TIKA R PRADHAN
KATHMANDU: Unified CPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said regrouping of Maoist combatants and preparation of the first draft of the constitution were possible by August 31.
In an exclusive interview with THT, Chairman Dahal said he was confident to say — on the basis of discussions with other parties and decision of his party’s central committee meeting — that the parties were very much in the position to achieve the goal.
Stating that his party will resume talks with other parties in a day or two, Dahal said, “We can forge agreement on three issues — determining the number of combatants to be integrated, modality and rehabilitation package — in a day.” He said regrouping will begin as soon as the parties forge consensus on the three tasks as survey teams were ready and offices had already been set up at all cantonments as well as in Kathmandu. “As we are all ready with the technical aspects, regrouping is possible in a month.”
On preparing the first draft of the constitution, the Maoist chairman said the parties were close to consensus on forms of government with executive president, which could be finalised in one or two sittings. “It’s not that difficult to forge agreement on election system as all the parties, in principle, agree on proportional and inclusive election system.”
He added that the debate though existed on the approach to make the election system proportional and inclusive. “The state restructuring issue is a bit complex though,” admitted Dahal but simplified, “Even if we fail to forge consensus, we’ll put all the views in the index and take the decision taken by the majority to the people through the first draft of the statute. It’s that simple, I suppose.”
On party’s internal struggle, he said the central committee has yet to take a decision on handing over the leadership of the parliamentary party. “The party, however, has unanimously decided to send Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai to lead the national consensus government,” said Dahal, who conceded that the CC meeting recently witnessed some intense moments with ‘all the leaders ganging up against me.
Thus spake Dahal
• Internal struggle intense than ever
• Cabinet reshuffle party’s right and it won’t affect five-point deal
• State restructuring a complex issue
• I have never been in minority
• Our work plan does not have a concrete proposal
• All the PLAs must be fit for security forces
• Agreement on three issues — number, modality and rehabilitation package— possible in a day
• The changes in society will prove that my leadership was right
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