CJ-led Government-17

Siddhi B Ranjitkar

Taking the offer made by the four-party political mechanism, the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya set up a so-called high-level (Nepalese political leaders put themselves at the high level) talk team for talking to both the government and the four-party political mechanism. Previously, Chairman of the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya Mohan Vaidhya had publicly declared that he did neither recognize the four-party political mechanism nor the government because both of them were illegally set up by the four political parties; he said that he would talk to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, as only the president remained constitutional. The positive development in the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya has been that its leaders have recognized the government and the four-party political mechanism. How far these leaders would be talking to the four-party political mechanism and the government remains to be seen.

The day after the announcement of the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya setting up a talk team, speaking at the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Kathmandu on July 9, 2013, one of the two secretaries of the party Dev Gurung told the reporters that his party would not talk to the leaders of the four-party political mechanism with the conditions they have set on not postponing the elections scheduled for the November 19, 2013, and not changing the current government.

Chairman of CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya Mohan Vaidhya and his deputy CP Gajurel flew to Beijing on Monday night, July 8, 2013. Vaidhya and Gajurel had kept their visit to China so confidential even their close-party members knew their visit only through the media report. Certainly, nobody knows the reason for the unannounced visit of Mr. Vaidhya and his deputy to China. Only the media guesses and assumptions are available.

Some media said that Vaidhya had deliberately left Kathmandu to escape from talking to Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, as Minister Khurshid was to press Vaidhya to participate in the elections. I don’t know it is a fact or simple the guess of the reporters.

In the past, after splitting up the UCPN-Maoist, and then setting up another CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya, Mohan Vaidhya had visited China and came back with the idea of the federalism might disintegrate Nepal into pieces because the Chinese leaders had told him so. However, Chinese leaders denied saying any such things to Vaidhya while he was in China.

This time too, Vaidhya is in China to receive the ‘gaitri’ means secret mantra not only for him but for his deputy, too. He needs such mantra from the renowned leaders, as he has not been able to graduate to be a leader. He has no stable mind. He has to gradually give in to the four-party political mechanism. He has already set up a talk team to talk to the four-party mechanism, and the government. At one time he refused to recognize both the government and the four-party political mechanism stating they are unconstitutional.

On July 6, 2013, leaders of the four-party political mechanism have announced that they are ready to amend the 11-point agreement, the four major political parties such as UCPN-Maoist, NC, CPN-UML, and UDMF have reached to issue the 25-point Removal of Constitutional Hurdles Ordinance to pave the way for setting up a neutral government headed by the sitting chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, and even to the 25-point Removal of Constitutional Hurdles Ordinance, and hold an all-party round table conference if the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya leaders are to have dialogues with the four-party political mechanism, and the government. However, the four-party political mechanism has been adamant that it will not agree on dissolving the current government headed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Nepal, and on postponing the elections scheduled for November 19, 2013.

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club Nepal in Kathmandu on July 7, 2013, Chairman of CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya Mohan Vaidhya has said that his party has set up a five-members talks steam under his leadership comprising Vice-chairman CP Gajurel, general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal and two secretaries Netra Bikram Chand and Dev Gurung. He called it a ‘High Level Talk Team.” How high we don’t know. Nepalese leaders put themselves at a very high position calling their team as high level. The four political parties have called their political mechanism a ’High Level Political Mechanism.’ It is only a four-party political mechanism. However, they have rights to call it high or very high or extremely high.

Mr. Vaidhya also has said that the talks to be held with the government should be unconditional. He simply has ignored the conditions such as not tearing down the current government and not postponing the elections the four-party political mechanism has set. He also has said that he wants to have a round table conference to set a new process for holding the elections to a new Constituent Assembly. Thus, Mr. Vaidhya has been living in his own dream rather than the reality of the offer made by the four-party political mechanism.

Mr. Vaidhya has said that he will take the 33 political parties to talk to the government. However, he has not disclosed his agenda for talks with the government. Probably, he has rushed to China to get the mantra from the Chinese leaders probably for putting on the agenda for talks with the government in Nepal.

In the past, Vaidhya had been adamant that he would not talk to anybody except for the head of state, as everybody and every institution set up by the four major political parties had been unconstitutional after the demise of the Constituent Assembly. However, the constitutional head has not responded positively to Vaidhya. Now, Vaidhya has been ready to talking to the government once he has labeled it as an unconstitutional one. Does Vaidhya understand the constitution? It is not surprising that he has to rush to China whenever he has to make critical decisions.

