KATHMANDU, June 13: The talks between the rival factions of the UCPN (Maoist) on Tuesday ended inconclusively after both the factions refused to budge from their stances on a host of issues that have divided them since last August.
Yet the factions --one led by party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and another led by Senior Vice chairman Mohan Baidya – have agreed to sit again for talks on Wednesday in their last bid to prevent party split.
At the meeting held the Baidya’s residence in Baniyatar in the outskirts of Kathmandu, Dahal had proposed to put off the national plenum called by his faction for June 29 and the national gathering called by Baidya faction for June 15. But Baidya refused to call off the national gathering.
"The chairman reiterated his same old stance. We have asked him to bring in writing about what he wants from us to save the party from split," Baidya told Republica about the meeting.
Dahal along with party secretary Post Bahadur Bogati and Krishna Bahadur Mahara had reached Baidya’s residence Tuesday. Party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, Secretary CP Gajurel and leader Netra Bikram Chand were also present at the meeting.
At the meeting, Dahal committed to correct past mistakes verbally but Baidya refused to buy his words. "The party has witnessed intra-party conflict time and again. We have reconciled with him each time but conciliations did not last long as commitments were never implemented," said Baidya said, adding, “This time we have asked him to come up with a written proposal," Baidya further said bout the meeting. Dahal has agreed with Baidya to come up with a written proposal for party unity after holding a discussion with leaders from his faction.
Leaders from both the factions said that they cannot predict the results of the meeting on Wednesday. "The talks have just started. We cannot predict the results," said Chand, an influential leader close to Baidya.
Bogati, who is close to Dahal, said that the party chairman presented his proposal for party unity but Baidya faction leaders were not convinced.
"Chairman Dahal proposed [to Baidya] that those who made mistakes in the past should undergo self-criticism and rectify the mistakes," said Bogati. "But in essence, comrades [from Baidya faction] were critical of the past decisions instead of talking about party unity," said Bogati.
At the meeting, leaders from both the factions tried to identify the basis for unity in the party.
Leaders from both the rival factions agreed that those who made mistakes should undergo self-criticism to save party from the split. But they differed over the basis for party unity.
Bogati said they maintained that the party should adopt an objective tactical line. They argued that they had not given up issues raised by the party during the constitution making process.
According to Baidya, Dahal should be ready to renounce the current line of peace and constitution if the party unity is to be maintained. He further said Dahal should be ready to embrace the line of new democratic republic if the party were to be united.
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