree on Kailali District.
UCPN-M and Madhes-based parties have been lobbying for including
Kailali district in Madhes province while NC and CPN-UML have
strongly opposed the idea of separating it from other far-western
hill Districts.
In the east, they
have delineated a province comprising Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari
and other eastern hill Districts. All the Districts to the east
of Udayapur, Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu are in the eastern province.
However, MPRF-D Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar is still insisting
on including Saptari District in this province. All the southern
Districts from the west of Saptari to Parsa are included in a
single province. Similarly, the southern area covering Nawalparasi
to Bardiya has been included in another Tarai province. However,
leaders remain undecided on Kailali. The leaders have included
Chitwan District in the province comprising Kathmandu and other
Districts east of Dhading, Nuwakot and Rasuwa. This province stretches
up to Ramechhap and Sindhuli in the east.
Another province
covers hill Districts from Gorkha, Lamjung to Rukum and Rolpa
in the west. As this province has no connection with the Indian
border, leaders are for giving an exit somewhere in Nawalparasi
District. The far-western province covers all the Districts in
this region. Salyan, Jajarkot and Dolpa and all other Districts
west of it fall in this province. The Tarai District of Kanchanpur
has been included in this province.
NC Vice-chairman
Ram Chandra Paudel, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, MPRF-D Chairman Bijay
Gachchhadar and Chairman of CA's CPDCC Baburam Bhattarai also
said that they will finalize the issues by August 6.
|
August 6 |
The dispute over
the delineation and number of federal states has deepened with
the signatories to the 16-point agreement pitching new proposals
and stances. In a shift from the parties? official positions,
discussions are focused on the stances of top leaders of the major
parties and the growing pressure from cross-party CA members not
to split particular Districts and regions while carving out the
federal structure.
The demarcation dispute
surrounds Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Kanchanpur and Kailali
Districts. Senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML
leader Bhim Rawal are adamant that the nine Districts of the Far
West should remain undivided and Kailali should not be split.
Deuba and Rawal maintain that federalism would be ineffective
in case Kailali is split. Factions within the NC, the CPN-UML
and the UCPN-M are, however, for reaching a deal even by splitting
the Districts. Disputes over secularism, forms of government and
provisions regarding citizenship, among others, are yet to be
resolved. CDC Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula said a week is required
to prepare the final constitution draft after the CPDCC completes
its work.
CA Chairman Subas
Nembang has summoned the meeting of CA on August 7. The CA chair
called the meet during meeting of the Legislature-Parliament.
At a press conference
held by Religious Secularism Protection General Committee in Kathmandu,
the religious gurus of the different faiths (Buddhist, Kiratis,
Muslims, Christians and Shikh) said they would not accept any
other term or 'religious freedom' that supplants the secular status
of the country guaranteed in the Interim Constitution, 2007. All
the religious gurus warned that the General Committee would be
compelled to counter conspiracy to remove religious secularism
in the constitution and that the government would be responsible
for any untoward incidents arising from it.
|
August 7 |
Though various amicable
options are on the table, four major parties - the NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L, seem unable to make a breakthrough on the number
and delineation of federal units, and the provisions on religion
and citizenship. Despite hours-long negotiations between top leaders,
major parties, failed to make any headway towards settling the
contentious issues. The number and borders of federal states and
religion have emerged as prickly issues. The parties have been
discussing the agendas for a week but there has been no agreement.
Pressure piled by CA members across the party line to keep some
geographical areas and zones undivided has also complicated the
issue of demarcation.
Twenty eight Madhesi
lawmakers from the NC, submitted memoranda to PM and NC President
Sushil Koirala and CA Chairman Subas Nembang expressing their
dissatisfaction at the proposed six-state federal model. In a
meeting with PM Koirala at Singha Durbar, they demanded four states
in the Tarai. In the five-point document, the lawmakers demanded
that four of the eight states provisioned in the Constitution
draft should be in the plains and have only the Tarai Districts.
If six states were to be formed, three should be in Madhes. The
lawmakers also pressed for proportional representation and inclusion
as fundamental rights.
Female activists
lie down on the street during a mass ?sleep protest? demanding
equal rights for women in the upcoming Constitution at New Baneshwor
in Kathmandu. The protesters slept on the six lane road of New
Baneshwar and chanted slogans calling on the lawmakers to include
provisions in the new Constitution that would ease the process
of the transfer of citizenship from mother to her children. As
per the draft Constitution, mother and father both have to be
a Nepali citizen to be able to bequeath their child citizenship
by descent. Such a provision would put a child at a disadvantage
if his/her father refuses to support them or is absent for various
reasons. Also, the draft Constitution has unequal provisions regarding
citizenship for non-Nepali daughter-in-law and son-in-law.
Raute, a nomadic
ethnic people, submitted a nine-point memorandum to CA Chairman
Subas Nembang, demanding that the group be enlisted as a indigenous
community in the new Constitution. A total of six members along
with deputy tribal leader of the Raute community, Shivaraj Shahi,
demanded to mention their language, culture, costumes and religion
in the new Constitution.
Political parties
announced indefinite Bandh in Kailali District, demanding
an indivisible far west region in the new Constitution. Hundreds
of passengers have been stranded in different areas of the District
due to the Bandh. The agitators have continued the demonstrations
from early morning while the factories and educational institutions
remained closed, affecting the normal life badly in Dhangadhi,
Attariya, Tikapur, Lamki and other areas in the District.
Different organizations
affiliated to Tharu community demanded to constitute a separate
Tharuhat province by separating Kailali and Kanchanpur Districts
from far west region.
|
August 9 |
Nepal?s four major
parties reached a landmark deal to divide the country into six
provinces, resolving contentious issues of federalism under the
new Constitution, a crucial development praised by Prime Minister
Sushil Koirala. Following a meeting, the CPDCC of the CA finally
inked an agreement, to carve out the six federal units. ?A constitution
with federalism and demarcation has been ensured,? Prime Minister
Sushil Koirala tweeted. ?I call on everyone to not be stuck on
minor disagreements and work to build and develop the country.?
The four major parties
also agreed to incorporate in the citizenship clause the provision
of allowing children to acquire citizenship certificate in the
name of either father or mother, according to Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister for Local Development and Federal Affairs Prakash
Man Singh. Prime Minister Koirala and top leaders of NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MPRF-D were present during the meeting. However, UCPN-M
and MPRF-D, signed the deal with some reservations. ?Although
we have some reservations in certain clauses of the proposed constitution,
we will fully abide by the agreement,? Dinanath Sharma, spokesperson
of the UCPN-M said.
The agreement on
the six-province federal model triggered protests across the Tarai
plains. TMDP burnt copies of the agreement reached between the
four major political parties and maps of the six-state model at
Itiyahi of Bara, saying the deal was against Madhes and Madhesis.
They shouted slogans against the four parties and their leaders.
RPP-N decided to
resort to a 'strong protest? in the CA in disagreement to the
new Constitution draft, which, the party leaders said, has failed
to incorporate the sentiments of the people. The meeting of the
party?s central committee taskforce and parliamentary party held
at Singh Durbar took a decision to this effect. The RPP-N has
already submitted a note of dissent before the CA?s CPDCC against
the Constitution draft. It has been insisting that issues on constitutional
monarchy, secularism, federalism and republic should be settled
through a referendum.
|
August 10 |
Two persons, identified as Tikaram
Gautam and Yam Bahadur BC, were killed and 50 others were injured
as protests against the proposed provincial demarcations turned
violent in Surkhet District. The local administration clamped
a curfew from 1 pm till evening. Tikaram of Birendranagar-4 was
shot dead by Police within 10 minutes after the curfew was enforced
while Yam Bahadur was shot dead by Police during curfew hours
at 5 pm. Locals in the District staged protests demanding that
the mid-western region be kept intact while demarcating the country
into provinces. They also demanded that Surkhet District be developed
as the capital of the new province. Also, the demonstrators stormed
the office of the drinking water and sewerage corporation at Jhupra
in the District and set it on fire. Further, angry protestors
also set the house of NC leader and lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka
on fire. Protestors set fire to several offices, including the
District Development Committee Office, Birendranagar Municipality
office and the party offices of the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M. They
also set fire to the vehicle of District Police chief SP Rajesh
Kumar Lal Karna.
The protesters broke to pieces
a CCTV camera, television set and other equipment at the district
administration office and then set fire to furniture and documents
at the UCPN-M office. They also vandalized the offices of the
NC, CPN-UML and MPRF-D. Journalist Aising Rokaya of local Bulbule
Radio was shot at by Police while covering the protests and sustained
a bullet injury in his right leg.
Locals in neighboring Dailekh
and Jajarkot Districts also protested, demanding that the mid-western
region be kept intact and Surkhet be declared the capital of the
province. The protestors have also announced an indefinite bandh
in Surkhet starting on August 11.
Locals in Mugu, Kalikot, Jumla
and Humla Districts have launched agitations demanding that Karnali
Zone be made a separate Karnali province. Likewise, demonstrations
were held in Salyan and Rukum Districts demanding that Rapti Zone
also be kept intact in the federal system. Agitating locals have
pelted stones at the house of Janardan Sharma, CA member of UCPN-M.
However, there was no damage to the house, according to Keshar
Karki, inspector at DPO, Rukum.
Janakpur remained closed for a
second consecutive day, due to protests called by the UDMA against
federal province delineation decisions. A meeting of the UDMA
on August 9, decided to call the protests. "As part of the
protests, we have closed down Janakpur," said Brishesh Lal,
senior vice-president of TMDP.
The delineation of provinces in
Madhes has sparked dissatisfaction among locals and Madhesi party
activists in different districts including Saptari and Siraha.
Madhesi locals and Madhesi party activists from Morang have warned
the ruling parties that they will resort to stern protests if
the proposed provincial demarcations are not corrected.
The SLMM expressed its solidarity
with the protest of Tharu people in Far Western region. The Morcha
said the recently agreed blueprint of state demarcation is irrelevant,
unjust and discriminatory. The Morcha expressed its support to
the demands and protest programmes of Tharu community during a
meeting held at SSF-N party office in Balkumari, Kathmandu.
|
August 11 |
At a special press conference
organised in Kathmandu, leaders of four major parties?NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L ? urged the people to become calm and cooperate
by providing appropriate suggestions, assuring that the state
borders would be drawn according to the people?s aspirations.
They also urged the people to remain alert of the elements that
are against the promulgation of new Constitution through CA.
The leaders appealed for calm after violent protests erupted in
the Western region of the country against the proposed six-state
federalism set-up.
Organising a press conference,
Collective Campaign for Women-friendly Constitution demanded annulment
of article 11 (2) (B), article 11 (4) and article 12 (2) from
the draft Constitution. The articles have made it mandatory that
both parents of a child to be Nepali citizens to acquire citizenship
by descent. If either of the parents is a foreigner, a child will
be only eligible for naturalised citizenship. Also, the provision
of acquiring naturalised citizenship for people marrying foreigners
is different for men and women.
Madhes-based parties and indigenous
groups expressed deep dissatisfaction against the proposed delineation
of states which they say does not meet the aspiration of Madhesi
people and the aims of Madhes Aandolan.
NC expressed concern over attack
on vehicles and houses of the party's joint general secretary
and lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka and lawmaker Hridaya Ram Thani
in Surkhet District on August 10. Issuing a press statement, NC
denounced the acts of vandalism at a time when the country is
preparing to promulgate a new statute.
CPN-UML Chairman K P Sharma Oli
said his party was committed to promulgate the new constitution
within August and urged people to maintain restraint. Addressing
a press meet on the premises of the newly shifted party head quarters
in Dhumbarahi, Kathmandu, Oli claimed that Nepali leaders have
proved that they are capable of drafting the new constitution
on their own.
|
August 12 |
DAO, Surkhet extended the curfew
in the District to a third consecutive day, as protests against
delineations of the federal provinces took a violent turn. The
local administration ordered a curfew from 11 a.m. till 6 p.m.
Locals have been staging protests demanding that the mid-west
region should be left intact and Surkhet developed as the capital
of the proposed province.
Protesters in Karnali Zone have
also continued their indefinite strike for the fourth consecutive
day, in Mugu, Kalikot, and Jumla. They have been demanding that
Karnali Zone be made a separate Karnali province. They are also
protesting against the inclusion of the zone in the far-west province.
Demonstrations also continued
in Salyan and Rukum Districts, demanding an undivided Rapti Zone.
The ongoing protests that began August 9, have thrown life out
of gear. They are staging protests against the major parties'
decision to divide Rukum between two federal provinces. As per
the decision, the eastern part of Rukum will be included in province
no. 5 and the western part in province no. 6.
An indefinite strike called by
the Tharuhat Struggle Committee crippled life in Kailali and Bardiya
Districts. They are agitating against the separation of Kailali
and Kanchanpur from Tharuhat and inclusion of these two Districts
in the far western region.
Chairman of the CPN-UML KP Sharma
Oli said the errors on the draft constitution would be corrected.
During a discussion with CA members of the party from Tharu and
Madhesi communities, Chairman Oli said feedback on the draft constitution
and the proposed six provinces are diverse, so time has come for
the leaderships to handle these with extreme care. Stilling the
grudges of the Tharu and Madhesi CA members from the party, Chairman
Oli said, "There is not only UML but 598 CA members in the
CA. So, you need to understand the fact that they too should be
taken into confidence while bringing the constitution."
The CA forwarded the report on
public feedback on the draft constitution to the CA's CDC and
directed the committee to make necessary amendments to the draft
within the next five days. The CA directed the drafting committee
to revise the draft based on decisions taken at the CA's CPDCC
that made suggestions based on public feedback collected last
month.
|
August 13 |
The FLP announced a bandh
of nine Districts in the east. The party said that it has called
for the bandh in protest against the failure of the State
to implement the agreements reached with it in the past and for
demarcating provinces without the basis of identity. As a result,
daily life in Paanchthar, Ilam, Taplejung, Terhathum, Jhapa, Morang,
Sunsari, Dhankuta and Sankhuwasabha has been affected.
Addressing the Legislature-Parliament
meeting, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda
said that no one could stop the new Constitution from being promulgated
at this point of time. He said that the issuance of the Constitution
is ensured and that they have taken such courage to that effect.
"Such consultations on the process to write the constitution
have never taken place in the history. I urged all to provide
creative and positive support in the promulgation of the new constitution,"
said the UCPN-M chief.
Expressing their unwavering commitment
to the six-province model, top leaders of four major parties said
genuine and logical demand s concerning the delineation will be
addressed while finalising the new constitution. Defending the
cross-party deal, top leaders gave out a unified message of the
country approaching constitution promulgation within the next
couple of weeks. CA Chairman Subas Nembang said the new statute
will be out by August-end if everything goes as planned.
|
August 16 |
Tension ran high in Tarai Districts
from Morang to Parsa, as sporadic clashes between protestors of
Madhesi parties and SF personnel continued throughout the day.
Dozens of local demonstrators and SF personnel were injured in
clashes in the Districts. An alliance of several Madhes-based
parties has been staging protests in the Tarai Districts against
the proposed provincial boundaries. At least a dozen protestors
and Policemen were injured in a clash at Roadshesh Chowk in Biratnagar,
the District headquarters of Morang. In Saptari, vehicles stayed
off the roads while academic institutions, shops, and industries
remained shut during the strike jointly called by the Madhesi
parties' alliance and Tharu Karlyankari Sabha. The Madhesi alliance
said the six-province model and exclusion of Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang,
Kanchanpur and Kailali from Madhes is not acceptable to them.
District leaders of MPRF-D also
demanded that Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari Districts be included
in province-2. "Three Districts -- Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari
-- should be included in province-2," Dilip Dhadewa, a central
member of MPRF-D said in Biratnagar.
Life in Rautahat and Bara Districts
was also hit hard due to the bandh. Dozens of vehicles
vandalized and 117 bandh enforcers were arrested in Kathmandu.
The bandh enforced by the 33-party alliance led by the
CPN-Maoist, added to the hardship of people across the country.
Nepal Police said it arrested 117 protestors from across the country
for hooliganism. Police arrested 98 protestors from Kathmandu,
eight from Lalitpur, three from Kaski, three from Morang, one
from Jhapa and four from Makwanpur. The protestors vandalized
two taxis and two buses at various places in the capital.
After the six-province model agreed
upon by four parties ? the NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M and MJF-L ? kicked
up a controversy, the leaders of the parties have begun discussion
on changing the number of provinces. Ruling NC and CPN-UML have
proposed five- and seven-province models, sources said. The debate
on federal model took a new turn, following continuous protests
in several Districts with protesters seeking to review the six-province
model. ?We held a positive discussion to address the people?s
concerns on demarcation. If necessary, we will have to change
the number of provinces,? said UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda after a meeting of the Special Committee
of CPDCC held in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.
|
August 17
|
Irate protesters set fire various
government offices in Jumla District, during their demonstration
demanding a separate Karnali state with special rights. Nepal
Army has started patrolling the streets after the agitators set
ablaze postal office, District court and agriculture research
centre in the District. The protest in the District entered into
the ninth day, against the proposed new federal set-up where Jumla
would be inducted in Far-western region. Six people were injured
in Police baton-charge when the protestors defied curfew order
and took out a rally at old Buspark area and burnt tyres. The
Jumla DAO issued a shooting order against anyone defying the curfew.
The DAO issued a public notice urging everyone to remain indoors.
The TLUSC, Tharu Karlyankari Sabha
and the Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee announced additional
protest programmes to press their demand for a Tharuhat/Tharuwan
province. Organising a press conference at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu,
Tharu leaders from across the political line announced their decision
to enforce a general strike in 22 Tarai Districts for four more
days starting on August 18. The TLUSC, an alliance of 32 Tharu
lawmakers from the ruling NC, UCPN-M and fringe parties, have
also started discussion with Tharu lawmakers in the CPN-UML about
the protest. Tharu Karlyankari Sabha, the umbrella organisation
of Tharus, and Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee, an alliance
of Tharu NGOs, have been leading the protest on the ground.
UCPN-M Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji
Shrestha said, that his party would not accept five-province model.
?There is no chance that we will accept five-province model that
is carved keeping in mind the existing five development regions.
