A senior leader of the Maoists has criticized the government for making public the draft of peace accord without first consulting with them.
Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, second-in-command after chairman Prachanda in Maoist party hierarchy, told journalists on Monday that discussions have not yet been held in many provisions of the peace accord.
Dr. Bhattarai expressed dissatisfaction after Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula went to Dhulikhel in Kavre on Sunday afternoon to hand over the draft prepared by the Peace Committee. Sitaula also held an hour-long talk with Dr. Bhattarai.
“We also have prepared our draft of the same but we have not made its content public yet,” Dr. Bhattarai added. He, however, said the accord will be duly signed after discussions by the Prime Minister and Maoist chairman within the stipulated time of November 16 as per the November 8 agreement’s time schedule. According to Dr. Bhattarai, the peace accord will be a legally enforceable document signed by the government and the rebel.
The draft of the peace accord, prepared by the all party Peace Committee, includes provision about formally declaring the end of armed conflict in the country. The draft covers all aspects of ceasefire, human rights and peace.
Likewise, other provisions of the draft include the ones that propose to ban all kinds of activities such as extortion, abduction and movement of Maoist cadres in combat dress and public display of their arms. It also proposes to return properties and lands seized during the conflict and create environment to ease the return of displaced persons, among others. The draft also has provision as per which anyone found violating it would have to face punishment as per the state law.
The Peace Committee, which is headed by general secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) Ram Chandra Poudel, includes representatives from seven parties as well as other parties represented in the House of Representatives such as Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP), and other faction of People’s Front Nepal (PFN).