Even as Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and underground Maoists announced a cease-fire last month to negotiate an end to a communist insurgency that has claimed over 1,800 lives in nearly six years, both houses of parliament Tuesday rejected opposition proposals to withdraw ordinances to form an armed police force and appoint five regional administrators to contain Nepal’s worst internal rebellion.
Forty-two days after the ordinances were registered with the ongoing budget session of the legislature, government won its first battle to get parliamentary approval of the ordinances.
The government will now present the ordinances in parliament in the form of a bill. The ordinances have to be approved within 60 days after being registered in parliament. Late King Birendra issued the ordinances for the second time after they were not endorsed by parliament’s winter session when the entire opposition stalled house proceedings.
“The ordinances should not negate the atmosphere for talks to end the insurgency. Government is committed to a peaceful resolution of the insurgency. No stone will be left unturned while trying to find a solution to the conflict.”
“The ordinances had to be brought before parliament to give continuity to the armed police force that has already been established. Regional administrators have also been appointed,” Deuba told parliament. “The ordinances have been introduced to protect the democratic rights of people and they are not directed against anyone,” Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka said.
Immediate Maoist reaction to the government move was not immediately available but the rebels have opposed the ordinances. The National Assembly rejected the opposition move even though the government does not have a majority in the upper chamber of the bicameral legislature.
The House of Representatives rejected an opposition move by a majority vote amid a boycott by the main opposition UML and sloganeering by RPP members and three other left parties. The Nepal Sadbavana party supported the ruling party.
The ordinances were issued by the Girija Prasad Koirala government following dramatic Maoist attacks against police targets since September last year killing more than 200 policemen and decamping of large caches of arms and ammunition.
In a move to win over hearts and minds, soldiers deployed in the worst insurgency affected districts of Rukum and Rolpa have treated free of charge more 2,000 locals at health camps after recent deployment, an army announcement over Radio Nepal said Tuesday.