Rather, the number of provinces may increase from the proposed
six,? Shrestha said organising a press meet in Singha Durbar.
The CDC missed its deadline to
present a revised draft of the new Constitution as top leaders
of major political parties failed to reach consensus on disputes
of the Constitution including demarcation of federal units. The
CA meeting on August 12 had assigned the panel to finalise the
draft of the constitution by today by incorporating feedback collected
from the public on the first draft and latest agreements reached
at the CPDCC. ?As the Committee could not complete its tasks and
reach a consensus,? CDC Chairman Krishna Prasad Sitaula told mediapersons
after the CDC meeting, ?It is now impossible to present the revised
draft to the Constituent Assembly today.? Top leaders of major
four political forces are further discussing the demarcation issue
at the Special Committee formed by the CPDCC.
Amid continuing debate over proposed
provincial boundaries and citizenship provision in the draft constitution,
a senior NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi urged top political leadership
to retain the provisions in the Interim Constitution. In a letter
submitted to top leaders of four major parties, NC leader Nidhi,
who is also the minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport,
said the provisions in the preliminary draft Constitution are
not appropriate as they fail to take into account the practical
difficulties of cross-border marriage common in Tarai Districts.
|
August 18
|
A protester was killed and 21
others injured when Police opened fire on protesters during an
indefinite Madhes bandh at Bhardaha VDC in Saptari District.
Rajiv Kumar Raut (30), from Bhardaha was killed when Police opened
fire to disperse demonstrators who were clashing with Police.
Dev Narayan Biswas (40), Surendra Mandal (39), Apak Sah (14),
Satya Narayan Raut (17), and Gopal Mandal (20), from Bhardaha
were injured in Police firing and are being treated in hospitals
in Dharan and Biratnagar. Four Police personnel and more than
12 protesters, including FSP-N central member Sailendra Sah, were
injured during clashes.
Objecting to the draft Constitution,
the SP, announced that its six CA members would quit the CA on
August 19. Leader of the SP Parliamentary Party Laxman Lal Karna
said they were forced to quit because the Interim Constitution
and the past agreements made with Madhesi parties were ignored
while drafting new Constitution.
The CA meeting, gave four days
more for its CDC to revise the draft Constitution on the basis
of suggestions offered by the CPDCC. CA Chairman Subas Nembang
announced the deadline extension at the CA meeting. The full CA
meeting gave additional time to the drafting committee as it couldn?t
finalize the draft within the five-day deadline that expired August
17.
PM Sushil Koirala said the new
Constitution would a document of compromise and it would accommodate
voices from all walks of life. ?We are a heterogeneous society.
Differences are there,? the Prime Minister said while receiving
a delegation of the US House of Representatives at his office,
?We are trying our best to accommodate the concerns of all people
to ensure that the document is acceptable to all of us.? The six-member
bipartisan Delegation of House Democracy Partnership of US Lower
House ? led by Congressman Vern Buchanan ? called on PM Koirala
at his office in Singha Durbar, Kathmandu.
|
August 19
|
The meeting of Special Committee
under the CPDCC could not produce any result on demarcation of
states in the proposed federal set-up. UCPN-M Vice-Chairman Narayan
Kaji Shrestha said the meeting could not decide on the number
of provinces as NC President, also the PM, Sushil Koirala, was
not ready to accept either of the options presented by them. UCPN-M,
at the meeting, had presented a proposal to adopt the seven-province
model, which the ruling NC and CPN-UML had jointly put forth in
early November last year, according to Shrestha. ?But the Prime
Minister walked out of the meeting arguing that his party leaders
made him sign on various documents,? Shrestha added.
A group of noted civil society
activists urged the public to press their demands peacefully.
Issuing a statement, they appealed to protesters to exercise restraint.
They also asked the government not to use 'excessive force' against
demonstrators as the use of force by SF personnel in some Districts
has led to the deaths of protestors, thus aggravating the crisis.
They also asked the government and CA members to immediately hold
talks with the agitators and address their demands.
|
August 20
|
A meeting of the CDC headed by
Krishna Prasad Sitaula decided to submit its report to CA Chairman
Subas Chandra Nembang on August 21. ?If the Special Committee
fails to reach consensus on the debated issues tomorrow, the panel
will forward its report to the CA Chairman,? said Sitaula.
As many as 90 lawmakers from various
political parties representing various ethnic communities handed
over a list of issues they want addressed in the new Constitution
to CA Chairman Subas Nembang. The lawmakers demanded that provision
ensuring proportional representation of members from ethnic communities
in all state agencies be included in the new constitution as a
fundamental right. They also called for a provision for the creation
of a commission on indigenous nationalities.
|
August 21
|
Chairman of the CDC, Krishna Prasad
Sitaula, submitted the final draft of the Constitution to CA to
Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang. The CDC has prepared the final
draft after the Special Committee comprising of top leaders of
major political parties, NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, agreed on a seven-Pradesh
model of the federal set-up. Handing over the report to Nembang,
Sitaula said the draft has ensured promulgation of the constitution
at the earliest. He also urged parties who have been launching
protests against the draft to come to the negotiation table and
find a solution.
The Special Committee under the
CPDCC agreed to go for a seven province-model in the new federal
structure. Prior to this the parties had forged consensus to delineate
the country into six provinces. According to CPDCC Chairman Baburam
Bhattarai, province no 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 have remained intact. Under
the new agreement, the proposed province number six has been divided.
According to which the Districts to the east of Karnali River
have been included in province number six while those to the west
in province number seven. The parties said the detailed task of
demarcation of the federal provinces will be carried out by the
to-be-formed Federal Commission.
MPRF-D objected strongly to the
seven-province federal model proposed by three major political
parties. MPRF-D Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar walked out from the
meeting of the Special Committee at the CA, voicing dissatisfaction
over the seven-province delineation. Following his walkout, Gachchhadar
organized a press conference and said his party would now support
the ongoing protests without, however, quitting the constitution-drafting
process at the CA.
|
August 22
|
Bandh enforcers set ablaze
two container vans and vandalized a passenger bus at Bhardaha-Portaha
road section along the East-West Highway in Saptari District.
Saptari bandh has entered its sixth straight day. Irate
bandh enforcers set a container van, on fire for defying
bandh at Portaha-5, said Birendra Majhi, chairman of United
Movement Mobilization Area No 2. Similarly, the irate cadres have
also vandalized a passenger bus, heading to east from west. As
many as 14 passengers? sustained injuries, when the bus ferrying
passengers went out of control and turned turtle at Bhardaha-1
after the cadres pelting stones at it, said DSP Narayan Prasad
Chimoriya.
|
August 23
|
Four CA members from the SP submitted
their resignations to CA Chairman Subas Nembang alleging that
the major political parties ignored the voice of minorities by
taking advantage of their strength in CA. Though the party had
announced on August 18, to submit resignation of all its six lawmakers,
only Laxman Lal Karna, Bimal Kumar Kediya, Shail Kumari Devi and
suspended lawmaker Sanjay Kumar Sah submitted their resignations.
Exiting the CA chairman's chamber after submitting the resignations,
Karna said that they were forced to resign as the major parties
conspired against the people of Madhes, Tharuhat, indigenous communities
and women.
With the submission of the revised
draft constitution at a full-House meeting of the CA, the CA secretariat
has stepped up the final work of producing a new constitution
through the CA. Officials said that as per the latest plan, the
secretariat is working under a timeline to conclude all the remaining
procedures and promulgate the new constitution by mid-September.
The full CA, decided to allow three days for lawmakers to study
the revised draft. After the study time ends, lawmakers will be
allocated five days at the most for general discussions on the
revised draft constitution at the full CA meeting.
|
August 24 |
At least eight persons, including
a SSP, two Inspectors of the Nepal Police, and a two-year-old
toddler were killed and 60 others, including 57 Policemen, were
injured in the clash with agitating Tharuhat activists in Shankarpur
area of Tikapur Municipality in Kailali District. The clash ensued
after Police prevented the protestors from breaching the prohibited
zone. Irate protestors killed Police personnel with weapons such
as spears, sickles, axes and slingshots. Those killed by the irate
protestors include SSP Laxman Neupane, Inspector duo Balram Bista
and Keshab Bohara, constables Lokendra Chand and Laxman Khadka.
Likewise, APF Head Constable Lalit Saud, and constable Ram Bihari
Chaudhary were also killed in the clash. A two-year old son of
APF Assistant Head Constable Netra Bahadur Saud was also killed
by the protestors. Dr Narendra Kumar Khanal, Superintendent at
the District Hospital, informed that around 60 injured have been
brought to the hospital. Of them only three are civilians, while
the rest are SF personnel.
According to CDO Ram Kumar Shrestha,
the protestors also set ablaze a Policeman they had held captive
during the clash. Although protestors have claimed that at least
three persons on their side were killed, the claim has yet to
be verified. Curfew has been enforced in Tikapur area following
the clash and NA personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward
incident in the area. Tikapur area was declared prohibited zone
following violent protests by Tharuhat activists for the past
several days. Since last 13 days, Tharuwan/Tharuhat United Struggle
Committee has been hitting the streets in the west Tarai region
demanding autonomous Tharuhat province including Kanchanpur and
Kailali Districts in the new federal structure.
Demanding cancellation of the
proposed provincial boundaries under the new Constitution, an
alliance of Madhesi parties has continued their protests across
the Tarai from Jhapa to Parsa since the last nine days, throwing
daily life out of gear. Although the agitating alliance claims
to be staging peaceful protests, the agitations in various Districts
are gradually taking an ugly turn. Among these Districts, protests
in Rautahat turned violent on the ninth consecutive day. Two dozen
local agitators and a dozen Policemen sustained injuries in a
clash that erupted during protests at District Headquarters in
Gaur in Rautahat District. Altogether 28 agitators and nine SF
personnel were injured after a clash ensued between Police and
demonstrators. Agitating locals also pelted stones at the house
of former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal in Gaur. However, no damage was
reported. After the situation turned tense, DAO Rautahat clamped
a curfew in the Gaur Municipality area from 4.30 p.m. on August
24, till 5 a.m. August 25, informed CDO Madan Bhujel.
District Security Committee, Dang
has declared the District a 'riot zone' till September 8. Following
declaration of the riot zone, the army has been deployed in the
District, according to CDO Loknath Paudyal.
Rajkumar Shrestha, CDO of Kailali
District, said 17 Police personnel including a SSP were killed
in the clash between Tharuhat activists and Police in Tikapur
in the District. At least 20 persons ? 17 Policemen including
a senior officer and three protesters ? were killed and more than
100 injured in the violent clash in Kailali District, between
SF personnel and protesters demanding a separate Tharuhat province.
Hemanta Pal, DIG at the Nepal Police Headquarters, said Seti zonal
Police Chief Laxman Neupane, two inspectors Keshav Bohara and
Balram Bista, a head constable and a constable were among those
killed. Six personnel from the APF, including head constable Ram
Bir Tharu and three protesters were also killed when a mob tried
to breach the curfew imposed by the local administration.
The parliament meeting denounced
the brutal killings of seven SF personnel and a two-year-old boy
in Tikapur of Kailali District and appealed to the general public,
political parties, civil society and other organizations to maintain
social harmony. "This House meeting strongly condemns the
incidents aimed at disturbing social unity," said Speaker
Subas Nembang at the parliament meeting. He said a show of dissatisfaction
in the final stages of Constitution making is natural. "But
such a violent expression of dissatisfaction can never be acceptable."
Nembang also urged security agencies and local administration
to carry out their duties with an unflinching commitment and restraint.
|
August 25 |
One person, identified as Raj
Kishor Thakur (24), of Mahulita Tole in Mathiya VDC in Rautahat
District, was killed when Police opened fire on agitators in Gaur,
the District headquarters of Rautahat. After indefinite Tarai
Madhes bandh called by UDMF to protest draft statute and
seven-province model took an ugly turn, Rautahat DAO declared
42-km road section from Gaur to Chandranigahapur riot-hit area
and deployed the Nepali Army there.
Kailali Police arrested five persons,
identified as Raj Kumar Kathariya, Harinarayan Chaudhary, Dil
Bahadur Chaudhary, Ram Kumar Kathariya and Sundarlal Kathariya
of Munuwa, from their houses for their alleged involvement in
the killing of seven Police personnel, including SSP Laxman Neupane,
and a two-year-old boy in Tikapur, Kailali on August 24. A meeting
of the District security committee held declared nine VDCs and
Tikapur municipality riot-hit zones and deployed the Nepali Army
to bring the situation under control.
Four major parties, NC, CPN-UML,
UCPN-M and MJF-L, reviewed recent violent incidents in several
Districts, mainly in Kailali, Rautahat and Sarlahi, and said they
would try to address the concerns of agitating people by holding
talks with their representatives. They, however, said that they
would continue the Constitution-drafting process. The parties,
however, have not made any concrete plan or set a timeline for
talks with agitating sides. The leaders expressed firm commitment
to seek solution through talks and not to stop the constitution-drafting
process, according to Paudel.
Opposing the government decision
to mobilize Nepal Army in riot zones, the UCPN-M demanded political
solution to the conflict in various parts of the country. A standing
committee meeting of the party, held at party Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's residence at Lazimpat, also
urged the major political parties to take initiatives for dialogue
with various agitating groups. UCPN-M Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma
said, "Mobilizing the military can never be a solution and
we oppose it." UCPN-M also decided to stand behind the genuine
demands raised by indigenous Tharu community.
|
August 26 |
Deliberations on the amended bill
relating to the Constitution of Nepal 2072 began at the CA. This
is the final draft of the new Constitution including 37 parts,
302 articles and 9 annexes. The draft was tabled by the CA?s CDC
before the CA plenary on August 23, and then three days were allocated
for CA members to study the same. The deliberations over the next
three days will take place for 11 hours every day from 8:00 am
to 7:00 pm, according to CA Chairman Subas Nembang. Every CA member
expressing their views on the final draft will be awarded five
minutes to do the same. There are presently 598 members in the
CA.
One more Nepal Police personnel,
Senior Police constable Janak Negi, Jhalari-7 of Kanchanpur District,
who was severely injured in violent clash between SFs and Tharuhut
agitators at Munuwa, Tikapur of Kailali District on August 24,
succumb to his injuries during the treatment. With the death of
Negi, a total of eight security personnel and a two-year-old child
have lost their lives in the incident. The 21 Police and APF personnel
had sustained injuries.
Kailali Police arrested a person
in connection with carnage in Tikapur on August 24. According
to CDO Chapagain, they arrested Maharaja Rana of Manuwa-7 in connection
with the incident as per the information provided by the arrestees.
As protests by agitating Madhes-based
political parties and the Tharu community enters second week,
protestors intensified their agitation in some parts of the Tarai
Districts, while the local administration in various Districts,
in response, have imposed prohibitory orders in certain areas.
Three Policemen and two protestors were injured when they clashed
in Parasi, the District headquarters of Nawalparasi District.
The clash had ensued when protestors tried to breach the restricted
zone in the District. After issuing preliminary warning, SF personnel
fired teargas shells and shots in the air to discourage protesters
from entering the District headquarters, according to CDO Hari
Prasad Mainali. Two protestors, who received bullet injuries,
identified as Bihadi Dhobi (50), and Munni Kalwar (40), are undergoing
treatment at Bhairahawa Medical College.
In the wake of the violence in
different parts of the country over the delineation of federal
provinces, the government has sent a formal letter to various
agitating groups, including Madhes-based parties and Tharuhat
supporters, calling on them to come forward for talks. According
to the Prime Minister's Press Advisor Prateek Pradhan, the government
has appealed to all agitating parties to share the historic responsibility
of drafting the new statute. PM Sushil Koirala himself has been
making efforts to woo the different disgruntled political parties,
both inside and outside the CA, since the last few days. While
he telephoned TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur about holding talks,
he also held a meeting with CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya.
The PM and leaders of the major political parties have also been
in informal negotiations with Tharu lawmakers and leaders of the
Tharuhat protests in western Nepal for the past few days.
Top leaders of major political
parties urged leaders from the agitating Madhes-based political
parties and other disgruntled groups to resolve differences through
talks and compromise with political forces represented in the
CA. Addressing the CA meeting, chiefs of major political parties,
maintained that differences can be resolved through dialogue as
Constitution itself is a document of compromise among political
forces. Hinting at the boycott of the CA meeting by three Madhes-based
political parties, they said any solution can't be found by avoiding
talks.
|
August 27 |
A person, identified as Jagat
Devkota of Sugarkhal VDC in Kailali District, sustained injuries
while Police opened fire at him for defying curfew in Durgauli
in the District. While Police tried to stop the motorcycle he
was riding on for interrogation during a curfew time, Devkota
had tried to flee the scene forcing the Police to open the fire
targeting him. The District Administration Office has been continuously
imposing curfew in Tikapur Municipality and adjacent VDCs of the
District including Durgauli after violent clashes erupted in Tikapur
between protesters and Police on August 24.
Despite restrictions on movement
after being declared a "riot-hit area," local cadres
of agitating Madhesi Morcha in Gaur in Rautahat District, set
ablaze the District party office of CPN-UML. Irate locals in the
District headquarters of Rautahat doused the CPN-UML office in
kerosene before setting it on fire. Furniture and other essential
documents in the party office turned into ashes, according to
Kamal Yadav, District chair of the party.
Senior leaders and lawmakers of
major political parties have stressed on promulgating the new
Constitution from the CA without further delay by incorporating
as much concerns as possible of various groups and communities.
Taking part during the deliberations on the revised draft of the
new Constitution in the CA full House meeting, leaders and lawmakers
also insisted on making necessary amendments to the draft. Stating
that new Constitution will be flexible for future amendments,
senior leaders from major political parties tried to assure disgruntled
groups that their demands could be still addressed through the
CA as its process is not over.
President Ram Baran Yadav told
PM Sushil Koirala, that a new Constitution should be framed without
any further delay, but the major parties should try to take all
stakeholders on board the Constitution making process. According
to the President?s Press Advisor Rajendra Dahal the President
told the PM that parties should seek resolution of constitutional
issues through dialogues. ?You have tried to win the confidence
of all the stakeholders until now and you still need to try to
do so till the final hours of the constitution making process,?