Chairman of the four-party political mechanism Bijay Gacchedar has held talks with Chairman of Interim Election Council of Minister Khil Raj Regmi concerning the list of items for talking to the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya. Both of them have agreed to keep open every possible option.

Some political leaders think there is no rationality to talk to the irrational leaders, as the leaders of the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya demand the scrapping of the elections, dissolution of the government set up for holding elections, and annulling of the 25-point Removal of Constitutional Hurdles Ordinance, and setting up of an all-party government for holding the elections. So, they have doubts that talks will be ever held with the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya leaders.

Keeping the government and the election date intact, the four-party political mechanism has been ready to talk to the CPN-Maoist about any other issues.

Speaking at the Reporters' Club in Kathmandu on Sunday, July 7, 2013, general secretary of NC Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that any alternative to the current government could not be imagined. "This interim government was constituted to hold the Constituent Assembly (CA) election and its alternative cannot be imagined," he said, adding that the parties would not be able to form a next government for four years if the present one were to tear down. He also said that no compromise on holding the CA elections on November 19, and mixed-election system would be made; the current Interim Election Council of Ministers would hold the elections. "The major political parties are ready to hold talks with the election-opposing forces but without postponing the elections," he said. "We cannot imagine the postponement of the November polls." "To oppose elections is to prevent people from becoming empowered and exercising their rights," he said.  "However we are ready for the roundtable conference as demanded by the CPN-Maoist." (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com)

General Secretary Sitaula also made it clear that the parties were ready to make necessary amendments to the past agreements reached among the four major political parties if the CPN-Maoist were to participate in the November-19 elections. He said that CPN-Maoist leader Mohan Vaidhya was one of the witnesses to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord that made the provision for a Constituent Assembly to craft a new constitution; so, no one should oppose the formation of a CA through the elections to craft a new constitution, and the enforcement of the past agreements.

Speaking at an event held in Sandhikharka, Arghakhanchi Sunday, July 7, 2013 to welcome new entrants to his party, UCPN-Maoist central member also the former minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said that elections to the CA would be held on November 19, as the strength of anti-election elements trying to obstruct the elections was very weak. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com)

On July 6, 2013, the top leaders of the major four political powers said that they were ready to call an all-party conference, reconstitute the High-Level Political Committee (HLPC), and amend the 11-point agreement and 25-point order if the CPN-Maoist was really committed to taking part in the upcoming CA elections. After the meeting, Vice-chairman of UCPN-Maoist Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that the HLPC could be reconstructed based on the decision of the all-party conference instead of bringing or including other parties' representatives on it. He also said that some points of the 11-point agreement and 25-point order issued by the President to remove the constitutional difficulties could be amended by keeping the major points intact if the CPN-Maoist were to join in the talks for ensuring its participation in the November-19-CA elections. Vice-chairman Shrestha said that talks could be held through any other processes and procedures if the CPN-Maoist leaders were reluctant to hold formal talks with the HLPC. He said that the meeting decided to remain open, liberal and flexible to create an election-friendly environment after holding talks with the CPN-Maoist. The meeting also decided to work firmly for the CA elections concluding that the current government would hold the CA elections in the slated time. (Source: Gorkhapatraonline.com)

Speaking at a seminar on “The decision of CPN-Maoist’s Pokhara meeting and upcoming CA election” held by Martin Chautari in Kathmandu on Tuesday, July 9, 2013, Secretary of CPN-Maoist Dev Gurung has said that his party is ready to sit at the negotiating table to talk about the party’s participation in the upcoming Constituent Assembly elections on certain conditions. He has made it clear that the four parties have requested them to sit for talks by setting the conditions on not annulling the current government and not postponing the CA election scheduled for November 19. “So our party is free to set conditions on other things,” Gurung said, adding that the 25-point ordinance issued by the president to remove constitutional hurdles for paving the way to the formation of the current government is "unconstitutional” and should first be corrected. He further said that a sovereign and all-powerful Constituent Assembly (CA) should be formed if the parties were to draft a new constitution through a CA. (Source: Nepalnews.com, July 10, 2013)

Speaking at a press conference held by the Press Chautari Nepal in Attariya of the Kailali district on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, Vice-chairman of CPN-UML Bam Dev Gautam has ruled out the possibility of a round-table conference, as demanded by the CPN-Maoist, and has said that a few parties refusing to go to polls won’t make any difference and the elections will be held as scheduled. Vice-chairman Gautam also said that the demand of the CPN-Maoist for dissolving the current government and annulling the 11-point agreement, and the 25-point ordinance issued by the president to remove constitutional hurdles as preconditions for talks can’t be accepted. (Source: Nepalnews.com, July 10, 2013)

