December 21, 2006 - The dispute over the governments decision to appoint ambassadors in 14 diplomatic missions and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seemed to be intensifying today with the leaders of the ruling seven-party alliance (SPA) engaging in claims and counterclaims over the cabinet decision.
While some SPA leaders claimed that the Maoists were pre-informed, if not taken fully into confidence, others simply dismissed the claims, saying that the decision of Mondays special cabinet meeting runs counter not only to the basics of coalition politics but also the peace process.
At the same programme, CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal said the opposite and that the government must withdraw the nominations soon. "The latest decision of the government has disturbed the environment of political consensus that has been building within the nation. And, this does not help the peace process," CPN (UML) leader Jhal Nath Khanal said at an interaction in Kathmandu today.
He even said that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, KP Sharma Oli, who is a senior UML leader, did not consult the party regarding the nomination of ambassadors.
Five out of 14 ambassadorial candidates are from the UML, including Tanka Karki and Pramesh Hamal, who have been named as ambassadors to China and Belgium respectively. Five of the named ambassadors are linked with the Nepali Congress (NC), one with NC (Democratic) and others are professionals.
General secretary of the NC (Democratic) Bimalendra Nidhi said his party was also kept in the dark when the cabinet took the decision. "Our party preferred silence as such disputes are risky for the peace process," he said.
Minister for Transportation and Labour Ramesh Lekhak stated the same that there was understanding between all parties and the Maoists regarding to the appointment of the new Ambassadors.
Speaking at the same interaction, state minister Ramesh Lekhak, who is a NC (Democratic) leader and a member of the governments talks team, claimed that the 14 ambassadors were named as per the understanding between Prime Minister GP Koirala and Maoist supremo Prachanda.
The Maoists, he said, should opt for an agreement rather than making it a contentious issue. Theres no big deal about the government decision as the Parliamentary Hearing Committee is yet to look into the nominations, he added.
Another speaker of the interaction NC leader Arjun Narsing KC said that Maoist representatives were not included because "no friendly country would accept them as ambassadors". He claimed that the issue was discussed between the government and the Maoist side.
The Maoists called a general strike in the Kathmandu Valley and outside on Tuesday to protest the naming of ambassadors and the NHRC appointment-- without consulting them. The rebels have given a 11-day ultimatum to the government to withdraw its decision, which, they say, smacks of conspiracy to subvert the recent political agreements.
