News update from Nepal, 8 November 2006 News Update from Nepal 8 November 2006 The peace talks between the seven-party government and CPN(Maoist), under way since the success of the April movement, have opened up possibilities for the transformation of Nepal’s decade-old violent conflict. As per the 6-point agreement signed by SPA and CPN(Maoist) on November 7, 2006, the government and CPN(Maoist) have agreed to sign a Comprehensive Peace Agreement on November 16. On November 21, the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will be sent to seven big cantonments and 21 smaller camps. Its arms will be separated from the PLA and put under a single lock system. The keys will be given to the CPN(Maoist) but the cantonments will be monitored by the UN through a Closed Circuit Television(CCTV) with siren alarm. An equal number of arms of the Nepali Army(NA) will also be put under a single lock system. A separate cabinet sub-committee is planned to take up the issues related to the restruc­turing of the NA, the integration of Maoist rebels into the army and the reform of the security sys­tem including its rightsizing. They have also agreed to form a commission on the modalities of state restructuring to make it more inclusive. They will announce an interim constitution and set up an interim unicameral legislature with 330 members on November 26, in which all the sitting members except those nominated by the King and those who supported the“regression” will stay on as members. The proportion of seats for the Nepali Congress(NC) will be 75, the CPN–UML and the CPN(Maoist) will have 73 seats each and the NC(Democratic) 42. The remaining 48 seats will go to other SPA constituents and the civil society. An interim government will be formed by December 1 which will be led by Pre­mier G.P. Koirala. The‘people’s courts’ and‘people’s governments’ run by rebels will be disman­tled. Local bodies will be run according to the understanding between SPA and CPN(Mao­ist).They also agreed that those born in Nepal before mid-April 1990 or have been residing in Nepal since then are eligible for Nepali citizenship. The CA will have 425 members out of which 205 will be directly elected from the existing geo­graphical constituencies on the basis of first-past-the-post election system, another 204 members will be nominated by the political parties in proportion to the votes they score and the council of ministers will nominate the remaining 16 members. Every Nepali over the age of 18 will be eligi­ble for voting in the CA elections. The UN will monitor the election process. A constitutional court will also be set up to settle the constitution related disputes. The members of the constitutional bodies will be appointed by the Constitutional Council headed by the Premier, Chief Justice and Speaker of the interim legislature. The fate of the monarchy will be decided at the first meeting of the CA in June 2006. CPN-UML preferred the proportional method. A high-level Truth and Rec­onciliation Commission will also be formed to foster reconciliation in society. The CA will also function as a legislature for two years until general elections take place. They also agreed to constitute a 23-member interim cabinet, 5 ministers each to NC, CPN-UML and CPN(Maoist) and the rest will be divided among other parties. The CPN-UML, however, has dis­1