Nepal lawmakers to vote on charter despite opposition fury

KATHMANDU, Nepal – Nepal’s parliamentary speaker Sunday, January 25, announced plans for a vote on a new national constitution to end a political deadlock, sparking fresh outrage from opposition lawmakers.

Nepal’s ruling and opposition parties have spent years locked in a stalemate over the charter and lawmakers missed a Thursday midnight deadline to approve the charter after coming to blows in parliament.

Speaker Subhash Nembang said he had decided to press ahead with a vote rather than wait for an agreement with opposition lawmakers led by former Maoist rebels.

“I have tried to find a middle way that allows…the constituent assembly to move forward, as well as (time to) continue discussions for consensus,” Nembang said.

“Taking all things in consideration, I am taking this action,” Nembang said of the vote, for which no date has yet been set.

Angry opposition lawmakers chanted slogans against Sunday’s motion for a vote, with Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known better as Prachanda, branding it a “huge mistake.”

“We will struggle and resist until the end,” Prachanda told reporters after the motion was passed by ruling lawmakers and their allies, who hold a majority in the parliament.

The former insurgents have warned of further conflict if they fail to take opposition views into account.

A key sticking point concerns internal borders, with the opposition pushing for provinces to be created along lines that could favour historically marginalised communities.

Other parties have attacked this model, calling it too divisive and a threat to national unity.

The constitution was intended to conclude a peace process begun in 2006 when Maoist guerrillas entered politics, ending a decade-long insurgency that left an estimated 16,000 people dead.

But six prime ministers and two elections later, political infighting has confounded efforts to hammer out a deal, throwing parliament into disarray and crippling the economy.

Anger has spilled over on to the streets, with authorities boosting security inside and outside parliament in recent days. 

Opposition lawmakers last week also sparked chaos by storming into the well of the main chamber in a bid to derail the push for a vote and pressure the ruling coalition to return to the negotiating table.

“We have deployed 350 security staff in parliament and 500 more outside. We have also tightened checks at the building’s gates and doors,” said Hemanta Pal, Kathmandu police spokesman. – Rappler.com