Dahal quoted the President as telling the PM.
|
August 28 |
Home Minister Bamdev Gautam told
parliament that as per the local administration's request, the
government decided to mobilise the army. According to reports,
the Tharu community is opposing the federalism model that has
put Kailali and Kanchanpur Districts out of the proposed Tharuhat
province. The clash on August 24, erupted after the protesters
tried to defy the curfew and the prohibitory order issued by the
district administration in Tikapur and Durgauli areas. Tension
prevails in the area, as sporadic clashes between SF personnel
and protesters have been reported. Violence was also reported
from Rautahat and Saptari Districts.
As the bandh enforced by
UDMF enters 14th day, it continues to affect normal life in Rautahat
District. Bijaya Kishor Jha, Chairperson of Elderly Citizens Association
chairperson in Rautahat, bemoaned the tug of war between the government
and agitators, as well as its effects on the common public. He
said the government should do the needful so that the prolonged
agitation came to an end. ?Educational institutions, banks, industries,
factories and transportation have been shut for days. It?s high
time that the government facilitates the end to the current crisis,?
Jha added.
Youths aligned to the UDMF set
ablaze a billboard at the contact office of CPN-UML, CA member
Ranju Thakur in Rajbiraj, the headquarters of Saptari District.
According to locals, the agitators set the board ablaze in Rajdevi
Chowk. The youths chanted slogans accusing Thakur of being against
Madhes and sought mass resignation of the Madhesi CA members aligned
to NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M.
The CPN-Maoist submitted a memorandum
to President Ram Baran Yadav, objecting to the government move
to deploy army in some Districts. The party also asked the President
to help address people?s concerns politically to resolve the disputes
recently seen in some parts of the country. A team comprising
CPN-Maoist Chairman Mohan Baidya met the President at the Office
of the President at Shital Niwas, Kathmandu and urged him to address
dissatisfaction of people over the new Constitution politically.
A group of leaders including Madhes-
and Janajati-centric parties also meet President Yadav separately.
FSF-N Parliamentary Party leader Ashok Kumar Rai, RJP Shiva Lal
Thapa and TTPN Gopal Dahit among others were present in the meeting.
The leaders also objected to the government decision regarding
mobilisation of army in riot-hit zones, according to President?s
Press Advisor Rajendra Dahal.
|
August 29 |
The local administration imposed
curfew in Dhangadhi, the District headquarters of Kailali District
for the fifth consecutive day. The curfew will come into effect
from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, Udaya Bahadur Singh, Assistant CDO at
the DAO, Kailali informed. The administration has been imposing
the curfew in the area since the violent clash that took place
in Tikapur on August 24.
|
August 30 |
Nine persons including a Policeman
were injured in a clash that took place at Narayangadh, during
the bandh called by the Tharu Kalyankari Sabha in Chitwan
District. The clash took place after businessmen in Narayangadh
exerted pressure to open markets. The Sabha had called a four-day
bandh starting today, putting forth various demands including
declaring Chitwan the provincial capital, implementing the past
agreements signed with Tharus, among others. Police Inspector
at the Ward Police Office, Narayangadh, Satya Narayan Thapa, received
deep hand injury in the incident. Similarly, eight bandh
enforcers were injured in the clash, said Chairman of the Tharu
Kalyankari Sabha in Chitwan Bishram Mahato.
The CA meeting held has given
lawmakers seven days to register the amendment proposal on the
new statute bill after the deadline of the CA deliberation on
it ended today. Statue Drafting Committee Chairman Krishna Prasad
Sitaula answered the queries raised by the lawmakers before the
endorsement of the statue bill. Sitaula asked the lawmakers to
jointly submit the amendment proposal. Six days have been awarded
to submit the amendment proposal. The lawmakers have to register
their amendment proposal by September 5, said CA Chairman Subas
Nembang.
Major four political parties have
agreed not to halt constitution writing in any excuses. A meeting
of the parties held at the Prime Minister?s official residence
in Baluwatar, Kathmandu, decided not to postpone statute making
in the pretext of talks with agitating parties/groups. UCPN-M
Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the meet decided to take
constitution drafting and talks side by side. The meeting also
concluded that is no justification for talks with preconditions.
Lawmakers from different political
parties have urged the agitating groups to join the constitution
writing process. Taking part in the deliberations on the amended
bill of the Constitution of Nepal, 2072, lawmakers including Dr
Minendra Rijal, also Minister for Information and Communications,
urged the agitators to come to the talks table to get their demands
met, ending the existing political impasses.
|
August 31 |
One protester was killed and four
others injured in Police firing on the 16th day of the indefinite
Tarai bandh called by the UDMF in Birgunj in Parsa District.
UDMF has enforced indefinite strike to protest the draft Constitution
and seven-province federal model proposed by the three major parties.
Dilip Chaurasiya (28), a FSF-N cadre from Parsa?s Maniyari VDC,
was shot in the chest during a clash that broke out near Parsa
DDC. Chaurasiya was rushed to Narayani Sub-regional Hospital,
where he succumbed to injuries.
Clashes erupted between the bandh
enforcers and Police personnel at several places in Birgunj. Four
agitators, including an eight-year-old child, were injured in
Police firing. Eight other demonstrators were hurt in Police baton-charge,
while six Police personnel sustained injuries after protesters
pelted them with stones. After the situation went out of control,
Parsa DAO imposed an indefinite curfew in Birgunj from 4 pm. Parsa
CDO Keshav Raj Ghimire said curfew had been clamped at Ghantaghar,
Maisthan, Parwanipur, Gandak, Powerhouse, Custom area, Adarshanagar,
Ranighat, Baipas, Chhapkaiya in Birgunj. Defying the curfew, protesters
staged rallies at Ghantaghar, Ranighat, Murli and Chhapkaiya till
late evening. Agitators also set ablaze Police posts at Birgunj?s
Gandak, Ranighat and Ashokbatika. They also set ablaze CPN-UML
party office in Parsa.
Protesters vandalised a microbus
heading to Kathmandu from Rajbiraj for defying bandh at
Rupani of Raypur VDC in Saptari District. Police intervened when
the protesters tried to set ablaze the microbus. Bandh
organisers vandalised the CPN-UML party office and set it ablaze
in Jaleswor of Mahottari District.
Two Tharu groups - Tharu Kalyankari
Sabha and Tharuwan Joint Struggle Committee - staging protests
against demarcation of federal units in the new Constitution told
PM Sushil Koirala that they are ready for talks provided the government
maintained restraint. Tharu leaders including Aman Lal Modi had
reached the PM?s residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu with a response
to the letter Koirala had sent to them on August 30.
CA members from various political
parties have started registering their amendment proposals to
the constitution bill as the CA meeting on August 30, gave them
seven days to register their views on any provisions in the statute.
Prem Bahadur Singh of Socialist People's Party, Shiva Lal Thapa
and Sima Kumari BK of RJP and Dipak Bohara of RJP registered their
amendment proposals at the CA secretariat, Singh durbar. Lawmakers
can propose changes in any provision of the new constitution until
September 5.
|
September 1 |
Fresh clashes have been ensued
between Police and protesters at different areas of Birgunj in
Parsa District. Two Madhesi Morcha protesters were seriously injured
in Police firing during the clash. Dipesh Patel (17), and Sandip
Patel (20), of Bahuari-6 were seriously injured in a clash ensued
at Gandak Chowk.
At least four demonstrators were
killed in Police firing in various places of Birgunj of Parsa
and one in Kalaiya of neighbouring Bara District during violent
clashes. Defying curfew, supporters of the parties affiliated
with UDMF took to streets and confronted with the SF personnel.
The deceased have been identified as Dharma Raj Singh (30), Bhola
Sah (24), Dinanath Sah (27) and Suman Kalwar. Likewise, Hifajat
Miya was killed in Police firing when the agitators tried to cross
the prohibited area at Bharat Chowk of Kalaiya, the District headquarters
of Bara. The number of protesters injured in Police firing has
reached two dozen in Bara and Parsa so far.
Irate bandh enforces set
a truck on fire near Bahuari along the Bypass Road Section in
Birgunj in Parsa District. The bandh enforcers had also
pelted stones at the vehicles being escorted by the SFs.
|
September 2 |
The District Security Committee,
issued an indefinite prohibitory order in some areas of Janakpur
District, after protesters resorted to the streets wielding lethal
weapons. The DAO, Dhanusha informed that the indefinite prohibitory
order has been issued from Murali Chowk to Kadam Chowk, from Uttimpur
Kadam Chowk to Inland Revenue Office and from Samsanghat to the
District Court in the District headquarters. Supporters of Madhesh-based
parties staged demonstrations at various places in Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan
City and blocked the roads and burned tyres. Clashes broke out
between demonstrators and SF personnel at Bhanu Chowk and Murali
Chowk. More than eight rounds of tear gas shells were lobbed to
disperse the violent protesters that confronted with the SF personnel,
according to SP Ganesh Thapa. However, no one was injured in the
clash, he added.
Chairman of the CPN-UML, KP Sharma
Oli, directed party leaders and cadres not to involve in activities
disrupting ethnic and regional harmony in the name of dissatisfaction
over draft of new Constitution. Addressing a gathering of party?s
different fronts and organisations at the party headquarters,
Dhumbarahi in Kathmandu, Chairman Oli called on all to be aware
against those trying to foil the environment conducive for the
promulgation of new Constitution for fulfilling their regional
and ethnic interest. Urging the party cadres and leaders to involve
in peace and goodwill rallies, he said, ?The CPN-UML and its organisations
should be involved to create environment conducive for promulgation
of new constitution to institutionalise federal republicanism
gained from sacrifice and struggle of the people.?
MPRF-D Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar
announced a new alliance, FDF, comprising of three Madhes-based
political parties, at a press meet at Singha durbar, Kathmandu.
The alliance has been formed to pile pressure against major political
parties for revising the draft Constitution to address the issues
of Madhesi people. Sharat Singh Bhandari-led NMSP and Raj Kishor
Yadav-led MPRF-R are part of the front. The three parties have
altogether 18 lawmakers in the CA. Going against the UDMF; Gachhadar
had signed the 16-point agreement along with the three-major political
parties in the CA. The alliance said it favors the eight province
model outlined in the 16-point agreement as the solution to the
ongoing protests at various places across the country. "Our
alliance will quit the CA process if the major political parties
fail to address our demands by this Saturday (September 5),"
Gachchhadar said at the press meet. In the interim, Upendra Yadav-led
FSFN has demanded the halt of CA process for the talks. "We
urge the government and concerned political parties to halt the
ongoing CA process to create an environment for dialogues,"
said FSFN Chairman Yadav. The party also demanded declaring the
deceased protesters as martyrs, implementation of past agreement
between government and Madhesi forces, withdrawal of the decision
to mobilize the army in riot zones, among others. During the press
meet Yadav warned of grave consequences if the government tried
to use force to suppress the ongoing Madhes movement.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda directed lawmakers from his party to put
in all out efforts to produce a new Constitution and brook no
delay in the process now underway in the CA. Dahal also instructed
the party's lawmakers to stand united against elements that are
hell-bent on creating problems and eventually thwarting the ongoing
Constitution-making process. "Promulgating a new constitution
through the CA is our top priority at this crucial juncture. So
none of us should get confused and we should all put in every
effort to that end," Dahal told the lawmakers at the party's
parliamentary party meeting. Dahal suggested to the party lawmakers
to remain alert against the possible risks that may arise if the
Constitution making process gets derailed. The UCPN-M also decided
to register amendments to the Constitution bill jointly with other
major parties so that they can be endorsed by a two-thirds vote
in the full CA.
Madhesi and Tharu CA members of
the NC threatened to register their own independent amendment
proposals if their five-point demand is not addressed by the party's
leadership. Altogether 58 Madhesi and Tharu CA members have demanded
revision in the delineation of federal provinces, delineation
of electoral constituencies based on population, an end to discriminatory
provisions on citizenship based on gender, and a Constitutional
guarantee to ensure proportional representation of Madhesis and
Tharus in all state structures. The CA members argued that their
five-point demand will address the demands put forth by the agitating
parties in Tarai-Madhes and also help douse the prolonged agitation
against the existing provisions in the Constitution bill. In addition,
speaking in the parliamentary party meeting held at Baluwatar,
Kathmandu, PM Koirala said efforts are underway to draft a new
statute incorporating the demands of various marginalized groups
such as Madhesi, Tharus, women and indigenous nationalities.
TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur
said that his party would not sit for talks until the government
halted the Constitution drafting process. Speaking at a programme
organised at the Reporters? Club in Kathmandu, he said that his
party would come to the negotiating table only if the government
halted the ongoing process to endorse the Revised Bill of the
Constitution.
|
September 3 |
Cadres and supporters of agitating
parties set ablaze two Government offices--DEO and District Soil
Conservation Office--in Rajbiraj, the District headquarters of
Saptari. They also set ablaze a jeep parked on the premises of
the DEO. Agitators claimed that they set ablaze those government
offices for defying their strike.
Police arrested four Maoist cadres
while staging demonstrations in the riot-hit areas of Gaur, the
District headquarters of Rautahat. The arrested are Upendra Sah,
Jay Prakash Kausal, Sunil Sah and Rajesh Sah of MRMM, a sister
wing of the UCPN-M. The UCPN-M cadres were found to be involved
in intensifying the protests even as the party Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on September 2, issued a restraining
order to his party's lawmakers and other rank and file, asking
them not to get involved in any activities that may derail the
Constitution drafting process.
The curfew imposed in Birgunj
in Parsa District for the past four days has been lifted for two
hours. According to Anuj Bhandari, ACDO of the DAO, the curfew
has been lifted from 5 pm to 7 pm. The Administration said that
the curfew has been lifted to allow locals to buy essential goods
and will be resumed from 7pm for indefinite period. Normal life
in the District has been affected for the past 19 days due to
indefinite bandh and curfew.
The curfew that has been in place
since August 24, continued in Tikapur in Kailali District. According
to ACDO Udaya Bahadur Singh of Kailali, the curfew was lifted
from 7:00am to 11:00am. The four hour respite started some three
days ago, however, the curfew will be resumed in Tikapur and 10
other adjoining VDCs.
Leaders from the four major political
parties couldn't make any headway in talks about addressing the
demands of the agitating political parties. Top leaders from NC,
CPN-UML, UCPN-M and the MPRF-D couldn't reach any conclusion during
an hours-long meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence
at Baluwatar, Kathmandu. The week-long deadline set by the CA
to register amendments to the constitution bill is expiring on
September 5.
RPP-N registered amendment proposal
on the ?Revised Bill? of the new constitution at the CA Secretariat
proposing Constitutional monarchy instead of republic system.
It also demanded that the country be declared a Hindu state and
sought decentralisation instead of federalism at a press meet
organised at the party?s parliamentary party office in Singha
Durbar, Kathmandu. In the 24-point amendment proposal, the RPP-N
defined monarchy as His Majesty, the dynasty of Prithvi Narayan
Shah, follower of Arya culture and Hindu religion.
|
September 4 |
Two persons, including a head
constable, were killed when agitators turned violent in Bardiya
and Banke Districts. Head Constable Dev Bahadur Pandey stationed
at Area Police Office Mainapokhar, Bardiya District, was killed
when Tharuhat agitators hiding in a maize field fired at him when
a Police team from the area Police office was clearing the road
obstruction during bandh. Police have arrested three persons,
identified as Abinash Chaudhary, Ramharsha Chaudhary and Naresh
Chaudhary, suspecting their involvement in killing the head constable.
A bike rider, identified as Karan
Singh (22), was killed after cadres of the UDMF hurled stones
at him in Piprawa Chowk of Ganapur, along Neplagunj-Kohalpur road
in Banke District. Bike rider Singh, who was hit on chest, was
rushed to hospital but he died during treatment.
Newly formed, FDF demanded that
the deadline for registering draft Constitution amendment proposal
be extended so as to bring the agitating forces to the negotiating
table. Coordinator of the front, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, said
extending deadline for registration of amendment proposal would
help bridge gap between the ruling parties and the protesting
parties. Organising a press conference, Gachhadar said if the
three parties promulgated the constitution without addressing
the agitators? concerns, it could intensify conflict and they
would be held responsible for the consequences.
NC leader Shekhar Koirala said
the country might see ethnic and religious conflict if leaders
do not halt the ongoing Constitution-making process to address
the concerns of agitating parties before 5:00 pm on September
5. Suspending the Constitution-making process or adopting a go-slow
policy could be the initial steps towards preventing the country
from a disaster. Withdrawal of Nepali Army mobilized in the riot-hit
areas and release of arrested protesters would help create an
environment to bring the agitating parties to the negotiation
table, he said.
After the party decided not to
register the amendment bill, Janajati and Madhesi CA members of
the ruling NC, registered their separate amendment proposal on
the revised draft of new Constitution at the parliamentary party.
Nagendra Kumar, who is also the chairman of NEFIN, said 45 indigenous
CA members have registered their nine-point amendment proposal
on the draft constitution through Chief Whip Chin Kaji Shrestha.
According to Kumar, they have demanded a separate article ensuring
the rights of indigenous nationalities, proportional representation
of indigenous nationalities in all organs of the state, a separate
commission for indigenous nationalities and secularism.
|
September 5 |
Three major political parties?the
NC, the CPN-UML and the UCPN-M ? registered a common proposal
on the amendment of the revised bill of Nepal?s Constitution-2015
at the CA Secretariat. With this, a total of 46 amendment proposals
were registered. NC Chief Whip Chinkaji Shrestha, CPN-UML Chief
Whip Agni Kharel and UCPN-M Chief Whip Girirajmani Pokhrel collectively
reached the CA Secretariat and filed the common proposal on the
amendment of the draft constitution.
|
September 6 |
Three Madhesi political parties,
including the Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar-led MPRF-D departed the
CA process, reasoning the big three political parties' common
proposal on amendment of the revised bill of Nepal's constitution
2015 would not resolve current crisis. The meeting of the MPRF-D,
RMSP and MPRF-R, concluded that their parties so far contributed
well to constitution writing process from the CA. Chief Whip of
MPRF-D Yogendra Chaudhary informed that his party could not be
a witness to the process that would invite further conflict in
the country. He added that the common amendment proposal of the
big three parties did not come in line with the aspirations of
the Madhesi, indigenous nationalities, Muslim and Tharu community.
