July 14, 2006

Defense Secretary Bishnu Dutta Upreti, on Sunday (July 9), told the Parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) that the government would dissolve the Palace Military Secretariat within a few days. “We are in the process of doing away with the military secretariat and the Acts related to the army would be amended within a week,” Upreti told SAC. The SAC had summoned six secretaries, including chief secretary Mukunda Sharma Poudel, to have updates on whether the bureaucracy has been working as per the declaration of the House of Representatives. The Palace Military Secretariat used to take decisions on senior army officer’s promotion and posting. However, now the cabinet has been given the authority to appoint, promote and post senior army officers. On the Nepali Army celebrating King Gyanendra’s birthday despite the government’s decision not to mark the occasion, Upreti said the Army was not directed to do so. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Whole Village Submerged Due To Rapti Flood

As Laxmanpur barrage and Kalkalwa barrage obstructed the flow of swollen Rapti river, the water rushed towards Holiya VDC in Banke district inundating all the wards. The village remains cut off due to swollen river. Residents of the villages are staying sleepless. “This is all due to barrages. As the flow of river was obstructed, the flood entered into village,” said Gobre Daffali, a local resident. Every year, flood in Rapti river affects five VDCs located in its banks. Victims have accused the government of indifference towards their plight. The District Disaster Rescue Committee is planning to trans-locate the flood victims of Holiya VDC in three phases. Kantipur daily reports.

NHRC Chief, CEC Resign

In order to avoid the impeachment by the House of Representatives, the Chief Election Commissioner Keshab Raj Rajbhandari and chief of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Nayan Bahadur Khatri tendered their resignation on Sunday (July 9). Likewise, all members of NHRC also resigned from their jobs. Rajbhandari said he resigned to help the government. He faces accusation of holding meaningless municipal elections to strengthen royal government. Likewise, members of NHRC organized a press conference announcing their resignation. “We had met with the Prime Minister before this controversy. He told us to remain in office. Otherwise, we would have vacated sooner,” said Khatri. Other members of the NHRC who have resigned en masse include Sudip Pathak, Sushila Singh, Gokul Pokharel and Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh. Meanwhile, other election commissioners at the Election Commission Damaru Ballav Bhattarai, Jayaram Singh Bohara and Dil Bahadur Karki have not resigned from their posts. Leading dailies report.

NC, UML Discuss Handing Over PM’s Duties

Owing to the poor health of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, leaders of Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) discussed about handing over his duties. The discussion took place in UML headquarters in Balkhu. At the meeting, UML said that the health condition of the PM should not be allowed to affect the efficacy of the government and the latter should not become prisoner of indecision. “In the absence of situation where (the PM) can work due to health, alternatives have to be explored,” a UML leader said, adding, “Let’s not put the country in standoff situation. Lets talk with other parties also.” The meeting was participated by general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Amrit Bohara, Iswor Pokharel and Bharat Mohan Adhikari from the UML and vice president Sushil Koirala, Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Mahesh Acharya, Arjun Narsingh KC, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Chakra Prasad Bastola and Amod Prasad Upadhyaya from NC. Earlier, UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal had stated that the government’s speed should not be affected due to poor health of the PM. Talking to reporters, Nepal said that regressive elements were becoming active to take advantage of the situation. He said there is a need to initiate discussion to find out alternatives. Kantipur daily reports.

NC MPs Against House Dissolution

At the meeting of MPs of Nepali Congress (NC) held on Saturday, the understanding of dissolving the House of Representatives was roundly deplored. They warned against dissolving the House until and unless there is another viable alternative. The eight-point pact between the Maoists and the seven parties include a provision about dissolving the House. One of the participants of the meeting informed that the MPs have asked the parties and the Maoists to clarify about the alternatives to the House. The MPs have even called for dissolving the interim statute drafting committee as the latter has announced that it would provide alternative to the House in the interim constitution. Leading dailies report .

