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ANOTHER MILESTONE TOWARDS PEACETuesday - 16th January 2007 |
| KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: It is another milestone for the country towards peace but it is a giant leap for the Maoists from people's war to parliament. A proud Krishna Bahadur Mahara, parliamentary leader of CPN (Maoist), led his 83-member team into the parliament hall that witnessed dissolution of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) and inauguration of Interim Legislature an hour apart Monday evening. An Interim Constitution promulgated by HoR earlier paved way for the formation of the new parliament that endorsed the constitution in its first session. And a coalition including the Maoist will soon be formed with the mandate to hold the constituent assembly elections. The 330-member House is likely to elect its Speaker on Wednesday when it convenes next. Though scheduled for today, the election could not be held as the seven political parties and the Maoist failed to agree on a consensus candidate. The Maoists' entr�e into the legislature was an event of attraction for all present there. The camera crew turned their lens towards the new comers, as they came at 8:50 p.m. on a single-file procession like a battalion of army, most of them in a grey-coloured jacket. Other top ranking Maoist leaders, including chairman Prachanda, second man Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and army wing chief Ram Bahadur Thapa alias Badal as well as most of the commanders, were present on the parapet. On the other hand, nominated members from other parties were seen busy exchanging greetings and congratulations in an exhilarating manner. At 9:25, Nepali Congress's Bal Bahadur Rai, the senior most leader by age, took oath of office and administered oath to all others. Rai chaired the first session of the new House that began at 11:05 and gave time for Mahara to speak. Mahara pledged cooperation from his party and asked all to continue unity until the achievements of the people's movement were institutionalised. "Otherwise, the tyrannical forces might take an advantage.� "This historical day marks the end of tyranny and beginning of a new Nepal,"he said. He said that though the present Interim Constitution was not complete, it could lead the country to the common goal of holding the constituent elections polls by mid-June 2007. "We hope to address the issues left out by this constitution through the constituent assembly.� He said that his party was committed to restructuring the state and achieving political and economic transformation. Chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Narayan Man Bijukchhe also emphasised on unity of all parties and said, "Together we can solve all our problems.� The session ended with endorsement of the Interim Constitution tabled by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula on behalf of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who left the hall earlier on health grounds. Earlier, the dissolved HoR unanimously approved the new constitution and promulgated it at 7:50. When the constitution was put to voting, all 185 members present there voted for it. Nine members were absent. The 205-seat House has only 194 members as some of them died and others expelled on charges of participating in the royal government. Speaker Subash Nembang informed that the HoR ran for 263 days from the day of its reinstatement on April 28. A total of 110 sessions were held in 96 days during the period. The House passed a number of historical documents, including the HoR Declaration of May 18 that curtailed most of the king's powers. Nembang said that the greatest achievement of the House was to weaken the tyrannical forces and strengthen people, the only source of state power. He ended the last session of the last parliament declaring both the Houses dissolved at 8:25. |
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