CA is all set to embark on the
last leg of its long journey on September 8 and deliver the new
Constitution after settling the amendment proposals and endorsing
the bill of new constitution through voting. CA Chairman Subas
Chandra Nembang, scheduled the CA meeting for 11:00am on September
8 to begin the CA?s last business ? endorsing the new constitution
through the 601-member CA. ?With the closure of registering amendment
proposals yesterday, the CA has entered a narrow tunnel. It can?t
move back or sideways. It can only move ahead and emerge with
the new constitution,? Nembang told reporters at his office in
Singha Durbar, Kathmandu. The CA will be able to deliver the new
constitution by September 17, he said.
RPP elected Lokendra Bahadur Chand
as its new chairman. According to Kiran Giri, co-spokesperson
of the party, 63 out of 103 central members voted to elect Chand
as the top leader of the party. This decision has removed Pashupati
Shamsher Rana from the chairman?s berth. The party also submitted
the signature of the Central Committee members at the Election
Commission informing it about the decision made for the leadership,
Giri said.
|
September 7
|
Top leaders of the NC and the
UCPN-M held discussions regarding the political situation of the
country at the Prime Minister?s official residence in Baluwatar,
Kathmandu. During the meeting, the leaders discussed the amendment
proposals tabled by political parties to the Constitution Bill,
agitation of the Tarai-centric political parties and others. NC
leader and Minister for Forests, Mahesh Acharya, said that his
party was for promulgating the constitution based on consensus,
coordination and unity among the political parties. Also, UCPN-M
Vice-Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that discussions were
held on the demands put forth by the agitating Madhesi parties.
Chairman of the CA Subas Chandra
Nembang told leaders of the major parties to make utmost effort
to address the agitators? issues through the registered amendment
bills. ?I had told the leaders time and again to utilise the allocated
time to the fullest to address the demands of disgruntled groups
but to no avail,? Chairman Nembang said.
MJF-D Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar,
blamed the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M for the ongoing political instability
and unrest in the country. Addressing a mass meeting organised
by Tharu Struggle Committee in Itahari, Sunsari, Gachhadar charged
that the three major parties? decision to bring out the seven-province
federal model by going against the 16-point agreement had plunged
the country into violent protest.
As many as 15 NC leaders and activists,
including lawmaker Mithu Malla, tendered their resignation from
their party?s general membership expressing dissatisfaction with
the demarcation of provinces in the proposed federal set up, which
had split Rukum. The disgruntled NC leaders and activists handed
over their joint resignation to party president and the Prime
Minister Sushil Koirala at his official residence in Baluwatar.
DAO, Kailali lifted curfew order
for four hours in Tikapur. ACDO Udaya Bahadur Singh said that
curfew was lifted from 7:00am to 11:00am.
The RPP-N said it would fight
to remove secularism from the Constitution and restore the Hindu
state instead, till the last moment of Constitution drafting process.
A central committee meeting of the party, decided that the party
would be active to establish its agendas in the constitution till
the last minute, party co-spokesperson Mohan Shrestha said in
a statement after the meeting. The party would hold a meeting
of extended central committee before September 17, which would
be followed by a ?grand demonstration? to pile pressures for the
Hindu state, Shrestha added.
|
September 8
|
At least 26 protesters were injured
when SF personnel used force during demonstration staged by Madhesi
parties at Bhanu Chowk in Janakapurdham in Janakpur. Police resorted
to lathi charge and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters
as they entered the prohibited zone. The local administration
had declared certain areas ? from Bhanu Chowk to Railway Station,
from Kadam Chowk to Murali Chowk via Parikrama Road, from Utimpur
to District Treasury Controller Officer, from Ganga Sagar to the
District Court ? prohibited zones from 1 pm this afternoon.
Several Tarai-based parties, including
Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led MJF-D, boycotted the Constitution drafting
process. Gachhadar, who claims to have facilitated the 16-point
agreement between the four major parties, including MJF-D, that
led the nation towards drafting new Constitution, handed over
a protest letter to CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang, stating
that the party would boycott the Constitution drafting process
from today.
With all major Madhes-based political
parties boycotting the CA process, the big political parties have
started informal talks for holding dialogue with the disgruntled
political parties. CA Chairman Nembang also drew the attention
of the leadership of major political parties to approach the political
parties boycotting the CA process at a three-party meeting held
on CA premises. At the meeting, major political parties have decided
to approach the Bijay Gachhadar-led MJF-D and other Madhes-based
political parties for talks.
DPM Bamdev Gautam said that new
constitution would be promulgated despite protest within Constituent
Assembly and on the street. Speaking at the launching of Enhancing
Good Governance, Human Rights Protection and Law Enforcement Situation
in Security Agencies and Criminal Justice Actors in Nepal Project,
DPM Gautam said constitution drafting process will not halt just
because of the protests.
|
September 9
|
Police arrested Tharu leader Laxman
Tharu from Bhairahawa, Rupandehi District, in connection with
August 24 Kailali incident. According to Police sources, Tharu
was arrested from the house of Devi Chaudhary for his alleged
involvement in August 24 Kailali carnage in which nine people
including a minor and eight Police officers were killed. Tharu
is a central member of the MPRF-D.
Three protesters in Jaleshwar
of Mahottari District and one in Bhardaha of Saptari District
were killed in Police firings. Roshan Chaudhary of Jaleshwar Municipality-7,
Rambibek Yadav of Mahottari VDC-5 and Amit Kapar of Jaleshwar
Municipality-14 were killed in Mahottari District. The three were
admitted to Jaleshwar Hospital where they breathed their last,
according to Dr Satish Sah. Likewise, Ram Kisun Raut (60), of
Portaha VDC-1, Saptari was also killed in Police firing. He had
sustained bullet injuries to the chest and later succumbed to
his injuries. Among 50 others injured during the clash with Police
in Mahottari, three have been airlifted to the capital from Janakpur
Zonal Hospital. The clash had ensured after locals and cadres
of the agitating UDMF who had gathered at Jaleshwar, District
headquarters of Mahottari, pelted stones at the District Police
office in the course of demonstrations. Police baton-charged the
demonstrators, lobbed over 60 tear gas shells and fired in the
air to bring the situation under control.
Following the clash, DAO, Mahottari
issued an indefinite prohibitory order in the Jaleshwar area effective
from 4:30 p.m., informed CDO Dipak Kafle. As per the DAO, the
violent situation was brought under control through heavy deployment
of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force personnel. To avert further
violence, the DAO clamped an indefinite curfew in Jaleshwar area,
CDO Kafle said. Similarly, in Saptari, the DAO clamped a curfew
at Bhardaha from 2 p.m.- till 6 a.m., for two days. Two demonstrators,
Bijay Khidahari Yadav and Anil Thakur, sustained injuries from
rubber bullets during the clash between Police and protesters.
Chiefs of the three major political
parties -- NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M -- issued a joint statement,
calling on the agitating political parties to seek solutions for
the latter's demands in Constitution making. PM Sushil Koirala,
who is also NC president, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and UCPN-M
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, in the joint
statement, urged the disgruntled political parties to immediately
end the vandalism and other violent activities and seek solutions
through peaceful means.
With the constitution-making process
coming to an end, RPP-N, the fourth largest party in the CA, decided
to boycott the process. A central committee meeting of the party
held at Chairman Kamal Thapa's residence at Bishalnagar reached
the conclusion to stay away from the remaining process of the
CA. With the RPP-N shunning the process, the numbers of political
parties quitting the CA deliberations have reached 11 with 82
lawmakers, including one independent CA member. All major Madhesh-based
political parties including FSP-N and MPRF-D - the fifth and sixth
largest parties in the CA respectively - have already boycotted
the process.
|
September 10
|
As many as seven protesters associated
with the UDMF were arrested by Police from Ghantaghar, Birgunj
in Parsa District. According to Parsa DAO, the protesters were
arrested when they tried to affect peace and security in the region
by chanting slogans and demonstrating in the riot-hit area.
A meeting of the District Security
Committee took a decision to clamp indefinite curfew, beginning
September 11, morning, in Janakpur town, in view of fragile security
situation, of late. The curfew will be imposed from Kapileshwor
to Pulchowk area in the eastern section, from Belapur to Pindari
Chowk in the west, District Education Office in the south and
from Baba Petrol Pump to the road leading to Dhanushadham in the
north.
The local Administration declared
different areas of the Sunsari District as riot-affected zone
following protesters aligned to Madhesi Morcha hit the streets
with home-made weapons in the different areas of the District.
The areas from Koshi Barrage to Itahari and Budhi kola of Duhabi
to Itahari have been declared as crisis-hit zone. CDO, Rabilal
Pantha confirm the move and said that security situation in the
District has been tightened with the mobilization of army.
The DAO of Mahottari issued curfew
order in Jaleshwar, a day after three people were killed there.
Nepal Army personnel were deputed in the area from 8 in the morning
to maintain law and order.
Leaders and lawmakers of various
political parties insisted that Constitution should not be delayed
any further under any pretext, as the CA has already invested
in the Constitution making effort. While agitating Madhes-based
political parties have been demanding halt to the CA process,
leaders and lawmakers of major political parties have opposed
the demand. Airing their views during the deliberations on the
Constitution bill at the CA meeting, NC Vice-President Ram Chandra
Paudel, CPN-UML Vice-Chairman Bhim Rawal, and UCPN-M lawmaker
Goma Kunwar however urged the agitating parties to sit for talks
if they want their demands addressed.
A day after RPP-N decided to boycott
the Constitution making process, three major political parties
-- NC, CPN-UML and the UCPN-M -- urged the RPP-N not to boycott
the statute making process. NC President and Prime Minister Sushil
Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda urged RPP-N Chairman Kamal Thapa
to participate in the constitution making process during a meeting
at the prime minister's official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu.
NHRC said that former Maoist combatants
were present among the protesters during the Tikapur carnage in
Kailali District on August 24, in which eight Police personnel
and a toddler were killed. The commission claimed that its investigations
found the involvement of ex-Maoist combatants in the crowds of
protesters who came to Tikapur from Joshipur village on the day
of the carnage. In a press release issued by NHRC spokesperson
Mohana Ansari, the commission also claimed that the protesters
became furious after Police hurled tear-gas shells and opened
fire. The mob then lynched the security personnel.
|
September 11
|
Two protestors and one Policeman
in Jaleshwor in Mahottari District and three protestors in Janakpur
in Dhanusha District were killed, which marked the 28th day of
agitations across the Tarai region. A clash between agitators
and SF personnel had ensued in Jaleshwar, District headquarters
of Mahottari, after the former staged demonstrations in defiance
of curfew orders. Police lobbed over 40 teargas shells and fired
10 rounds in the air to bring the situation under control. The
Policeman killed by agitators has been identified as Thaman Bahadur
Bishwakarma, an ASI of the APF. The deceased agitators have been
identified as Ramshila Thakur (35), of Hattilet VDC, and Ganesh
Chaudhary (60), of Jaleshwar Municipality. Thakur was said to
be a local leader of RPP-N. Chaudhary, the other deceased, was
the grandfather of Rohan Chaudhary, who was killed in Police firing
during September 9, protests.
The other three persons killed
in Dhanusha are identified as Dilip Poudel of Sinurajoda, Nitu
Yadav of Jamuniya and Sanjay Chaudhari. Chaudhary was District
?secretary? of the Rajendra Mahato-led SP. Fifty three others
were injured during the protests. Most of them have sustained
head injuries as well as injuries to the chest and arms, according
to the hospital. Protestors had tried to enter the restricted
areas at Kapileshwar, Piradi Chowk, Bajrang Chowk, Jiromaikal,
Murali Chowk and Hanuman Nagar in Janakpur throughout the day.
The Home Ministry of Nepal said
inhumane and barbaric activities were being perpetrated during
the agitation being led by the JDMF in Tarai region. Issuing a
press statement, evening, the Home Ministry said torture to the
SF personnel and their families and killing with sprinkle of petro
is a savage activity.
Three major parties ? the NC,
CPN-UML and UCPN-M, decided to halt the constitution-making process
for two days and invite the protesting forces to sit for talks.
The protesting forces, the UDMF and Tharuwan/Tharuhat Joint Struggle
Committee, however, rejected the talks offer again, saying they
were not against talks but they could not hold dialogue without
the government withdrawing the Nepali Army, normalizing situation
in the Tarai Districts, providing compensation to the kin of those
killed in Police firing and free treatment to the injured persons.
|
September 12
|
President Ram Baran Yadav registered
his suggestions on the Constitution bill. CA Chairman Subas Nembang
confirmed that he had received suggestions from the president
on September 11. "He has given suggestions on the constitution
bill to the big three parties," Nembang said. The president
also suggested to show maximum flexibility to seek consensus among
the parties.
|
September 13
|
Tension ran high at Rupani along
the East-West Highway in Saptari District as protesters clashed
with SF personnel. Defying the curfew and declaration of riot-hit
zone, about 500 people, apparently, cadres and supporters of UDMF
demonstrated at Rupani. Police detained SP?s central member Dinesh
Yadav and District secretary, Hareram Yadav, and some student?s
leaders from Rupani. Further, the UDMF cadres vandalised and set
fire on an office of NC at Rajbiraj-1.
A NA squad defused a powerful
pressure-cooker bomb planted near the NC party office at Siraha
Municipality-7. A bomb disposal team of the NA had disposed of
the IED found at the house of Ranjit Yadav, a local.
The CA began clause-wise voting
on Constitution bill, setting the stage for the promulgation of
new constitution within a few days. At the beginning of the voting,
the CA meeting endorsed the first three articles--Article 1 to
Article 3--of the new Constitution by an overwhelming majority
of the CA through voice votes. The Article 1 and Article 2 were
endorsed unanimously by the CA members present at the meeting,
while the Article 3 was passed by a majority. In the 601-member
CA, two seats have remained vacant since its formation as political
parties didn't nominate any lawmaker for these positions. Also,
the seat that has been lying vacant after the death of RPP?s Surya
Bahadur Thapa is yet to be filled. With SP lawmaker Sanjay Sah
under suspension and 57 lawmakers from various Madhes-based parties
boycotting the ongoing CA process, the effective strength of the
CA at present is 597. As the three major political parties - NC
(206), CPN-UML (183) and UCPN-M (84) - with support from some
other small political parties have stood united in favor of producing
the new constitution, the process of endorsing the constitution
bill with two-thirds majority is expected to be completed smoothly
within the next few days. Officials at the CA secretariat said
that they have made all preparations with a plan to promulgate
new Constitution by September 18 or 19. "If everything goes
as planned, we will endorse the constitution bill by September
17 and introduce it next day," said Nembang.
As the CA began clause-wise voting
on the Constitution Bill, the Madhes-based parties said that their
agenda was bulldozed and they would continue their protests. "The
way the major three parties are moving ahead, they are pushing
the country into serious crisis. We'll keep protesting. We (the
parties in the United Democratic Madhesi Front, UDMF) will discuss
the scenario soon and come up with further protest programs,"
said Upendra Yadav, chairman of FSF-N.
The CA members of UCPN-M withdrew
amendment proposal to the constitution bill registered earlier.
They had withdrawn the proposal prior to the CA meeting. According
to vice spokesperson of CA Secretariat Sudarshan Kuikel the UCPN-M
lawmakers had withdrawn the personal amendment proposal. Prabhu
Sah and Santa Kumar Tharu, among others, of the UCPN-M had registered
the proposal.
|
September 14
|
A group of people carrying yellow
and saffron flags and demanding that Nepal be declared Hindu state
clashed with SF personnel at New Baneshwar area in Kathmandu.
Police resorted to lathi charge and used water cannon to disperse
the agitating Hindu activists as the latter dismantled the barricade
and tried to enter the prohibitory area near the CA building.
The government alerted all security
agencies to remain vigilant following the CA's announcement, to
introduce the new Constitution on September 20. Security has been
beefed up for key political leaders and at vital buildings related
to Constitution-making process as well as in the riot-hit zones
of the Tarai Districts. Keeping in view the possibility of violence
in the Tarai Districts after the release of the Constitution,
a special task force of Nepal Police and APF has already been
put in place with orders to remain watchful round the clock.
Chairman of SP Rajendra Mahato
said that he is not against talks with the government. Talking
to journalists at Mahottari, Mahato said that the agitating parties
would sit for talks if the government creates an environment conducive
for the dialogue. He said they were ready to hold talks with the
government at any place in Madhes if the authorities lift curfew
and call back army personnel. Chairman Mahato, however, said that
Madhesh agitation would continue until their rights were established.
The CA decided to promulgate the
new Constitution of the country on September 20, amid a special
ceremony at the CA building. CA Chairman Subas Nembang confirmed
the decision. "I have set the date for promulgating the new
Constitution for September 20 at 5 pm after consulting with the
top leaders of major political parties," Nembang said. He
said, he fixed the date after consulting PM and NC President Sushil
Koirala, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda. If the Constitution making process
goes as per the plan, the CA secretariat expects the rest of the
process of Constitution-making to conclude within a few days.
With the completion of the ongoing clause-wise voting process,
the CA will hold vote division on the Constitution Bill in a bulk.
Then the lawmakers will sign the constitution and the CA chairman
will certify the bill and hand it over to the president for promulgation.
"After the CA chairman certifies the constitution bill, he
will hand over the copy of the statute to the president for signing
and declaring the commencement of new constitution amid a special
ceremony," reads the rule 110 of CA regulations.
Resuming the clause-wise voting
on the Constitution Bill, a two-thirds majority of the CA meeting,
endorsed the seven-province federal model among other various
important articles. The major articles endorsed by the meeting
include federalism, secularism, citizenship provisions, fundamental
rights and the state's directive principles and policies. The
issues related to federal model, secularism and citizenship provisions
were among the most disputed provisions in the entire constitution-making
process. The CA meeting on September 13, had endorsed only the
first three articles while the sitting on September 14, resumed
the voice-voting and passed 54 more articles. The next CA meeting
will resume the clause-wise voting on September 15.
