Nepal's Madhesis sign 3-point agreement with government-in-waiting

Nepal's agitating Sanghiya Loktantantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) on Tuesday signed a three-point agreement with the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist-Centre) which together propose to form a new government in the Himalayan nation, officials said here.

According to the agreement, the new government will implement the preconditions set by the Federal alliance, including declaring as martyrs all those killed during the Madhesi Morcha-sponsored agitation, providing relief to those affected and compensation to the injured.

The second point of the agreement stipulates that the government seek political consensus based on the Madhesi Morcha's 11-point memorandum of demands and 26-point charter of demands of the Sanghiya Gathabandan (Federal alliance) and move a constitution amendment proposal in parliament.

The Sanghiya Gathabandan is an alliance of Madhes-based parties and the Janajatis of the Nepali Terai region.

The Madhesi Morcha and the Gathabandan are set to back Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in the Prime Ministerial election slated to take place on Wednesday. The alliance decided to support Dahal's candidacy after the 3-point agreement but will not join the government.

The agreement is described as a political commitment on behalf of the NC and the Maoists. The NC, Maoists and the Alliance had formed a nine-member task force to come up with a common agreement.

"We recognise and respect the agitations that helped Nepal brace towards the Republic and also recognise the demands and aspirations of Tharu, Madhesis and Janajatis/Adhivasis. We have to find a way out that will enable all sections of Nepali society to own up the new Constitution as common property," said the statement jointly signed by the NC, Maoist and Madhesi leaders.

The parties also committed to implement the core values of the new Constitution and its intricacies like democracy, republicanism, inclusiveness, equality, and proportional representation of various classes and groups in the state entities.

--IANS

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