Military

New Delhi, Sept 26, IRNA
Nepal-Maoist-Arms management
Nepal's ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) has decided to hold summit talks with the Maoists on Thursday to finalize a draft interim constitution and immediately start the arms management process.

After an hour-long meeting, the leaders reached consensus on the date for the summit talks. They also decided that the arms management process should be pushed forward within the framework of the five points mentioned in an invitation sent to the UN on Aug 9 by the government and the Maoists, Kantipur reported from Kathmandu.

The alliance leaders likewise decided to finalize the draft interim constitution on Thursday's summit talks with the rebel leaders. The draft was handed in by the Laxman Aryal-led commission, but crucial political issues remain unsettled.

The leaders also decided to set up an all-party mechanism for further work on the Citizenship Bill, which had been tabled in the House of Representatives a couple of weeks ago. The House is yet to endorse it.

Some alliance members like the People's Front Nepal (KC group) and Nepal Workers-Peasants Party have protested some provisions of the bill, especially the cut-off year for citizenship eligibility.

The draft bill proposes the grant of citizenship to all those living in Nepal since at least 1990.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is reported to have expressed his being in favor of restructuring the present parliament so as to ensure representation of the Maoists and civil society.

"In my view, we should think of giving space to others in the present House and convert it into an interim House," a leader quoted Koirala as saying.

The leaders also discussed the king's status until constituent assembly elections are held, but no uniform opinion was reached on Monday.

CPN-UML and Nepal Workers Peasants Party leaders stressed the need to hold a referendum to decide the king's fate, but Koirala argued that a referendum would activate a now-passive king.

"Some will vote for the monarchy and the king can seek his space on the basis of those votes," the leader quoted Koirala as saying.

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