RPP-N, registered amendment proposal
against the Clause 4 of the Constitution Bill that describes Nepal
as a secular country. The proposal was rejected by the two-thirds
majority of the CA. Before allowing the voting process to proceed,
CA Chairman Subas Nembang had announced that the amendment proposal
was rejected by the majority, but RPP-N chief Kamal Thapa insisted
for vote division. After the key agenda of his party was rejected
by the CA, RPP-N Chairman Thapa lamented that the party failed
to reinstate Nepal as a Hindu state. Later, Thapa expressed his
discontent through a twitter post: "Respected Nepali brothers
and sisters, we failed to make Nepal a Hindu state in the constitution.
We became alone. None, except Akhanda Nepal Party supported us.
We are feeling sad."
The Article 289 of Part 35 for
Transitional Arrangement, which envisages a federal commission
to fix boundaries of seven purported federal units as stated in
Schedule 4, is yet to put on vote. According to the article, the
commission would be formed within six months of the promulgation
of new charter with its mandate for a year. In the wake of violent
protests, the major parties ? NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M? decided
to set up the commission to fix provincial boundaries.
Agitating Tharu leaders said that
they are positive about sitting for talks with government and
major political parties after the prime minister expressed commitment
to address their concerns. "We have received a letter from
the prime minister with commitment to address our demands. We
are positive about sitting for talks," said Tharu leader
Raj Kumar Lekhi. UCPN-M lawmaker and Tharu leader Aman Lal Modi
said that a meeting of the Tharuhat Struggle Committee to be held
on September 16, will decide how to respond to the prime minister's
letter.
|
September 15
|
A bomb went off in Surunga Police
Post in Jhapa District, injuring two persons, according to the
District Police Office. Two persons including ASI Dev Narayan
Yadav have sustained minor injuries in the bomb blast. DSP Bhim
Dahal said that the injured are receiving treatment at the Birtamod-based
B and B Hospital.
Three persons, identified as Bindu
Lakaul (40), Ranjana Singh Kshetri (16), and Raj Kumar Barai (35)
of Bethari, killed on the spot at Bethari of Rupandehi District,
as Madhesi protestors clashed with the Police, while Kundan Kumar
Patel, a four-year-old boy succumbed to his injuries while undergoing
treatment at Universal Medical College in Bhairahwa. All three
of them sustained bullet injuries during the clash. A clash had
ensued after protestors pelted stones at Police vehicles escorting
three trucks loaded with various commodities toward Bhairahwa.
Police resorted to firing teargas canisters at the protestors.
As the protestors refused to retreat, Police opened fire in the
air and then used rubber bullets at the demonstrators. Four Police
personnel were also injured in the incident, according to the
Police. Later, local administration of Rupandehi in the evening
clamped curfew order till 6 am next morning.
UDMF resorted to vandalism and
arson with its cadres torching various industries in Bara District.
After Parsa DAO declared Birgunj riot-hit area, hundreds of cadres
affiliated to UDMF took out a motorcycle rally at Gandak Chowk
outside Birgunj municipal area. The agitators riding motorcycles
headed for Jitpur and forced open the godown of Saurav Enterprises
located on the roadside at Lipalimal of Bara and vandalised the
store. The agitators also vandalised a container of Nimbus Group
loaded with pulse. They damaged the container?s windows and spilled
the pulse all over the floor. The demonstrators damaged the windows
of seven trucks parked on the premises of Nimbus Group. After
the incident, security has been tightened along the Birgunj-Parwanipur
road section.
Area Police Office Simara town
in Bara District, arrested TMDP General Secretary Jitendra Sonal
and Bara District Chairman Nabkishor Singh. Inspector Purusottam
Khadka said Police had arrested Sonal and Singh for their alleged
involvement in vandalism and arson at Saurav Enterprises. They
were arrested from Nitanpur City in Bara.
The CA unanimously endorsed a
motion to announce the commencement of the new Constitution on
September 20. NC chief whip Chinkaji Shrestha had presented the
motion, proposing the date for the announcement of commencement
of new charter. The chief whips of two other parties ?CPN-UML
Agni Prasad Kharel and UCPN-M Giriraj Mani Pokharel ? seconded
it. The motion was tabled at the CA as per the Rule 49 of the
CA Rules, and the date was proposed on a par with the Rule 110
(3).
The Rule 110(3) of the CA Rules
says that the CA shall organise a formal national ceremony on
the date fixed for the commencement of the constitution and the
CA chairman shall submit a copy of the constitution ? the Revised
Bill on the draft constitution signed by the CA members and authenticated
by the CA Chairman after its endorsement ? to the President.
The same rule says that the President shall sign on the copy and
proclaim to the people that the new constitution has commenced.
The CA meeting endorsed 119 articles
of the Constitution Bill through voice votes, giving continuity
to the clause-wise voting process that was set in motion from
September 13. That takes the number of articles endorsed so far
by the CA to 176. The officials at the CA secretariat expect the
clause-wise voting on all the 302 articles to conclude by September
16, evening. The CA full House had endorsed only three articles
on September 13. But by September 15, the CA had voted on 58 articles
covering major issues of the new constitution such as republican
system, the provisions on president and vice-president, parliamentary
system, federal and provincial parliaments and the judiciary,
among other issues. Of the total 119 articles endorsed, 56 articles
were passed unanimously, while the rest were passed by two-thirds
majority. Of them, 23 articles were endorsed with amendments as
proposed by the three major political parties.
|
September 16
|
An overwhelming majority of the
CA endorsed the Constitution of Nepal-2015 through the four-day-long
rigorous voting process. In a vote division conducted, 507 CA
members voted in favor of the new constitution while 25 members
voted against it. Those voting against the bill were members of
RPP-N. "Total 507 members have voted in favor of the proposal
to approve the revised constitution bill while 25 members have
voted against the proposal," CA Chairman Subas Nembang announced
at the meeting. "Thus, this meeting has endorsed the new
constitution with over two-thirds majority votes of this CA."
As he made the announcement, all the lawmakers kept on clapping
and thumping on the tables and started congratulating each other
at the hall. Of the total 598 CA members, 532 were present at
the meeting.
Briefing to diplomatic community
in Kathmandu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey
said over 92 percent of the people's representatives are taking
part in the constitution making process although a few Madhes-based
parties have chosen to stay away from the process. Minister Pandey
said although a few Madhes-based parties have taken to the streets
there has been adequate representation from the region in the
CA.
Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar-led MJF-D
set four conditions for joining the Constitution-making process.
According to General Secretary of MJF-D Ramjanam Chaudhari, his
party put forth four conditions ? changes in the current boundaries
of the federal units, guarantee of proportional inclusion in all
the organs of the state, continuity of the Interim Constitution?s
provision on electoral constituencies and powers to the provinces
to choose their own official language in their respective provinces.
Chaudhari said his party would join the constitution-making process
only after the three major parties incorporated the changes in
the constitution as demanded by his party. ?We are not going to
accept the constitution if our demands are not addressed in the
constitution. They must meet our demands if they want us to endorse
the constitution,? Chaudhari added.
The Tharuhat/Tharuwan Joint Struggle
Committee, decided to hold dialogue with the three major parties
on the constitutional issues. Chaudhari said the protesting Tharu
forces decided to hold talks with the heads of the three parties,
instead of the prime minister. ?We decided to hold dialogue with
the chiefs of the three parties because, otherwise, if we reach
any deal with the prime minister, the major parties might not
accept the deal,? he added.
|
September 17
|
Top leaders of three major political
parties -- the NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M -- are reportedly close
to a deal with MPRF-D following a marathon talks between them.
MPRD-D Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar has been demanding a
separate Tharu province. According to sources, the signing of
the agreement could not be done as he sought more time for party-internal
meeting although a four-point agreement paper was ready.
The top leaders of three major
political parties, also held talks with leaders of Tharuhat Struggle
Committee, which has been leading protests demanding changes in
the seven-province federal model adopted in the new Constitution,
at the prime minister's official residence Baluwatar, Kathmandu.
The Tharu leaders set forth some conditions before the top leaders
for entering into the major agenda item related to the provincial
delineation. They demanded that the government withdraw the cases
filed at courts against their cadres on charges of being involved
in violent protests, declare those protestors who died during
recent protests as martyrs, provide compensation to the families
of the deceased and provide free treatment to the injured protestors.
The UDMF decided to keep the door
for talks open, while intensifying their agitation. Issuing a
press release in Kathmandu, UDMF said the new Constitution would
not bring an end to inequality and discrimination against the
marginalised community and the front would organise silent walk
with black flags across Madhes to protest the promulgation of
new Constitution on September 20.
UDMF of Saptari chapter also made
public fresh protest programmes in Saptari District. Issuing a
statement on behalf of the front, Information and Communication
Committee Coordinator Amarnath Mandal said the front would stage
a torch rally in Rajbiraj in the District on September 19, hoist
black flags in various places and people would tie black bands
on their arms in symbolic protest on September 20, and hold a
mass gathering in Rajbiraj with the slogan: ?Let?s go to Rajbiraj
and defy the new constitution by burning it as the statute is
against the welfare of the Madhesi people, on September 21.?
|
September 18
|
The CA members started signing
on the amended bill of new Constitution that was passed with two-thirds
majority on September 16. An arrangement has been made for the
CA members to sign on the corrected bill at 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
at Lhotse Hall of the CA Building, in the presence of CA Chairman
Subas Chandra Nembang.
The CA Chairman Subas Chandra
Nembang certified the new constitution after 537 lawmakers signed
on five copies of the new Constitution amidst a function at the
CA Building in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu. According to sources
at the parliament secretariat, some of those who had remained
absent in voting on September 16, but appeared at CA building
to sign on the copies. Though only 532 CA members had participated
in the final vote division on the constitution bill on September
16, the number of lawmakers signing on the copy increased to 537.
In the voting, 507 lawmakers had voted in favor of the bill while
25 from the RPP-N voted against it. The new Constitution bill
was endorsed by an overwhelming majority of the CA full House
on September 16. The new Constitution will come into effect once
President Ram Baran Yadav unveils it on September 20, evening.
The talks between major three
parties and MPRF-D led by Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar ended inconclusively.
According to MPRF-D General Secretary Ram Janam Chaudhary, both
sides had agreed on adopting policies for proportional, inclusive
representation electoral constituencies' delimitation based on
the size of the population and settling the issue of provincial
delineation through political consensus. The dialogue petered
out after the two of the three major political parties refused
to mention the words 'Tarai-Madhes' on the agreement paper as
demanded by the MPRF-D. "UCPN (Maoist) was positive on our
demand, but CPN-UML and some leaders of NC were resolute against
writing 'Tarai-Madhes' on the agreement paper. When they are not
ready even to mention 'Tarai-Madhes' on the agreement paper, how
can we continue the talks," said Chaudhary.
Rajendra Mahato-led SP, which
is a part of UDMF, is coordinating with Jay Prakash Gupta, coordinator
of Terai-Madhes Jagaran Abhiyan, and Matrika Yadav-led CPN-Maoist-
Matrika to form a new alliance. Following a meeting held in Birgunj
in Parsa District, Gupta informed that his discussion with Mahato
and Yadav centered on developing a new modality for agitation.
"We had been observing how the government was dealing with
Madhesi people during the demonstrations. So we focused on creating
new ways of giving continuity to the protests," said Gupta.
As many as 14 central leaders
of UCPN-M, from the Tarai-Madhes region, stated that they would
not comply with the party?s decision to welcome the new Constitution
and hold celebrations. They instead criticised the party for agreeing
with NC and CPN-UML to promulgate the new Constitution, which
they claimed was discriminatory. ?The party?s decision to celebrate
the victory without assessing critical situation in Madhes-Tharuhat,
joining hands with Congress and UML, is intolerable and painful
for us,? read a statement issued by them. The new constitution
fails to include all and endorsing it is suicidal, the leaders
commented, adding, ?It does not serve interests of the nation,
people and the party.? They have urged the party to withdraw from
the constitution promulgation process and launch protests. Signatories
include Maoist politburo members Ram Chandra Jha, Bishwanath Sah,
Prabhu Sah and Mahendra Paswan; central committee members Ram
Rijhan Yadav, Ram Kumar Sharma, Hakikulla Khan, Bharat Sah, Ghanashyam
Yadav, Ram Chandra Mandal, Upendra Prasad Sah and Chinak Kurmi;
and central advisors Kalamuddin Rain and Ramesh Ranjan Jha.
|
September 19
|
A cylinder bomb went off at Area
Police Station, Lamahi located at Lamahi Municipality -1, Deaukhuri
in Dang District. Police informed that an unidentified group had
detonated the bomb in the Police Station. According to Area Police
Office, Lamahi, no human casualties has been reported so far.
The UDMF took out a torch rally
in Rajbiraj in Saptari District. Hundreds of people coming from
various villages staged the torch rally, which converged into
a mass meeting at Dasan Chowk. The rally was taken out to protest
the new statute scheduled to be promulgated on September 20. The
demonstrators shouted slogans against the statute saying that
it was anti-Madheshi. The speakers at the meeting said they would
mark the day as a black day.
|
September 20
|
One protester was killed in Police
firing when UDMF agitators defied curfew and staged a rally in
Birgunj to protest the promulgation of new constitution. Shatrudhan
Patel died after a bullet fired by Police hit him in head while
the agitators clashed with Police personnel at Maisthan Gitamandir
in Birgunj in Parsa District. As many as six protesters were injured
in the incident. Eleven agitators were also hurt when the Police
baton charged them. Three Police personnel, including Inspector
Sekh Adalat, were also injured after agitators hurled stones at
them.
Protesters of Tharuwan Struggling
Committee torched a motorcycle at Deaukhuri for defying bandh.
Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist-Chand
set ablaze a truck for defying a strike in Ghasikuwa in Tanahun
District. According to SP Mohan Kumar Acharya, a team of seven
to eight agitators set the truck on fire in the morning. Police
informed that the truck was partially damaged by arson.
Police arrested six bandh
enforcers of different political parties from Bisheshwor in Lamjung
District. Police informed that a cadre from UDMF, two from FSF-N
and three from CPN-Maoist were arrested from different parts of
Bisheshwor for enforcing the bandh.
Nepal?s decades-long wait for
the new Constitution through people?s representatives is over,
as President Ram Baran Yadav, announced the commencement of the
new Constitution during the CA meeting-cum-special function organised
at the CA?s regular meeting venue. CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang
requested President Yadav to sign the designated page to proclaim
the commencement of the new Constitution, Yadav bowed his head
to each of the five copies before signing them. He then read out
the text: ?I announce, before Nepali people, that the Nepal?s
Constitution, endorsed by CA, authenticated by CA chairman and
presented here, has commenced today ? 20 September 2015.? ?Endorsed
by people?s representatives, this constitution is the document
of our common commitment for protecting freedom, geographic integrity,
independence and sovereignty vested in people,? Yadav said.
The CA transformed into the Parliament,
after successfully promulgating the new Nepal?s Constitution 2072
with the overwhelming two-thirds majority. At the final meeting
of the constitution writing body, CA Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang
announced dissolution of the CA, as per Article 296 of the new
Constitution. The CA, now, will transform into the Legislature-Parliament,
as per the Constitution. Before announcing the dissolution, Nembang
had read out major tasks of the CA since the first election to
the constitution drafting body in 2008. ?Successful implementation
of the Constitution, however, is challenging,? Nembang said, ?It?s
signs are already in front of us now.? The political leadership
has to show its competence with wisdom in implementation of the
historic document, he said. He claimed that the constitution drafting
process was democratic, inclusive and participatory.
Hinting toward agitating Madhes-centric
parties, Nembang said there is still adequate space for amendment
to improve it. ?There are still many shortcomings, and all?s wishes
might have not been fulfilled,? the CA Chair acknowledged, ?May
there be unity among parties in its implementation.? The CA, elected
from the second CA elections on November 19, 2013, had held its
first meeting on January 22, 2014. The CA sat for 135 times, including
130 full meetings, in 130 days, according to Nembang.
|
September 21 |
Unidentified persons exploded
a LPG cylinder bomb about 100 metres away from Mukesh Complex
in Lamki Chuha-2, Lamki Bazaar in Kailali District.
Agitating Tharu protesters set
fire to two Police posts and VDC office in Dhangadhi in Kailali
District. Pawera VDC office and Chhotki Paliya Police Post in
the same VDC and Rampur Police Post of Ratanpur VDC were set ablaze.
Cadres of the agitating Madesh-centric
political parties vandalised an ambulance that was heading to
receive a patient at Sarauchiya in Biratnagar in Morang District.
UDMF cadres vandalized and set
ablaze the houses of CA members and NC leaders Radhe Chandra Yadav
and Lalbabu Singh in Kalaiya municipality in Bara District.
Police personnel clashed with
protesters when the latter tried to vandalise the house of NC
CA member Farmullah Mansur and the party offices of NC and CPN-UML
in Kalaiya municipality in Bara District. Some leaders and cadres
including TMDP central member Jitendra Singh were injured.
Protesters set fire to the house
of CPN-UML CA member Raj Kumar Gupta at Ranighat of Birgunj in
Parsa District. House belongings were thrown out of the house
and set ablaze.
Agitators sprinkled petrol and
set the house of CPN-UML CA member Kamala Devi Mahato on fire
at Malangawa of Sarlahi District. Five agitators were injured
after Police opened fire when protesters tried to pelt stones
at a fire engine that was heading to douse the fire at Mahato?s
house.
Six protesters were injured when
Police clashed with them while agitators were burning copies of
the statute in Garuda bazaar, Rautahat District.
Three locals were injured when
Police opened fire to disperse a mob at Mahabir Chowk in Biratnagar
District. Police constable Sanjay Mandal was also injured in the
incident.
UDMF cadres burnt copies of new
Constitution in Gauragunj and Khajuragachhi of Jhapa District.
Police arrested four persons including Tarai Madhes Party?s Jhapa
Chairman Trinarayan Rajbanshi from Birtamode.
PM Sushil Koirala told the meeting
of the NC Central Working Committee that he would tender resignation
from the post of the PM as soon as he returned from New York on
October 3.
FSF-N Central Chairman Upendra
Yadav addressing a mass gathering at Gajendrachowk in Saptari
District warned that their protest would continue until autonomous
Madhes Pradesh was declared.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda addressing a ceremony at Tundikhel in Kathmandu
said ?people?s era? has begun with the promulgation of Nepal?s
Constitution, 2072.
|
September 22 |
Three SF personnel were injured
when protesters threw petrol bomb at them at Maisthan in Parsa
District. The protesters defied the prohibitory order and staged
demonstrations against the new Constitution at various places.