Protesting against the unilateral decision made on setting up a talk team by the CPN-Maoist, the 32-fringe political parties going along with the CPN-Maoist for opposing the elections to a new CA has ignored the joint meeting called by the Secretary of CPN-Maoist Dev Gurung on July 10, 2013. Secretary Gurung called a meeting to discuss a talk team formed by his party to hold talks with the Interim Election Council of Ministers. However, all the allies of the CPN-Maoist in its anti-government campaign simply snubbed the Gurung's request to attend the meeting. They said that any meeting could be held only after chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Vaidhya currently in China returned home. With the formation of a talk team, the relation between the CPN-Maoist and the 32 parties soured. The smaller parties have stood against the formation of a talk team and insisted on continuing the street protest programs. The 33-party alliance has been demanding to scrap the 11-point agreement and 25-point ordinance, and form a government under the political leadership for holding the CA elections. (Source: Gorkhaptraonline.com, July 10, 2013)

Speaking at an event held in Kathmandu on July 10, 2013, senior leader of NC Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the Constituent Assembly elections will be held on November 19 at any cost. Deuba has said that the polls are sure to be held as the Election Commission and the security agencies are fully prepared to carry out their tasks. He has claimed that the parties are hopeful to have a negotiated solution on the demands of the protesting political parties, especially that of the CPN-Maoist. (Source: Nepalnews.com, July 10, 2013)

Speaking at the interaction event held by the Madheshi reporters in Kathmandu on July 11, 2013, Chairman of Madheshi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal Upendra Yadav has made it clear that his party and he are not on the political front headed by the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya that has been against holding elections to a new CA; his party is for holding elections but the media have been wrongly portraying it as the opponent of the elections. (Source: Gorkhapatra, July 12, 2013)

Speaking at the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu on July 11, 2013, Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel doubted the possibility of holding the elections to a new CA in November 2013 in view of the activities of the political parties. According to Mr. Pokharel the announcement of holding the elections in November 2013 is only a show; in fact, the four major political parties want to hold the elections in Chaitra (March/April). The four major political parties alone will not be able to hold the elections in November, as declared by the government; they need to hold a round table conference, and they need to build a new consensus on holding the elections, and on formulating new rules and regulations to implement the consensus. They need to complete these tasks in the next 45 days to hold elections in November, which may be next to impossible, according to Mr. Pokharel. (Source: Nepalnews.com, July 11, 2013)

The Election Commission (EC) has given final touch to the election code of conduct and is to enforce it on July 22. The EC has done away with some of the provisions it had proposed earlier including the restriction on the use of helicopters for the election campaign, and the disclosure of the assets of the candidates. According to the revised draft, candidates may use the chartered helicopters for campaigning in 11 remote districts such as Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Mustang, Manang, Kalikot, Bajura, Bajhang, Jajarkot and Solokhumbu. The EC has set the maximum expenditures of individual candidates for directly electing to a new CA at one million rupees (Rs). The expenditure set for the same in the last elections was Rs. 459,000. Similarly, the expenditure for the candidates to be elected through the proportional representations has increased to Rs 100,000 from Rs 50,000 in the last elections. (Source: Nepalnews.com, July 11, 2013)

Chairman of CPN-UML Jhalanath Khanal has said that the demand for dissolving the current government, and scrapping the 11-point agreement the four major political parties have reached, and annulling the 25-point Removal of Constitutional Hurdles Ordinance issued by the president put forward by the CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya cannot be met; only the demand for a round table conference can be met; a round table conference of all political parties will be held soon. Concerning the doubt of Former Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel about the possibility of holding elections in November, Chairman Khanal has said that the statement is of the man that has no right information. (Source: Gorkhapatra, July 13, 2013)

Chairman of CPN-Maoist-Vaidhya Mohan Vaidhya, and his deputy CP Gajurel returned home from China on Thursday, July 11, 2013. Deputy Chairman Gajurel has said that the Chinese leaders have been concerned with the lengthening of the transitional period in Nepal very much. It clearly indicates that the Chinese leaders must have told these Nepalese leaders while in China to participate in the elections rather than boycotting the elections and lengthening the transitional period in Nepal. However, Deputy Chairman Gajurel has said that his party will not take part in the elections in the current state of affairs.

At the same, time, Chairman Vaidhya has held an informal meeting with the State officials. It is another positive sign that the opposition leaders have been softening their stand on opposing the elections.

Nobody in this world even the Chinese leaders have seen it rational not to participate in the elections. Chairman Vaidhya and other political parties opposing the elections can do a favor to the nation participating in the elections, and they can help the country so entangled in the political mess getting out of it after the elections.

July 13, 2013