Koirala keen to continue party chairmanship

Octogenarian President of Nepali Congress GP Koirala Sunday gave indications that he is still keen to continue party chairmanship. "The party constitution cannot ban me from contesting for the next tenure (of chairmanship)," he said.

Speaking with journalists at his hometown Biratnagar, Koirala said the meeting of Mahasamiti will be held soon and it will take decisions on the next party convention.

Congress's last convention was held in Pokhara three years ago. The convention endorsed a new party constitution, which said, a same person cannot be the party president for third time.

Koirala has already completed a full tenure of party chairmanship prior to the Pokhara convention. If he contests again and wins the race, it will be his third tenure as the party chairman. nepalnews.com mr Nov 10

80-year-old woman kidnapped

Maoists have abducted an 80-year-old woman from Matsye Pokhari, Sankhuasabha, for not donating money demanded by the Maoists, a report said Monday.

Maoists had asked Bhadra Maya Gurung, wife of an ex-army, for Rs.100,000, Nepal Samacharpatra said.

"She refused and the Maoists took her with them," the daily said quoting security sources. nepalnews.com mr Nov 10

Five parties' meeting today

Top leaders of the five agitating parties are holding a meeting this afternoon to decide the course and nature of the 10th phase of movement against "regression", reports said Monday.

The movement, so far, was only a formality, said a party source. "But now, we will be discussing ways to make it practically strong." The meeting will be held at the party office of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) at Tripureshor, Kathmandu.

Leaders will also discuss inclusion of other parties, such as Nepali Congress (Democratic), to the five parties' block, said the source. nepalnews.com mr Nov 10

Transparency law soon: Dr. Lohani

The government is soon bringing a separate Transparency Act, through an Ordinance, to curb corruption activities in the country, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said Sunday.

"We are introducing the Ordinance respecting people's right to information," Dr. Lohani said in a program organised to make public the draft bill on transparency laws.

The bill prepared by Nepal Law Reform Commission, has made it mandatory, in most of the cases, to maintain transparency in the day-to-day works of the government offices. nepalnews.com mr Nov 10

No recommendations yet, says PM

Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa said Sunday he has not yet recommended the appointments of some constitutional chiefs to the King, as decided by a meeting of the Constitutional Council.

"Due to my own schedule, I have not been able to forward the recommendations unto the King. I kept the recommendation with myself," PM Thapa told reporters during a reception Sunday. 

He hosted the reception at his official residence at Baluwatar on the occasion of 14th Constitution day. "It is true, the Council recommended some names to be forwarded to the King as the new constitutional heads," he said. 

Only a few days ago, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, who is a member of the Council, said the PM is not telling the truth, if he says the Council did not take decisions to appoint constitutional heads. 

On the question of cabinet expansion, PM Thapa did not want to specific. "It will be done soon," he said. nepalnews.com mr Nov 10

Six more Maoists killed

Six more Maoists have been killed in clashes with security forces, Radio Nepal said. 

Two rebels were killed in retaliatory firing at Pattharkot in Sarlahi Sunday, the state radio said. One Maoist was killed in a shoot out in Morang village were one policeman and one civilian were also injured, Radio Nepal said.

One insurgent was shot dead in Gularia in Bardia Sunday after he shot and injured Dhani Ram Yadav in district headquarters. Two Maoists were also shot dead at Rabi Bazzar in Panchthar. 

ISD and STD services were restored in Dhanusha after 45 days following a rebel attack on a transmission facility, Radio Nepal reported. nepalnews.com br Nov.9

Opposition boycotts PM's reception

Five opposition parties on anti-King protests Sunday boycotted a reception hosted by Prime Minister  Surya Bahadur Thapa to mark Constitution Day. 

They boycotted the meeting ahead of a five party meeting Monday to chalk out the 9th phase of their protests against what they call regressive actions by the King. 

Earlier, the opposition watered down their protests on request of envoys from the USA, UK and India. 

In a message to the nation, the King Sunday asked constitutional parties to unite to resolve the country's problems. nepalnews.com br Nov.9

3 security men killed

Two soldiers and a policeman died Saturday in a Maoist laid ambushes in Bhojpur and Salyan respectively, radio reports said Sunday.

In Kapurkot of Salyan, constable Rimendra Basnet was killed and another constable Bal Bahadur Mahat sustained injuries. Search for the assailants was going on, the reports said.

