Nepal’s political crisis sparks concern
KATHMANDU:
Nepal’s political leaders were locked in talks on Friday to try to form a new government amid mounting international concern about the country’s faltering peace process.
Major disagreements have emerged between the three biggest political parties over who should succeed outgoing prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who stepped down on Wednesday under intense pressure from the opposition Maoists.
His 13-month term in office was marred by a series of power struggles with the Maoists, who have lobbied aggressively for a return to power since their government fell in May 2009 after a row with the president.
The former rebels, who fought a 10-year civil war with the state before entering mainstream politics and winning elections in 2008, say that as the largest party in parliament they should lead a power-sharing government.
But just six days before a deadline to form a national consensus government expires, rival parties have ruled out joining any administration led by the Maoists.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement urging the parties to “intensify their efforts towards the formation of a consensus government” and implement commitments made in the 2006 peace agreement. Four years after the war ended, many parts of the peace deal have still not been fulfilled.
The US said it was “vitally important” to make progress in the peace process and called the prime minister’s resignation an opportunity to move the process forward and bring stability to Nepal.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2010.
Nepal’s political leaders were locked in talks on Friday to try to form a new government amid mounting international concern about the country’s faltering peace process.
Major disagreements have emerged between the three biggest political parties over who should succeed outgoing prime minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who stepped down on Wednesday under intense pressure from the opposition Maoists.
His 13-month term in office was marred by a series of power struggles with the Maoists, who have lobbied aggressively for a return to power since their government fell in May 2009 after a row with the president.
The former rebels, who fought a 10-year civil war with the state before entering mainstream politics and winning elections in 2008, say that as the largest party in parliament they should lead a power-sharing government.
But just six days before a deadline to form a national consensus government expires, rival parties have ruled out joining any administration led by the Maoists.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement urging the parties to “intensify their efforts towards the formation of a consensus government” and implement commitments made in the 2006 peace agreement. Four years after the war ended, many parts of the peace deal have still not been fulfilled.
The US said it was “vitally important” to make progress in the peace process and called the prime minister’s resignation an opportunity to move the process forward and bring stability to Nepal.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2010.