SPA inks 22-point agreement, Maoists to rejoin govt

Top leaders of the Seven-Party Alliance (SPA) on Sunday night have agreed to declare the country federal democratic republic through the parliament and enforce it through the first meeting of the elected Constituent Assembly.

According to Nepali Congress (NC) leader Mahesh Acharya, the Maoists will also rejoin the government.

As per the agreement, the Prime Minister will perform all responsibilities of the head of state until the CA formally ends the country's 240-year-old institution of the crown.

The parliament will be empowered through amendment in the constitution to end monarchy earlier if the king creates serious obstruction in the election process. For this, the parties have decided to amend Sub-clauses 1, 2, 3, 3(A) and 3 (B) of Article 159 of the constitution.

A cabinet meeting held late on Sunday also passed a constitution amendment proposal and registered it at the Parliament Secretariat.

SPA top leaders have agreed to hold the CA poll under mixed electoral system where 335 members or 55.74 percent of the 601-member assembly will be elected through proportional system while 39.9 or 240 members will be elected through first past the post system from 240 geographical constituencies. The remaining 4.32 percent or 26 members will be nominated by the prime minister. The nominations will also include members of minority groups who fail to elect any representative through both the systems.

"We, the party leaders, have taken these decisions keeping in view the national commitment to hold Constituent Assembly polls by this year end (end of Nepali year that is, mid-April 2008)," the SPA top leaders jointly stated in the agreement paper.

In the agreement paper signed Sunday, the Maoists have agreed to return all properties they seized from people during and after the insurgency within a month. A committee headed by Chief District Officer (CDO) will be set up for the implementation of the agreement. The Maoists have also agreed to stop collecting taxes and carrying out activities like extortion and intimidation.

The government will also release the pending amount for Maoist combatants in UN-monitored cantonments immediately and provide monthly allowance every month. As for the disqualified combatants, they will be sent home after paying their due allowance so far.

The government will take initiatives at the diplomatic level to releasing Maoists detained in foreign jails and the government will release all Maoists from jail by January 14.

A special cabinet committee will start discussion on integration of Maoist fighters. The government will take initiatives for acquiring national and international assistance to meet the financial liabilities required for reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and rehabilitation and relief for victims of the conflict.

Similarly, SPA has agreed to form an all-party committee to coordinate government functioning. The parties will head it turn-by-turn. It will also set up commissions agreed earlier to systematize the peace process, within a month. The Commissions include Disappearance Commission, Truth and Reconciliation Commission and State Restructuring Commissions. A separate High-level Peace Commission will be formed to work in coordination with the Peace Ministry.

The parties also agreed to add new provisions in the constitution for appointment of parliament's general secretary and fulfillment of the seats of parliament vacant due to death of members or other reasons, among others.