In Betani jungle of Bhojpur, Maoists killed two army men whose name could not be known. One policeman and one more soldier were injured in the incident. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9

Seven Maoists killed

Seven Maoists were killed in a clash with security forces at Sainpashala Bhajang Saturday, Spacetime said quoting security sources.

One person was injured in a firing by security forces in Darchula Friday, the newspaper said. nepalnews.com br Nov.9

NEPSE index stable

The NEPSE index was stable when trading ended Friday. The market opened at 207.80 points Monday and closed at 207.28 points Friday.

Commercial bank shares dropped to 204.49 points from 205.78 points during the week. Commercial bank shares captured 66.54 percent of the total trade. Nabil Bank Ltd, led trading in the week.

Altogether 31,232 shares worth Rs.7.34m were traded in 759 transactions. nepalnews.com br Nov.9

141 inmates released

On the occasion of the Constitution Day, 141 inmates were released Sunday from various prisons across the country after their remaining jail term was pardoned, RSS said.

The releases were made in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, the agency said quoting the Department of Prison Management. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9

Demand to convene National Assembly

A meeting of CPN-UML parliamentary committee on Saturday has called upon the concerned authorities to convene the meeting of the National Assembly for continuation of the 1990 Constitution, a published report said Sunday.

The meeting further said the act of not convening the Upper House meeting in the past 18 months is a direct violation of the spirit of the Constitution, according to Nepal Samacharpatra.

"The country is in dire need of peace, democracy and a forward looking political outlet. Everybody must accept the supremacy of Constitution," the meeting said. It also demanded resignation of Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa.

UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders KP Oli, Amrit Kumar Bohora, Ishwor Pokhrel, Yubraj Gyawali attended the meeting. Kashinath Adhikari, who is UML's coordinator of the National Assembly parliamentary party, chaired the meeting. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9

Constitution enters 14th year

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, that was framed by the representatives of the King, Nepali Congress and United Communist Front following the historical popular uprising in the same year has completed 13 years of existence on Sunday today.

Developed as a document of then political circumstances and of political power balance, the Constitution is regarded as more democratic than the Constitutions of many countries and the best of South Asia.

Constitutional monarchy, multiparty democracy, people's sovereignty, independent and efficient judiciary, adult franchise, guarantee of basic human rights, parliamentary governance system and rule of law are the special features of the Constitution.

Fifteen governments have been constituted since the enforcement of the democratic Constitution. The governments formed were majority, minority, coalition and two formed under the Article 127 of the Constitution.

Under the same constitution, 22 sessions of the parliament were convened while the parliament has remained dissolved at the moment.

During this period, constitutional questions were raised on the rights of the Prime Minister to dissolve the parliament, the water resources agreement with neighbouring countries and citizenship to which the Supreme Court gave its verdict to resolve the Constitutional complexity.

Of late, questions are being raised that the present Constitution is not being able to address the issues of dalits, women, janjatis and other backward people. For this, the government has put forward a proposal of extensive reform in the present Constitution, RSS said. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9 

All should strive for peace: PM

In a message on the eve of 14th Constitution day, Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has said the present government has been channeling its efforts with the belief that the existing challenges and problems of the country could be resolved in a peaceful manner through democratic way on the basis of national consensus.

The PM said it is beyond doubt that it would be of immense help in building a democratic culture if all the political parties, social classes and groups make efforts to fulfill their respective responsibilities as per the spirit of the Constitution.

"The fact that the Maoist terrorists have, in the name of exercising the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, been attacking on very letter and the spirit of the Constitution and disturbing the law and order situation, which is the fundamental basis of national life, is clear before the eyes of one and all," PM Thapa said in the message.

He said the entire Nepali society is today trying to free itself from violence and killing and the present government is duty-bound in blunting such kinds of undesirable activities and restoring peace and order in the country in order to pave the way for elections as soon as possible. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9/Courtesy: RSS

HM's message to nation on Constitution Day

His Majesty the King has said it is imperative that an environment of peace, security, and good governance prevails in the country, while all those committed to multiparty democracy work together in the earnest, in order to relieve the nation of the prevailing uneasy situation and achieve the goals enshrined in the Constitution.

In a message given to the nation, on the eve of the Constitution Day, today (Sunday), His Majesty, while extending best wishes to all the Nepali people, said as this is what every Nepali yearns for, all the countrymen must united, guided by our traditions and ethos.

His Majesty expressed hope that this day inspires all those who have faith in democracy to unite in fulfilling popular aspirations and realising the objectives enshrined in the Constitution. nepalnews.com mr Nov 9