Consensus on Chief Justice-led government in Nepal soon – Sources

Nepal’s four major political parties inched closer to a deal to form a Chief Justice-led election government and were expected to settle thorny issues in a couple of days, sources said on Tuesday.
“We have sorted out most of the differences regarding formation of an election government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi,” Nepali Congress leader Ramsharan Mahat said.
“The four major political forces have agreed to make necessary arrangements for clearing legal hurdles and amending the interim Constitution so as to pave way for the formation of an election government led by Chief Justice,” Mahat said.
“However, some differences still persist on setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for providing transitional justice and the issue relating to army rank to be provided to the Maoist combatants wishing to get integrated into Nepal Army,” he said.
The Maoists were seeking blanket amnesty to all those who have committed human rights violations during the decade-long conflict, while establishing the ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission’, which was opposed by the main opposition parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, he said.
Similarly, the Maoists were demanding at least one full Colonel and two Lietinent Colonel posts to their former combatants who were wishing to be integrated into the national army despite reservation by the opposition parties, Mahat said.
“Now, we have come very close to a deal on these issues and a Chief Justice-led government is likely to be announced in a day or two,” Mahat claimed.
The five hour long meeting attended by UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and Joint Madhesi Front ended inconclusively this evening as they could not decide on thorny issues and the parties have agreed to meet again tomorrow to sort out differences, party sources said.
Sadbhavana Party President and Health Minister Rajendra Mahato has claimed that the Chief Justice-led government will be announced as the political parties are most likely to forge consensus on key issues on Wednesday.
“Consensus efforts among political parties have reached its final stage and a new election government led by the Chief Justice will be announced soon,” he said.
Nepal plunged into a constitutional and political crisis in May last year as the Constituent Assembly was dissolved without drafting the constitution. The crisis further deepened as Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai could not conduct new polls despite announcing the election date in November last year.

Now major political forces of Nepal have in principle agreed to form an election government led by sitting Chief Justice and conduct the Constituent Assembly election at the earliest for drafting the constitution.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has fixed Thursday as date for final hearing on two separate cases filed by different lawyers challenging the decision of the major parties to form the election government under the Chief Justice.

Source: Zee news – 12/03/2013 (http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/consensus-on-cj-led-government-in-nepal-soon-sources_834931.html)