Maoists come up with 50-point CMP

With a view to forming a new coalition government under its leadership, the CPN (Maoist) has proposed a 50-point common minimum program (CMP), pledging to build a competitive democratic polity that is strong and prosperous.

Maoist leaders tabled the proposal, aimed at garnering support for government formation, at their meeting with the other 24 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly.

"While respecting constitutional provisions and the people's desire for drastic change and economic prosperity…., we have made ourselves ready to run a government to build a strong and prosperous Nepal as per the wish and demand of the people and national necessity," the Maoist CMP stated.

The party reiterated its commitment to the principles of an inclusive multiparty democratic system, and to a federal democratic republic, human rights, social justice, forward-looking change and lasting peace. "The concepts of a competitive democratic system, human rights, civil and fundamental rights, freedom of speech and publication and rule of law, as envisioned in the Interim Constitution preamble, will be established in practical terms," the CMP added.

The party has pledged to constitute a state-restructuring commission to convert Nepal into a federal system. For this the agreement signed with Madhesis, ethnic Janajatis, political parties and various organizations will be taken into consideration and the advice of experts incorporated.

The party has vowed to respect the UN principles of right to self-determination of ethnic Janajatis and look into factors like the language and culture of various ethnic groups, natural resources, demography and prospects of economic development while drawing up a future federation. "Proportional inclusion will be guaranteed to women, dalits, Janajatis, Madhesis and backward regions in all organs and levels of the state," the proposed program stated.

The program is divided into five headings--nationality and promotion of the national interest, implementation of a federal democratic republic and state restructuring, lasting peace and guarantee of peace and security, immediate relief and reconstruction and revolutionary change and socio-economic transformation.

For promotion of the national interest, the party has proposed to forge national consensus on national security, foreign policy and water resources.

"Initiatives will be taken for changing, reviewing or repealing the treaties signed with other countries as per necessity," said the program paper.

The Maoists' proposed program emphasized a foreign policy aimed at economic development of the country and upliftment of the people's economic standards.

"Foreign policy will be redefined as per the changed political scenario and the functioning of the foreign affairs ministry and the foreign service will be restructured on the basis of national necessity."

The Maoist program also proposed a high-level security commission to prepare national security policy and restructure the security sector. The party in its program vowed to integrate and rehabilitate the Maoist combatants and manage their weapons within three to six months.

In the program, the Maoists pledged to form a peace and reconstruction commission, a truth and reconciliation commission, a state restructuring commission, a commission on disappearances and a land reforms commission. It has vowed to make necessary arrangements for monitoring past peace accords through the peace and reconstruction commission.

Besides, the program proposed an administration reforms commission, a youth commission and a powerful Muslim commission.

The program proposed setting up a special fund for the relief, rehabilitation and support of people affected by violence and conflict. It has given priority to reconstruction of destroyed infrastructures.

The Maoists proposed a model of economic activity through the partnership of government, cooperatives and the private sector. It pledged to formulate immediate short-term, mid-term and long-term plans for development and give priority to agriculture, hydropower, tourism, human resources and infrastructure.

The Maoists have proposed to categorize hydel projects for purposes of investment. "Small and medium-size projects will be run through internal investment and big and export-oriented projects through foreign investment," the proposed program stated.

The Maoists propose to attract foreign investment in industrialization and development for the benefit of the country. The party pledged dual citizenship for Non-Resident Nepalis to attract their investment in national development.

The Maoist program proposed revolutionary land reforms to end feudal ownership of land and establish access of peasants to the land.

The program also proposed that primary health care, employment and education up to high-school will be made part of the fundamental rights of the people.

The party proposed to reduce the age criteria for senior citizens to 70 from existing 75 for purposes of the old age allowance. It pledged an increment in the allowance amount for widows and old people.