Protesters vandalized NC leader
and lawmaker Rajendra Bahadur Amatya?s house in Birgunj town of
Parsa District.
President Ram Baran Yadav and
PM Sushil Koirala held discussions at Sheetal Niwas on contemporary
political issues. During the meeting they discussed on addressing
the agitation launched in the Tarai-Madhesh immediately.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda during a meeting held with the Tharu lawmakers
and leaders at his residence in Lazimpat said that he is making
efforts to address the demands put forth by the Tharu community.
General Secretary of SP Manish
Kumar Suman said ?We cannot think of loosening the ongoing agitation.
We would rather intensify our agitation by imposing effective
blockade and closure of government offices.?
|
September 23 |
In a fresh bid to intensify its
agitation, UDMF after a meeting in Rajbiraj of Saptari District
decided to block all the major highways and customs points bordering
India.
|
September 24 |
Eight persons including two Policemen
and six protesters were injured in a clash between the UDMF demonstrators
and Police at a border point near Birgunj in Parsa District.
Cadres of UDMF torched the house
of Binod Yadav, a regional secretary of NC in Makwanpur District.
The group was led by Jitendra Sah, Shiva Chandra Kushwaha and
Ram Kishor Yadav.
A meeting of the three major parties
? NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M - decided to renew their call for dialogue
to protesting Madhesi and Tharu forces. They also decided to launch
a national and international campaign to highlight the major aspects
of the newly adopted constitution.
UCPN-M senior leader Baburam Bhattarai
in a press statement said ?As most demands of protesters are similar
to the note of dissents formally registered by the UCPN-Maoist
in the Constituent Assembly. I express my support and solidarity
to the demands. The hills and mountains cannot sleep well while
the Tarai-Madhes, which houses half of the population, is burning.?
|
September 25 |
The imports of petroleum and other
supplies from India and third countries have been lying at Indo-Nepal
border areas near Biratnagar due to the blockade imposed by UDMF.
Rajesh Man Singh, a leader of
the agitating UDMF, said, ?We?ll continue our protests until the
government fulfills our demands.?
President Ram Baran Yadav summoned
the winter session of Parliament starting October 2 in accordance
with a provision in the new statute that makes it mandatory for
the president to call the House session within seven days of the
commencement of the new Constitution.
UDMF and FDA agreed to form a
broader alliance to make their agitation a success. The talks
team of the UDMF and the FDA held talks on unity for their crusade
against the ?discriminatory provisions in the new Constitution.?
|
September 26 |
UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
quit his party and also resigned as MP. Bhattarai said the justification
of UCPN-M had ended with the promulgation of the new Constitution.
He also indicated to form his own political "force"
within a couple of months, amid differences with the major Nepalese
political parties over the new Constitution.
|
September 27 |
10 persons including seven agitators
and three passengers were injured when agitating cadres of UDMF
vandalized 50 vehicles for defying the bandh at Bhardaha of Saptari
District.
NC Vice-President, Ram Chandra
Poudel, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Mahesh Acharya,
central member Ananda Dhungana, and Chairman of TMDP Mahantha
Thakur, and leaders Hridayesh Tripathi and Sarbendra Nath Sukla,
held a meeting at Sanothimi-based residence of TMDP Chairman Thakur.
|
September 28 |
Three major political parties
?NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M ? after a meeting held at Prime Minister
Sushil Koirala?s residence in Baluwatar formed a three member
team comprising UCPN-M leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, NC leader
Mahesh Acharya and CPN-UML leader Agni Prasad Kharel.
Supporting the protest of Madhes-based
parties with strong words, VP Paramananda Jha urged the political
parties to have meaningful and result-oriented dialogue to address
the demands of Tarai-Madhes.
NC leaders and lawmakers representing
different Tarai-Madhes Districts put forward three suggestions
for amending the new constitution to address the Tarai-Madhes
protest.
|
September 29 |
Seven UDMF cadres were injured
when the Police baton charged on them for blocking former leader
of UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai?s vehicle at Airport Chowk in Dhanusa
District.
UDMF cadres crossed the Nepal-India
border in Bhairahawa and pelted stones at the Police. Police arrested
two UDMF cadres for their alleged involvement in hurling stones.
Three-member team formed by the
major parties to hold talks with the agitating Madhes-based parties
separately met with the disgruntled leaders and urged them to
back down the blockade in border areas to start political negotiations.
CPN-UML proposed 79 out of 165
constituencies under FPTP election system for 20 Districts of
Tarai-Madhes.
|
September 30 |
Santosh Chaudhary, a driver, was
injured when the agitating Madhesi cadres vandalized an ambulance
in Morang District at Karsiya Bazaar.
UDMF decided to sit for talks
with Government in principle to end the ongoing political stalemate
in the country.
|
October 2 |
A clash erupted between Police
and protesters in Chandranigahapur along the East-West Highway
of Rautahat District when the Police tried to refrain the leaders
and cadres of UDMF and TKS while they were heading to obstruct
the Highway. No injuries were reported.
Government initiated to amend
the constitution. The Cabinet decided to direct the Ministry for
Law, Justice, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs to
begin necessary procedure to amend the constitution.
Police arrested three persons
including Tharuhat Tarai Party Nepal?s central Treasurer Khadak
Chaudhary while they were staging a sit-in at Dasgaja area in
Siraha District near Kailali Customs Office bordering India.
President Ram Baran Yadav called
parties in the Legislature-Parliament to form a consensual Government
within seven days as per Article 298(2) of the Nepal?s Constitution.
The meeting held between the three
major parties and the Tharuhat Struggle committee ended inconclusively
in Singha Durbar.
Federal Socialist Forum Nepal
Chairman Upendra Yadav accused the Government of not being serious
towards holding talks with agitating UDMF. He blamed the Government
of not treating the Madhesi people as the country?s citizens.
Youths aligned to Federal Limbuwan
Party held a demonstration in Panchthar District headquarters
Phidim accusing the Government of ditching their demand for a
separate Limbuwan state.
|
October 4 |
PM Sushil Koirala called an all-party
meeting for October 5 to discuss the next political course represented
in the Legislature Parliament.
UDMF formed a four-member talk?s
team to hold talks with the three major parties on constitutional
issues. The front, however, decided to continue its agitation
in Madhes, including peaceful demonstrations in border areas,
highways and civil disobedience.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
addressing an interaction on the new constitution organized by
the party in Kathmandu said that various forces have been hatching
conspiracy to break an alliance of major political forces that
were actively involved in promulgating the new constitution.
Former UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
addressing a mass gathering at Dhakdhai of Rupendehi District
said that a new political force with new vision has become necessary
to safeguard the democratic achievements.
|
October 5 |
Cadres of UDMF set two trucks
on fire in Birgunj town in Parsa District along the Dryport Bypass-Parwanipur
road section.
The UDMF cadres also vandalized
more than two dozen vehicles at Parwanipur VDC in Sarlahi District.
Various small parties expressing
their views in the all-party meet convened at Prime Minister's
official residence at Baluwatar in Kathmandu suggested the major
three political parties to keep their alliance intact while forming
the new Government.
Former UCPN-M leader Baburam Bhattarai
talking to journalists in Sunawal of Nawalparasi District announced
that he would launch his much-hyped 'new force' within a month.
|
October 6 |
Three political parties and the
UDMF started formal talks to settle current political deadlock
but the meeting could not enter into political agendas yet again.
|
October 7 |
Cadres of UDMF cut off fingers
of a man near Indo-Nepal border point in Belahiya of Rupandehi
District for trying to purchase daily commodities.
UDMF submitted a 35-point charter
of demands to the Government and major three parties urging the
big parties to amend the Constitution accordingly.
Government registered "first amendment
bill" of the constitution at Parliament Secretariat in Kathmandu
seeking to address proportional inclusion and making population
the basis for delineating the electoral constituencies - the two
major demands of Madhesi and indigenous communities.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
speaking with journalists at the Biratnagar Airport in Morang
District stressed on the need of a National Unity Government as
the nation is in a critical time now.
|
October 8 |
Chairman of FSF-N Upendra Yadav
speaking at a press conference in Kathmandu said that the amendment
proposals registered by the Government at the Parliament Secretariat
are unacceptable for the agitating parties as the Government did
not reach at any agreement with the agitating parties before forwarding
it to the Secretariat.
|
October 9 |
Four persons were injured when
cadres of UDMF attacked four local youths and torched their two
motorcycles in Nawalparasi District as they were returning from
bordering Indian market with diesel for their tractors.
UDMF cadres obstructed the movement
of three sugar carrying trucks of Everest Sugar Mill based in
Ramnagar town of Mahottari District heading to the capital city
Kathmandu.
UCPN-M leaders met CPN-UML and
NC leaders and emphasized the need for three-party unity for the
formation of next Government so that they could effectively resolve
the current challenges.
|
October 10 |
Prime Minister Sushil Koirala
resigned even as Parliament prepares to elect a new Premier on
October 11 after parties failed to forge a consensus amid continued
protests and blockade of a key border trade point with India over
the country's new Constitution.
|
October 11 |
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli
was elected 38th Prime Minister of Nepal by defeating NC President
Sushil Koirala with a margin of 89 votes. Of the 587 members took
part in the voting, Oli garnered 338 votes while Koirala polled
249 votes.
Cadres of UDMF burnt effigy of
the newly-elected Prime Minister KP Oli and MPRF-D Chairman Bijay
Kumar Gachhadar in the District headquarters Gaur of Rautahat
District for making statements against Madhesi people's sentiments
and Gachhadar playing supportive role in the election of Oli as
Prime Minister.
Hill-origin communities residing
in Mahottari District organized a solidarity rally at District
headquarters, Jaleshwar, to express support for the demands of
Madhes.
|
October 12
|
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli formed
a small cabinet incorporating two DPMs ? RPP-N Chairman Kamal
Thapa and MJF-D Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar ? and five ministers
? Agni Prasad Kharel, Som Prasad Pandey and Satya Narayan Mandal
from CPN-UML, Haribol Gajurel from UCPN-M and Ram Kumar Subba
from RPP-N.
Following the decision of the
MPRF-D Chairman Bijay Gachchhadar to join the new Government,
Madhesi and Tharu protesters intensified protests in his village
Duhabi of Sunsari District.
Separately, organizing a press
meet, District Committee Members of MPRF-D in Bara and Parsa Districts
on October 12 submitted their resignation to the party protesting
Gachchhadar's move to join the Government in the capacity of DPM,
reports Republica.
DPM Bijay Gachchhadar talking
to media after taking oath of office and secrecy at the President
Office in Katmandu said that delineation, structures and numbers
of the provinces would be revised to address the ongoing Terai
protest.
|
October 13
|
UDMF during a meeting held at
the Alfa Beta Complex in Kathmandu decided to continue its protests
in the Tarai region during the festive season also.
|
October 14
|
Manish Kumar Suman, general secretary
of SP, a constituent of UDMF, said talks with the protesting Madhesi
and Tharu forces should have been the first priority of the new
Government, but it is busy in dividing the key constitutional
posts among the ruling coalition partners. This shows that the
government is not serious about holding talks with the protesting
parties.
|
October 15
|
A meeting of the top leaders of
the political parties supporting the formation of the incumbent
Government formed an 11-member high-level political coordination
committee under the leadership of UCPN-M Chairperson Pushpa Kamal
Dahal.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli while
addressing the House urged the agitating parties to join the talks
table to get their issues addressed.
A cabinet meeting held in Kathmandu
decided to send formal invitation to the agitating Madhes-based
political parties for talks.
Members of the hilly community
organized a rally in Malangawa town of Sarlahi District to express
solidarity with the demands of Madhesi community.
|
October 16
|
The Government sent letters to
the constituents of UDMF inviting them to come to the negotiating
table.
Parliament unanimously elected
UCPN-M leader Onsari Gharti Magar as its speaker. Magar is the
first woman speaker in the country's history. She is also the
first woman to reach a top-five post in Nepal.
MPRF-D General Secretary Mrigendra
Kumar Singh announced to resign from the party as the party participated
in the incumbent Government without formal decision in the party.
HRW in a report said that Nepali
authorities should immediately investigate and bring to justice
those responsible for killings and rights violations during ongoing
protests over the constitutional debate.
|
October 18
|
The Ministry of Law, Justice and
Parliamentary Affairs begun work to enact 138 new laws and amend
315 existing laws to implement the new constitution.
UDMF told the Government that
it was ready for talks, however, did not agree to end the protests
as asked by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav organizing
a press conference in Kathmandu said that his party will not sit
for talks with the Government and will instead intensify its protests
after the Dashain festival.
MPRF-D District General Secretary
Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav and over two hundreds local leaders
and cadres have given resignation from the party by giving up
the ordinary membership of the party as well.
|
October 19 |
Government on October 19 constituted
a five-member talk's team headed by Deputy Prime Minister Kamal
Thapa to hold dialogue with the agitating UDMF.
Tharu MPs representing UCPN-M
threatened to quit Parliament membership if the party does not
address the concerns of the Tharu community. There are eight Tharu
MPs from the party.
|
October 20 |
Government talk's team headed
by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa held
the first talk with the agitating UDMF.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad
Sitaula said that if there were any defects in the new constitution
it could be corrected through political consensus.
|
October 21 |
The Government and the UDMF held
second round of talks. The talks, however, ended each side calling
the other to be more accommodative.
|
October 23 |
Most District Committee members
of the MJF-D in Rautahat District announced that they quit the
party protesting its central Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar's
decision to join the incumbent Government.
|
October 24 |
11 persons were injured when cadres
of agitating UDMF clashed with Police at Dhalkebar in Dhanusha
District.
An unidentified gang attacked
UCPN-M Dhading District Committee member Kariman Tamang with a
khukuri. Tamang was critically injured in the attack.
|
October 25 |
UDMF cadres destroyed different
goods being imported from India at Matihani border-point of Mahottari
District.
Cadres of UDMF torched two motorcycles
in Lahan of Siraha District. The cadres set the motorcycles bearing
registration number Ba 41 PA 4600 and Ba 36 PA 8582 on fire at
Kusbaha Chowk and near the Saptarishi Hospital.
Cadres of UDMF torched a pick-up
van in Bhediyahi of Rautahat District. The van was delivering
goods of daily use from Gaur to Chandranigahapur as the agitation
programmes were minimised for the Dashain festival.
UDMF cadres set an ambulance on
fire in Bhardah of Saptari District along the East-West Highway.
The ambulance was carrying a patient to Kathmandu. The protesting
cadres torched the ambulance after taking out the fuel.
UDMF cadres set ablaze a motorcycle
in Pipara Road of Birgunj in Parsa District. The cadres claimed
that the bike was used to import petrol from India despite blockade
of the alliance.
Police arrested Satya Narayan
Yadav, advisor of the agitation struggle committee and Roshan
Yadav, District member of the agitating TMLP from Siraha district
on charge of forcing the market to shut down.
Talk's teams of the Government
and agitating UDMF held third dialogue but failed to reach any
solution on constitutional issues. There was no progress in talks
except for the formation of a two-member task force to implement
the remaining conditions put forth by the UDMF.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called
an all-party meet to choose a candidate for the post of President
through consensus.
Cadres of UDMF vandalized dozens of vehicles
at different places on the East-West Highway in Saptari District.
Police said that the agitating cadres hiding on the side of the
highway threw rocks at dozens of vehicles at Bhardaha, Rupani,
Kanchanpur Baira, Barmajhiya, among other places in the District
in course of police escorting.
|
October 26 |
Two girls sustained burn injuries
after cadres of the UDMF seized petrol bottles they were carrying,
smashed them on the ground and lit them. The victims have been
identified as Ranjana (3) and Sunita (16) in Sunsari District.
A gas cylinder bomb was found
at the house of NC lawmaker Surendra Yadav in Rajbiraj Municiplaity
of Saptari District. ATMM coordinator Jay Krishna Goit in a press
statement claimed responsibility of the incident.
NC leader and lawmaker Sunil Yadav
accused the Government of not being sensitive towards the prolonged
Madhes agitation and warned of intensifying the agitation in Tarai-Madhes
if the Government did not take immediate steps to address the
concerns of the Madhesi people.
|
October 27 |
Two persons were injured as protesting
cadres of UDMF set ablaze two motorbikes in Rautahat District.
Riders of the both bikes - Suresh Sah (28) and Ram Prabesh Sah
(27) - sustained injuries in the incident.
Ram Bilas Yadav (22) sustained
severe burn injuries to his legs and back in Sunsari District.
Police said "Yadav was returning home after purchasing petrol
when the group came in 10 motorcycles and seized the bottle of
petrol. The group sprinkled the petrol around Yadav after taking
him under control. They then set fire."
Cadres of UDMF erected makeshift
tents, and staged sit-ins and demonstrations at Sukdev Chowk,
Shivnagar, Jaynagar, Garuda, Birta, Sakhuwa, Dumriya chowk obstructing
vehicular movement along the Gaur-Chandranigahapur road section
in Rautahat District.
FMF, led by Nepal Sadvawana Party
and comprising five parties presented a 102 point constitutional
amendment proposal to Government talks team during the talks held
at Kathmandu.
Pari Thapa-led CPN-Unified and
Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist at a Party Unity Coordination Committee
meeting held decided to merge as both the parties have common
ideology and political issues.
|
October 28 |
Staging a torch rally in Rajbiraj,
the District headquarters of Saptari, cadres of the agitating
UDMF urged their leaders to hold meaningful talks with the Government.
Vice-chairman of CPN-UML Bidhya
Devi Bhandari was elected as the new President of the country.
Bhandari received 327 votes in the Presidential election against
her rival candidate of the NC Kul Bahadur Gurung's 214 votes.
|
October 29 |
A motorbike was set ablaze at
Lahan town in Siraha District. Rudra Dahal, the rider of the motorbike,
said "As I reached Kushwaha Chowk, Lahan at 9:00 am, I was stopped
by some protestors. Despite my request, the protestors set my
bike on fire."
