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Transparency needed to end Nepal crisis
The good news is that Nepal's major political parties have resumed talks to end the three month political crisis following dissolution of the Constituent Assembly without a constitution.
The good news is that Nepal's major political parties have resumed talks to end the three month political crisis following dissolution of the Constituent Assembly without a constitution.
But the bad news is that there's every possibility of these talks remaining confined to party offices and luxury hotels and failing to give any solution like so many times in the past.
On Wednesday, leaders of ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and opposition Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) met after an interlude.
They agreed that decision on fresh polls to elect a new CA or revival of the old one to promulgate the constitution would be taken by senior leaders of these parties.
However there's no guarantee that whatever decision these leaders take behind closed doors would be implemented or even accepted.
Earlier Madhesi parties, an important part of the ruling coalition, and nearly two dozen smaller parties from the dissolved CA were left out. They could disagree with the big three.
One important reason why Nepal's lawmakers failed to deliver the new constitution through the Constituent Assembly despite taking four years was lack of clarity and transparency.
Though the elected body comprising 601 representatives was entrusted with the job, it was hijacked by UCPN (M), NC, CPN (UML) and the conglomeration of Madhesi parties.
As these players took the process of constitution drafting outside the CA and got busy with deals on power sharing, lawmakers became insignificant and instability set in. The numerous deals, statements and counter-statements made by leaders from these parties added to the confusion.
Dashing hopes of some last minute miracle, these political players failed to cross the final hurdle and deliver the constitution. Attacks and counter-attacks on who is to be blamed have continued since.
These parties have again embarked on the same path. But unless they show transparency, the fresh talks could fail to end the impasse.