Talks between the agitating UDMF
and the Government remained inconclusive as the former demanded
immediate resolution of the provincial boundary issue. Deputy
Prime Minister Kamal Thapa said "Their demand was immediate resolution
of the boundary dispute, which is a difficult proposition as it
took eight years to finalize the present boundary."
TMDP Chairman Mahanta Thakur while
addressing a press meet organized in Birgunj town in Parsa District,
blamed the Government of not being serious about the genuine demands
of Madhesis.
FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav speaking
at a press meet at Rajbiraj town in Saptari District said that
there was no point in the UDMF holding talks with the Government
until the latter agreed to redraw provincial boundaries.
|
October 30 |
Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa,
who heads the Government's talk's team in a letter written to
the UDMF and UMF, said that the Government is committed to meeting
the conditions set by the agitating forces for dialogue.
TMDP Chairman Mahanth Thakur speaking
to media persons at a function organized by the front in Gaur
town of Rautahat District said that there was no point in holding
dialogue with the Government until the latter came up with concrete
agendas to address their demands.
TMSP Chairman Mahendra Ray Yadav
speaking at a press conference organized by TMSP in Birgunj town
of Parsa District said that there was no point in further sitting
for talks with the Government if the talk slated to take place
on November 1 also fails.
|
November 1 |
Government negotiators' assured
the UDMF that the Government was ready to amend provincial boundaries
by forging political understanding with political parties, including
NC.
Issuing a press statement after
concluding its two-day meeting in Janakpur city of Dhanusha District,
UDMF decided to intensify its agitation.
Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist submitted
a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, putting forth 11
demands and demanded that the issues of ongoing Madhes agitations,
obstructions at Indo-Nepal border points and dissatisfaction surfaced
in the course of constitution-making process should be resolved
soon.
|
November 2 |
One person was killed and 40 others
including 32 UDMF cadres and eight Policemen were injured in Police
firing during a clash between Police and UDMF cadres in Birgunj
town of Parsa District. Five demonstrators were arrested.
Considering the security sensitivities,
the District Administration Office, Parsa District, imposed indefinite
curfew in Birgunj town from 3 pm.
Strongly protesting the use of
force against the protesters by Police in Birgunj, TMDP Vice-Chairman
Hridayash Tripathi said "When the government itself ruins the
environment for talks by using live bullets on protestors and
imposing a curfew again, there is a serious question over the
relevance of sitting for talks."
|
November 3 |
Three persons were injured as
Madheshi protestors clashed with security personnel on the premises
of Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital in Birgunj town of Parsa District.
Birgunj Police fired three rounds
of shots in the air after UDMF cadres began to demonstrate in
front of the Brahma Police Post defying the curfew clamped by
the local administration.
UDMF staged a protest rally in
Janakpur city of Dhanusha District. The rally that started from
Ramanand Chowk made round of Janaki Chowk, Janak Chowk, Shiv Chowk,
bhanu Chowk, and Kadam Chowk. The agitators in Janakpur had also
obstructed movement of motorcycles and electric rickshaws.
45 leaders of UCPN-M quit the
party en mess to join a campaign for forming a new political force
led by former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. Though the leaders
have not used the word resignation, Devendra Paudel, one of those
who quit, said right after submitting their letter to the party
that they are no longer associated with the UCPN-M.
|
November 4 |
12 people were injured in Birgunj
town of Parsa District as cadres of UDMF clashed with Police at
Maisthan, Nagawa, Ghariwarwa, Ghantaghar, and Chhapkaiya.
Intensifying its agitation, the
agitating UDMF imposed restrictions on the movement of two-wheelers
and electric auto rickshaws in Dhanusha District. Bajarang Yadav,
Dhanusha chairman of FSF-N reasoned "Movement of two-wheelers
and electric vehicles had lessened the impact of the shutdown.
Hence, the front decided to impose restrictions on their movement."
Amnesty International has written
an 11 page open letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli seeking
his urgent attention to a number of concerns regarding the new
Constitution.
Coalition partners CPN-UML and
UCPN-M held consultations with main opposition NC at Prime Minister
KP Oli's residence in Katmandu. The leaders discussed the issues
of agitating Madheshi communities.
UCPN-M during a Standing Committee
meeting of the party held at the party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal's
residence in Lazimpat, Kathmandu expelled five of its CC members
for supporting Baburam Bhattarai's campaign to form a new political
force.
|
November 5 |
Expressing her serious concern
over the problems people are currently facing, President Bidya
Devi Bhandari during a meeting with a delegation of FNJ at her
office in Kathmandu said that the current crisis should end at
earliest.
|
November 6 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal,
who is also coordinator of the HPCC held informal talks with the
leaders of agitating UDMF.
Vice Chairman of TMDP Hridayesh
Tripathi said that it was an irony that Madhesi people, who supported
all democratic movements of Nepal, were being isolated while fighting
for their cause.
|
November 8 |
Eight Madhes-based agitating parties
participated the Parliament meeting and obstructed House proceedings.
Around 20 lawmakers of agitating parties went to the well and
demanded formation of a Judicial Commission to probe the killing
of people by the Government during the movement and fulfillment
of the demands of agitators.
Parliamentary Party meeting of
the NC held at the Parliament building urged the Government to
table the constitution amendment proposal in the Parliament so
as to resolve the Tarai problem as soon as possible.
Two fringe parties - Pari Thapa-led
CPN-Unified and Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist - declared their merger
after a jointly organized unification convention that took place
at the Maoist Valley Bureau Office in Lalitpur District.
|
November 9
|
Lawmakers of the agitating Madhes-based
parties obstructed Parliament proceedings for the second consecutive
day demanding the Government to address their concerns. Following
the obstruction, Speaker Onsari Gharti adjourned the House for
13 days till November 22.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli,
accepting an eight-point joint memorandum from Nepal Revolutionary
Youth Association and Nepal Revolutionary Students Association,
stated that the diplomatic measures were being taken to resolve
the problem seen at the border points.
|
November 11
|
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar,
said that the ongoing unrest in the Madhes region would not be
solved unless the parties agreed to review boundaries of federal
units.
Vice-President of NC, Ram Chandra
Paudel, said that his party would play a role of mediator among
the Government, Madhes-centric political parties and the neighboring
country.
|
November 12
|
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli while
addressing a program at Basantapur VDC in Sunsari District said
that the Government is ready to address the genuine demands of
all.
Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML
senior leader Jhalanath Khanal while speaking at a program organized
by the Reporter's Club Nepal in Kathmandu underscored the need
of unity between NC and CPN-UML to iron out existing problems
of the country.
UCPN-M expelled four leaders for
acting against the party in Chitwan District. The leaders include
Ramesh Regmi, Bishnu Hari Timilsena, Umakant Chapagain and Kamal
Prasad Chapagain. The leaders joined the new political force established
by former Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai.
|
November 13
|
Cadres of the agitating UDMF torched
a truck laden with goods at Bihan Road in Birgunj town of Parsa
District. Police said that the truck was completely destroyed
in the arson.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli speaking
at a programme organized by the Reporters? Club in Kathmandu said
that the present crisis facing the country would come to an end
soon.
UCPN-M Chairman and former Prime
Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal speaking at the same programme pledged
to address the genuine demands of Madhesi community to the extent
possible.
|
November 14
|
Cadres of agitating UMDF torched
the Birgunj-based Parsa District party office of CPN-UML. The
UDMF cadres threw away furniture at the office to nearby river
and then set it on fire. Later, they protested by burning tires.
UDMF leaders rejected the NC?s
offer of moving the constitution amendment bill ahead and trying
to forge consensus on issues of provincial boundaries gradually.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
and coordinator of the Government talk?s team Deputy Prime Minister
Kamal Thapa held a meeting with Chairman of TMDP, Mahantha Thakur
and discussed how the Madhes problems could be resolved and people?s
life be made easier.
|
November 15
|
Two CPN-UML cadres were injured
as cadres of UDMF attacked CPN-UML leader Rishikesh Pokhrel?s
vehicle while returning from a function held to exchange greetings
at Jhurkiya VDC of Morang District.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli,
in his first address to the nation after being elected the Prime
Minister, said that India?s unofficial blockade had led to a humanitarian
crisis in the country.
NC and Madhesi parties have expressed
their dissatisfaction over Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli?s address
to the nation as the Prime Minister did not mention the root cause
of blockade and did not even say anything about what diplomatic
initiative he would take vis-ā-vis India to resolve the crisis
created by blockade.
SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato warned
that if the ongoing agitation in plains failed, the country would
plunge into further crisis.
|
November 16 |
Top leaders of the major three
parties intensified informal political dialogues and consultations
in a bid to resolve present crisis and address the Madhes agitation.
Former Prime Minister and senior
CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal accused Madhes-centric parties
of staging a protracted agitation in the region to fulfil their
vested interests.
|
November 17 |
Cadres of the UDMF seized 1,000
liters of petrol at two different places in Gaushala of Mahottari
District and destroyed it, saying the fuel was smuggled from the
Indian border.
Police arrested an agitator nearby
the Sajha Petrol Pump located in Lalitpur District for hurling
stones at Police while security personnel were engaged in convincing
the youth not to create any obstruction in the vehicular movement.
Pashupati Muraraka, President
of FNCCI speaking at an interaction organized by Nepal Republic
Media said that the economic blockade imposed by India and unrest
in Tarai-Madhesh is pushing industrialists toward bankruptcy.
TMDP Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav
warned of a decisive agitation if the talks scheduled for November
18 does not make any headway.
|
November 18 |
Talks between the ruling parties
and the agitating UDMF failed to make any progress over differences.
The meeting lasted for around two hours and ended without making
any decision.
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party
Chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe speaking at an interaction in Kathamandu
said that the Government should mobilize army in the region to
control the protests as few feudal lords led the protests after
being defeated from people.
|
November 19 |
UDMF cadres destroyed around 510
liters petrol at two points in Mahottari District. 310 liters
of smuggled petrol at Mahottari's main checkpoint Bhittamod and
200 liters petrol at Matihani border point.
UDMF at a meeting held at the
FSF-N parliamentary party office in Kathamandu decided to continue
their protest programmes including the blockade at Indo-Nepal
border points.
Leaders of the Tharuhat Struggle
Committee, speaking at press meets organized at three locations
announced intense and fresh rounds of protest across the Tarai
Districts in support of their demand for carving three federal
provinces out of the region.
Chairman of MPRF-R and leader
FDF Raj Kishor Yadav talking to journalists at Jaleshwor in Mahottari
Dsitrict said that the ongoing agitation in Tarai region is not
to split the nation.
|
November 20 |
One person injured as UDMF cadres
vandalized an ambulance carrying a sick child at Katahari of Morang
District. The child?s mother, who was inside the ambulance, sustained
minor injuries.
Cadres of UDMF vandalized the
house of CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal in Gaur of Rautahat
District. The entrance and the window panes of the house situated
on the main road of the Gaur Municipality-3 have been badly damaged.
Cadres of UDMF torched a truck
carrying drugs in Birgunj town of Parsa District. They torched
the truck, Na 2 Kha 8392, in front of the office of National Trading
Limited.
NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi speaking
at an interaction at the Reporters? Club in Kathmandu accused
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of imposing a blockade by halting
discussions on the Constitution Amendment Bill registered at the
Parliament.
|
November 21 |
Three UDMF cadres Birendra Ram
(18) and Nageshwor Yadav (28) and Shiva Shankar Das were killed
in Police firing along Bharadaha-Rupani road in Saptari District.
Six UDMF cadres and 20 Police personnel were also injured in clashes.
|
November 22 |
Critically injured local Dilip
Sah (30) succumbed to bullet injuries. Sah was observing the demonstration
from the roof of his house and was hit by a bullet in his head
when Police opened fire on November 21 along Bharadaha-Rupani
road in Saptari District.
Irate cadres of UDMF damaged a
bridge over Sundari River at Barmajhiya of Saptari District the
along the East-West Highway. Police said that agitators riled
by the death of protesters in Police action vandalized the bridge
using homemade weapons.
Cadres of UDMF destroyed 500 liters
of petrol in Siraha District. The UDMF cadres destroyed the petrol
at Chatari Baniniya in the District citing it was smuggled from
India.
Deputy Prime Minister Chitra Bahadur
KC asserted that the Districts of the Tarai could not be separated
from the hilly region in the name of changing the demarcation
of federal provinces.
CPN-UML Secretary Bhim Acharya
said that his party would not agree on dividing the entire Madhes
region into two provinces at any cost. He further said that the
party would neither agree on entirely separating hilly provinces
from Tarai districts.
NC at an inter-party meeting said
that it can support the Government in resolving the ongoing political
crisis if the latter forwards the constitution amendment bill
as proposed by the previous Government without any further delay.
|
November 23 |
Cadres of UDMF set ablaze a Police
post in protest of the killing of three demonstrators in the Police
action in Saptari District. The unruly protestors put the Police
post in Koladi Basain-1 of the District on fire.
Padam, a three-month-old boy of
Triyuga municipality died on way to hospital for want of timely
treatment, as the ambulance carrying the baby was halted by the
cadres of the UDMF in Udaypur District.
Tension remained high in Saptari
District after UDMF cadres set ablaze Rajbiraj-based District
Land Conservation Office and Kunauli-based Customs Office. They
also torched the party office of Nepali Congress (NC) and Land
Survey branch office in the District headquarters Rajbiraj.
Cadres of UDMF set fire on three
motorcycles in Dhalkebar and Debadih of Dhanusa District for carrying
petrol and diesel.
A meeting between major opposition
NC and ruling CPN-UML and UCPN-M held at Prime Minister's official
residence in Kathmandu agreed to forward the constitution amendment
bill in understanding with agitating Madhes-based political parties.
Leaders of UDMF at an interaction
organized by NHRC said that finding a solution to the Madhes agitation
was delayed because the Government was not taking their concerns
seriously and calling the agitators for talks without any agenda
whatsoever.
Senior leader of the NC and former
Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, at a news conference organized
by the Nepal Press Union, Banke District expressed that the dispute
surfaced over delineation of provinces should be settled through
referendum.
|
November 24 |
Chairman of the HPCC of the ruling
coalition and Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks
with four agitating Madhesi leaders and agreed to resolve the
problem in a package.
Minister for Information and Communications
Technology Sherdhan Rai said that the army would not mobilised
to control Tarai protests unless critical situation was seen in
the county.
FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav speaking
at the Reporters Club Nepal said "There is a peaceful protest
taking place under the banner of Madhesi Morcha but there have
been some untoward incidents owing to infiltrations from the side
of the government."
|
November 25 |
A cloth laden-truck that was being
escorted by the SF personnel toward the destination has been burnt
by UDMF cadres in Dhalkebari of Dhanusa District.
Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Revolutionary
Maoist submitting a six-point memorandum to Prime Minister KP
Sharma Oli urged to address genuine demands of agitating Madhes-based
parties through talks and raise the issue of border blockade at
international forums.
|
November 26 |
The agitating cadres of UDMF continued
their protest into the 103rd day in Gaur of Rautahat Dsitrict.
District Coordinator and District Chairman of FSF-N Ram Niwas
Yadav led a mass that demonstrated after chanting the slogans
against the Government at the District headquarter for the entire
day.
CBREP staged a huge demonstration
at Chandrapur of Rautahat District demanding a 'Chure Bhawar province'.
Madhesi and Janajati forces, and
Baburam Bhattarai led Campaign for Building New Force held a meeting
to discuss their joint agitation in Kathmandu.
Chairman of FSF-N Upendra Yadav
said "It's my challenge to them, either quit government or wage
war at the border." Why haven't they reacted? Either announce
war or leave the government, it irrelevant to be in power by making
irresponsible comments."
|
November 27 |
Two persons were killed and 12
others seriously injured when a passenger bus escorted by SF personnel
turned turtle after protesters of UDMF pelted stone at it at Bhardaha-1
of Saptari District along the East-West Highway.
A clash erupted after local people
and Student Unions vandalized and torched the stage constructed
by UDMF at Kheti Stream of Itahari in Sunsari District.
Agitating cadres of UDMF set a
motorbike on fire near Dashgaja area in Rautahat District while
it was on way to Rautahat after filling petrol from Bairganiya
of India.
A clash erupted after local people
and student unions vandalized and set ablaze the stage constructed
by UDMF at Khetikhola of Itahari in Sunsari District.
Federal Alliance, Baburam Bhattarai-led
Campaign for Creating New Force and Padma Ratna Tuladhar-led INNM,
decided to hold a broader civic solidarity meeting in Kathmandu
on December 3.
|
November 29 |
More than 50 vehicles under Police
escorting were vandalized by the UDMF cadres in Bhardaha in Saptari
District along the East-West Highway.
Cadres of Netra Bikram Chand-led
CPN-Maoists set two trucks ablaze in Chandrapur of Rautahat District
during general strike called by the party.
Speaking to mediapersons after
attending an eastern regional security meeting in Sunsari District,
Home Minister Shakti Basnet said that the ongoing Tarai agitation
was against the country's interests.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Defence Bhim Bahadur Rawal speaking with journalists at the
Reporters' Club in Kathmandu warned that the Government would
mobilize Army to contain the ongoing protests in Tarai, if need
be.
|
November 30 |
Cadres of UDMF destroyed 415 liters
of petrol at Bhitthamod, the major checkpoint at the Nepal-India
border in Mahottari District. The cadres seized the petrol smuggled
from India using a clandestine route through the jungle.
The tripartite talks among ruling
parties, the main opposition NC and the agitating UDMF ended inconclusively
again. The parties agreed to meet at 6 pm on December 2 again.
UDMF leaders and cadres in Biratnagar
town of Morang District decided to bring activities at Nepal-India
border point at Jogbani to a complete halt as part of their intensified
protest program.
|
December 1 |
Agitating UDMF lawmakers obstructed
the meeting of Parliament. As soon as Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar
began House proceedings, UDMF lawmakers went to the well of the
House and started chanting slogans against the Government.
Cadres of UDMF disrupted Jamunaha
entry point in Nepalgunj town of Banke District on Nepal-India
border. With the obstruction, hundreds of vehicles, including
those carrying petroleum products, have been stranded on the Indian
side of the border.
NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi speaking
at a press meet at Hetauda city in Makwanpur District stressed
the need to amend the constitution to resolve the prolonged Tarai
unrest.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
presenting his political paper at the party?s central committee
meeting in Kathmandu proposed creating an eighth province by adding
one more to the seven-province model adopted in the new constitution.
LNRP issuing a press statement
warned the leaders not to disintegrate Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari
Districts from Province No. 1. The party also decided to retaliate
the Indian blockade if it is not lifted at soonest.
|
December 2 |
Three Policemen were injured as
agitating UDMF cadres? hurled petrol bombs at Policemen in Jamunaha
border in Nepalgunj town of Banke District.
The tripartite talks among the
ruling coalition partners, the main opposition party and the agitating
UDMF scheduled were postponed indefinitely with the Government
and the agitating parties blaming each other for the postponement.
NC youth leader and central member
Gagan Thapa addressing a pressure-creating rally organized by
NC in Kathmandu said that the need to give way out to the protracted
Madhes unrest.
|
December 3 |
Eight UDMF cadres were injured
in Police firing as clashes erupted between Police and UDMF cadres
in a mass assembly organized by the later at the Nawalpur section
of the East-West Highway in Sarlahi District.
Two persons were injured as cadres
of UDMF manhandled staffs of NHRC and torched a vehicle they were
riding in Sarlahi District. The vehicle was also completely destroyed
in the fire.
More than two dozen HURPES activists
including veteran Krishna Pahadi were arrested in front of the
Kathmandu-based Indian Embassy for staging a sit-in in front of
the Embassy protesting India?s unofficial blockade on Nepal after
promulgation of the new Constitution on September 20.
Major three political parties
at a meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in
Kathmandu, decided to forward the constitution amendment bill
only after securing the consent of agitating UDMF.
Former Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai, who is leading a campaign to create a new force, urged
the major parties to address the concerns of agitating Madhesi
and Tharu parties.
|
December 4 |
Three major parties drafted a
three-point proposal to be tabled during the major parties? talks
with the agitating Madhesi parties. They decided to begin the
process of amending the new constitution through the Constitution
Amendment Bill registered by the erstwhile NC-led Government regarding
proportional inclusion and delineation of election constituencies
on the basis of population.
The scheduled tripartite talks
among the ruling coalition, the main opposition NC and the agitating
UDMF could not take place as the UDMF leaders did not attend the
meeting citing their busy schedule.
NHRC during an emergency meeting
of the commissioners called back all the monitoring teams it has
deployed to monitor the human rights situation during the ongoing
agitations in Madhes Districts.
Unveiling the report prepared
by three-member team of the HURON revealed that more than 48 persons,
including security personnel, were killed and more than 1000 people
were injured till November 25 in the agitation in various Districts
in the southern plains.
|
December 5 |
Police arrested a village Secretary
of Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist, identified as Sankha Narayan
Shrestha for arson attack on a truck at Kalu Pandey road in Dhading
District during a general strike on November 29.
UDMF in a meeting with the three
major parties NC, CPN-UML and UCPN-M, rejected the three-point
proposal put forth by the three parties saying it was vague, did
not address the UDMF?s 11-point demand and also the Government
had not made any progress in creating conducive environment for
talks by implementing its promises.
|
December 6 |
Agitating MPs representing the
UDMF foiled the Governments plan to table the Constitution Amendment
Bill in Parliament. The MPs went to the well of the House and
chanted slogans demanding that all their concerns be addressed.
The Speaker postponed the House meeting until 11:00am of December
7.
Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN-Maoist
organized a mass demonstration against the border blockade in
Damauli city of Tanahun District. The participants shouted slogans
demanding an end to the border blockade.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Federal Affairs and Local Development Kamal Thapa speaking
at a press conference organized by the Ministry urged all political
parties, civil society members, intellectuals and the general
public to support the Government's special awareness campaign
on the new constitution, schedule to launch on December 7, successful.
|
December 7 |
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated
a national-level awareness campaign on the new constitution with
the aim to familiarize the general public with the new constitution
and dispel misconceptions especially among the marginalized communities
that the new statute discriminates against them.
CPN-UML lawmakers and leaders
representing the Tarai at a CPN-UML national gathering in Sauraha
village in Chitwan District pointed out that misconception among
people about contents of the constitution had encouraged the agitation
in Madhes.
|
December 8 |
29 UCPN-M cadres joined Baburam
Bhattarai-led 'new political power' in Parbat District. Issuing
a statement, the cadres said that they decided to desert UCPN-M
accusing its Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal forming the party's District
committee unilaterally.
NMSA severed ties with the agitating
UDMF claiming that the struggle had caused humanitarian crisis
in the country. Coordinator of NMSA Samim Miya Ansari said that
the UDMF had committed in writing that it would raise the issues
of Muslims but it deceived them.
Leaders of UDMF during a meeting
with India?s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Foreign
Secretary S Jaishankar in New Delhi told that the Nepali Government
was not serious about holding talks with the UDMF and the three-point
proposal mooted by the major parties did not meet their demands.
Former Speaker and Senior Advocate
Daman Nath Dhungana during a discussion with local journalists
in Birgunj town in Parsa District blamed the Government for allowing
the current deadlock to stretch by wrongly interpreting the situation
and problems of Madhes.
UDMF leader and Chairman of Sadhbhawana
Party Rajendra Mahata at interaction program in New Delhi warned
of dire consequences if the Madhes protests are not success.
|
December 10 |
Police arrested 12 cadres of Madhesi
Force in course of staging torch rally at Gaur town in Rautahat
District. All the cadres had deserted UCPN-M party along with
Baburam Bhattarai.
NC lawmakers obstructed the Parliament
meeting for not including the Constitution Amendment Bill registered
by the erstwhile Sushil Koirala-led Government.
UDMF rejected the three major
parties? proposal to allow the passage of the Constitution Amendment
Bill and settle the question of provincial boundaries within three
months through a political mechanism.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli speaking
at a function organized by the NHRC said that the Government is
committed to respecting human rights and that non-state actors
also should show equal respect for such rights.
Minister of Home Affairs Shakti
Basnet said that the Government would take necessary steps at
the earliest to resolve the Madhes issues even though the Madhesi
leaders were staying away from dialogue and the country was pushed
to witness a crisis.
|
December 11 |
NC obstructed the Parliament to
table the Reconstruction Authority Bill demanding simultaneous
inclusion of the Constitution Amendment Bill in House business.
UDMF cadres demonstrated forming
a human chain along the 42-kilometre road-section from Gaur to
Chandranigahapur. The demonstrators demanded that the Government
to immediately address the issues of Madhes and end the ongoing
agitation.
NBA, after the meeting of the
43rd NBA Executive Council held in Lalitpur District urged the
Parliament and political parties to make no delays on the Constitution
Amendment on the basis of proportionate inclusion ensured by the
interim constitution.
FIMA submitted a memorandum including
nine-point demands to the Government. One of the demands is related
to the number of provinces in the Tarai. Other demands are that
two states should be formed in the Tarai and provisions with regard
to citizenship, inclusive and proportional representation should
retain as per previous interim constitution.
|
December 13 |
NC again obstructed the meeting
of the Parliament protesting to removal of the Constitution Amendment
Bill registered by previous NC-led Government from the business
schedule of the House.
The tripartite talks between the
ruling parties, principal opposition NC and the agitating UDMF,
attended by top leaders from each side, ended mainly because the
NC wanted to table both the bills Constitution Amendment Bill
and Reconstruction Authority Bill together in the Parliament which
the UDMF rejected.
|
December 14 |
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Defence Bhim Rawal said that the country was facing a humanitarian
crisis due to the opposing stances taken by the main opposition
NC and agitating UDMF.
FSF-N Chairman Upendra Yadav said
that the UDMF would withdraw its agitation immediately if the
Government implemented an 11-point agreement reached with Madhesi
parties.
|
December 15 |
11 cadres of UDMF arrested in
Birgunj town of Parsa District. The arrestees are SP members Shiba
Patel, Krishn Patel, Nejmudin Samani and TMDP members Rmtulah
Khan, Jtashankar Gupta, Dhani Patel, Ramspa Sakur Aalam, Bijay
Patel, Anand Chaturbedi, Moti Sah and Binye Sarraf.
A team headed by MJF-L Chairman
and Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar met Prime Minister
KP Sharma Oli at Baluwatar, Kathmandu and urged him to implement
the eight-point agreement.
Bill on First Amendment of Constitution
of Nepal and Bill on Reconstruction of Earthquake Affected Structures
were tabled at the Legislature Parliament despite objection from
the agitating UDMF.
|
December 16 |
60 cadres of UDMF and 12 Policemen
were injured as the UDMF cadres staged demonstration over President
Bidhya Devi Bhandari?s visit to the Janaki temple in Janakpur
city of Dhanusa District.
An unidentified assailant hurled
petrol bomb at Dish Home Control Unit office in Bhaisepati in
Lalitpur District. Police suspects that the Netra Bikram Chand-led
CPN-Maoist might have carried out the attack on the television
network for airing Indian news Channel.
TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur
and SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato joined a sit-in at the Indo-Nepal
border point near Birgunj of Parsa District as the Government
tabled the Bill on First Amendment of Constitution of Nepal and
the Bill on Reconstruction of Earthquake Affected Structures without
its consent.
|
December 17 |
UDMF leader and SP Chairman Rajendra
Mahato said "The Government has not been able to address
our demands though we have lifted blockade in all check points
except Birgunj. UDMF is preparing for stern protests by imposing
blockade in all border points from Friday (December 18)."
Manish Suman, general secretary
of SP said ?All talks will remain irrelevant unless the major
parties come up with a common stance vis-a-vis their 11-point
demands.?
|
December 18 |
UDMF has stepped up agitation
in the Districts of Bara and Parsa to press the Government and
three major parties to meet their demands. They also forced closure
of markets.
Major political parties decided
to wait for the agitating Madhes-based political parties to join
the deliberations on constitution amendment proposal till December
23.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli speaking
at a gathering organized by the CPN-UML in Kailali District said
that the ongoing agitation of the Madhes-based parties was ?meaningless?
as the demands of the Madhesi community had already been addressed
by the new constitution.
|
December 19 |
In an informal meeting with top
NC in Katmandu, Chairpersons of FSF-N Upendra Yadav and TMDP Mahantha
Thakur rejected the main opposition?s proposal of dealing with
the Constitution Amendment Bill first and all other issues later.
|
December 20 |
An 18-year-old school boy was
killed in Police firing as UDMF cadres clashed with Policemen
in Gaur town of Rautahat District. The deceased has been identified
as Sekh Tabarej, a tenth grader at the local Juddha Higher Secondary
School. 24 agitators and 17 Policemen were injured in the clash.
Cadres of UDMF vandalized the
Land Revenue Office in Lahan, the District headquarters of Siraha.
The agitating cadres accused the office staff of working for commission
and defying the UDMF-announced bandh.
Government at an emergency cabinet
meeting held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu decided to form the political
mechanism to address the demands put forward by the agitating
Madhes-based parties regarding provincial demarcations.
FIMA, an alliance of Sharat Singh
Bhandari-led NMSP, Rajkishor Yadav-led MJF-R, Anil Kumar Jha-led
NSP and Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta-led TMNC warned of intensify
its agitation.
|
December 21 |
In Rautahat District, students,
backed by the UDMF cadres continued to protest the death of a
school student in Police firing during Gaur protests, defying
the curfew order. Three area Police offices of Gangapipra, Katahariya
and Bankul in the District were attacked and vandalized.
In Parsa District, UDMF leaders
and cadres organized a rally brandishing sticks to protest the
killing of the school student during Gaur demonstration in Birgunj
town.
In Sarlahi District, UDMF cadres
torched two Government offices - DDWDO and DWCO - at Malangwa,
the headquarters of the District.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli while
inaugurating the CPN-UML?s Second Sunsari District Council Meeting
warned that no one airing secessionist remarks would be spared.
|
December 22 |
UDMF said that the three-point
proposal presented to it by the Government on December 21 for
resolving the ongoing political crisis, is unclear, vague and
incomplete.
Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal said that consensus could be forged on an eight-province
model by forming a separate province having disputed Jhapa, Morang,
Sunsari and some other Districts.
|
December 23 |
UDMF cadres set a truck ablaze
in Garuda in Rautahat District. The good-laden truck that was
en route to Jitpur of Bara was set on fire at West Mahamadpur,
200 metres away from Methur Chok.
UDMF cadres set ablaze Indian
register jeep in Bankul of Rautahat District.
Preliminary discussion on the
First Amendment of Constitution scheduled for today was deferred
by four days till December 27 after main NC and agitating UDMF
sought time for negotiations, stating that talks are heading in
a positive direction.
UCPN-M restructured the party
by reorganizing the party committees based on seven provinces
of the new constitution. The party has formed its seven provincial
committees and nominated heads of the committees dissolving its
14 state committees that were in practice ever since the insurgency
era.
|
December 24 |
NC President Sushil Koirala said
that it would take maximum initiatives to take the talks with
the agitating UDMF to the conclusion to end the existing political
deadlock.
Tharuwat Struggle Committee in
a press release threatened to intensify its stir if the Government
did not address its demands by amending the constitution.
|
December 25 |
Agitating UDMF cadres obstructed
the gathering of Yuwa Sangh, the youth wing of CPN-UML, organized
at different locations of Saptari District.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal met
UDMF leader Mahantha Thakur and told him to withdraw the ongoing
agitation and seek negotiated settlement of issues but Thakur
rejected his proposal.
Former Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai, who is leading a campaign to form a new force in the
country, urged the leaders of UDMF not allow the passage of the
constitution amendment bill unless its language was changed to
accommodate their concerns.
Chairman of the TRC, Surya Kiran
Gurung, speaking at an interaction program organized by the TRC
in Jajarkot District to collect suggestions from the war victims,
journalists and civil society said that denying justice to the
victims of the armed conflict would be a misfortunate chapter
for the country.
|
December 26 |
SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato, one
of the key leaders of the agitating UDMF, was injured in a clash
with Police at Rani Customs point in Morang District. Mahato sustained
injuries on his head and limbs.
|
December 27 |
25 UDMF cadres and five Policemen
were injured in clash with Police as the former staged a rally
protesting the attack on SP Chairman Rajendra Mahato in Janakpur
city of Dhanusa District.
UDMF cadres set ablaze a vehicle
(Ba 13 Cha 495) belonging to Kantipur Publications at Parwanipur
Chowk of Bara District. The vehicle was completely damaged in
the arson before Police doused the fire.
The preliminary discussion on
the Bill on First Amendment of Constitution could not begin due
to lack of quorum in the House meeting as only 124 lawmakers were
present. It requires the presence of at least 149 members to meet
the quorum.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
for Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Chitra Bahadur KC said
that some political parties were disseminating wrong information
to the people about the new constitution by misinterpreting it
and asked the commoners not to rely on such false messages.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
said that the agitating UDMF will agree to resolve the demarcation
issue through political mechanism within three months if the current
amendment bill is revised and a concrete proposal for provincial
delineations is put forward.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad
Sitaula ruled out the possibility of changing the proposed provincial
boundary as demanded by agitating UDMF leaders.
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December 28 |
Madhesi cadres set fire to two bricks-loaded trucks
at Garuda Bazaar in Rautahat District. The arson attack has completely
destroyed the engine of both the trucks.
Parliament began discussion on the Bill on First
Amendment of Constitution of Nepal, while lawmakers from agitating
UDMF continued with their sloganeering in the well of the House.
The meeting of three major parties CPN-UML, UCPN-M
and NC decided to come up with another common stance after the
agitating Madhesi parties rejected their three-point proposal.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli accepting a memorandum
from Reporters Club Chairman Rishi Dhamala said that the stakeholders
were close to finding a resolution to Madhes problems.
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December 29 |
69 persons including 45 SF personnel and 24 protesters
were injured as cadres of agitating UDMF clashed with the SF personnel
at Janaki Chok near the Janaki Temple here in Janakpurdham city
of Dhanusa District.
The lawmakers continued deliberation on the 1st
Amendment Bill of Nepal's Constitution at the Parliament and urged
both the agitating parties and top leaders from the ruling and
opposition parties for their support to endorse the constitution
amendment bill through consensus.
Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar
talking to media persons at Biratnagar Airport said that resolution
of the ongoing Tarai issues could be found from proper constitution
amendment.
Chairman of TMDP Mahantha Thakur said that the
UDMF might consider changes in their agitation, including obstruction
on Nepal-India border, to press the Government to address their
demands.
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December 30 |
Cadres of the Madhesi parties hurled stones at
the residence of former Prime Minister and CPN-UML senior leader
Madhav Kumar Nepal, in Gaur town of Rautahat District.
UDMF organized a lathi rally in Birgunj in Parsa
District. Around 3,000 cadres participated in the rally. The Front
shut all shops, offices and obstructed roads in the market area
in preparation of the demonstration.
NC negotiator Mahesh Acharya said the CPN-UML
should play a proactive role to end the Tarai unrest, but Prime
Minister KP Sharma Oli was not doing the same. "Talks are not
happening due to UML's indifference," he said.
A UCPN-M source said the CPN-UML was proving to
be the stumbling block to a negotiated settlement to end the Tarai
unrest. "I don't think that this government will resolve the Tarai
unrest," the source added.
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December 31 |
Parliament extended deliberations on the Constitution
Amendment Bill till January 3 in the hope of reaching an agreement
with the agitating Madhesi parties.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli addressing a meeting
organized by the CPN-UML Mechi Zonal Committee in Jhapa District
said that allocating the electoral constituencies on the basis
of population is inappropriate.
Minister for Home Affairs Shakti Bahadur Basnet
said that the problem of Tarai unrest will be resolved with the
Constitution Amendment proceedings in Parliament and that will
pave the way for import management at the border points.
UCPN-M Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal met the
TMDP Chairman Mahantha Thakur and urged him to settle all issues
in three months, including the issues of proportional inclusion,
electoral constituencies and provincial boundaries, but the latter
rejected it.
Vice-President of the NC, Ram Chandra Poudel at
a program organized on the occasion of the 40th national reconciliation
day in Rupandehi District said that the constitution promulgated
from the CA has incorporated all the rights of the Madhesi community.
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