Deuba Meets With Indian PM

Former Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba met with Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Saturday (July 8). During the meeting, Singh assured of all possible Indian cooperation to help Nepal restore peace and democracy. “He expressed his commitment to help democracy in Nepal,” Deuba told reporters after the meeting. Deuba is currently on a ten-day informal tour to New Delhi. During his stay in New Delhi, Deuba has met with senior ministers, political leaders and officials. Leading dailies report

Interim Statute Drafting Committee To Start Work

Nineteen days after it was formed with a mandate to frame interim constitution within 15 days, the committee to draft the interim statute has announced it has started official work from Thursday (July 6). Convener of the committee former judge Laxman Aryal told reporters that the interim statute would also provide alternative to the House of Representatives. He added that since the question of monarchy would be decided by the constituent assembly, the interim statute would go by the House declaration as far as monarchy is concerned. The terms of reference for the committee include 12 point pact, 25-point ceasefire code of conduct and spirit of the people’s movement. The committee decided to start its work after both the government and the Maoist negotiating team wrote a letter asking them to go ahead and not wait for the expansion. Leading dailies report.

House Committee Seeks Clarification Over Letter To UN

House of Representatives Committee for Monitoring Ceasefire has regretted the lack of consultations before the government sent letter to the UN asking for latter’s involvement in arms management. It has decided to summon Foreign Minister and team of government negotiators regarding the issue. “We have heard that the government has sent a letter to the UN. But we do not know the content of the letter. And there has been more confusion due to the Maoist reaction that they, too, were not consulted before the letter was sent,” said Subas Nemwang, Speaker and chair of the committee. Meanwhile, an official at the UN office in Kathmandu said the negative reaction by the Maoists over the letter has created confusion. The UN officials have been saying that they would need the total understanding of both the conflicting parties for it to accept any role in the peace process. The UN Secretary General is yet to officially react to the letter. Leading dailies report.

Civil Society To Launch Agitation From July 26

Accusing that the government actions were going against the spirit of the People’s Movement, leaders of civil society have vowed to launch agitation beginning July 26. “The issues of democratic movement are being shadowed,” said Devendra Raj Pandey, adding, “The main demand of the movement was constituent assembly but it is being pushed behind.” He added that there was a ploy to make the parliament supreme, which he said was not the demand of the movement. “The continuation or dissolution of the parliament is not an issue,” he said. Stating that despite reminding the prime minister and ministers about their demands through memos, the government had not worked in proper direction. “Therefore, the civil society has concluded that it needs to launch street agitation in a big way,” he said. Krishna Pahadi, a rights activists, added that such civil society agitation would take the form of democratic republic front. He deplored the government for not taking action against chief of army as advised by the Rayamajhi commission. Kantipur daily reports.

Maoists Abduct Six Persons

Flouting the ceasefire code of conduct, the Maoists have abducted six persons including three political party workers. In Dhanusha, the Maoists have abducted five persons including two workers of Nepali Congress (Democratic), one worker of UML, and two civilians. The NC-D and UML have issued separate statements asking the Maoists to immediately release the abductees. Likewise, in Rajbiraj, cadres of Terai Liberation Front affiliated to the Maoists have abducted Tirtha Raj Khatiwada, chief of custom office. Meanwhile, in Banke, residents of Hirminiya village organized a big rally opposing the recent abduction of two civilians. The people marched to Nepalgunj and gheraoed the liaison office of the Maoists demanding immediate release of Hemanta Thapa and Jayalal Mahut, who were abducted a week ago. Kantipur daily reports.

Nepal Throws Open Buddhist Circuits To Chinese Tourists

The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation in cooperation with Nepal Tourism Board has unveiled Buddhist circuits to Chinese tour operators amid a program in Beijing on July 5. According to a press release issued by the NTB here, the program was attended by over 140 tour operators and media personnel, in which Nepali delegation disseminated latest tourism information and situation updates of the country as well as launched the new Nepal brand “Naturally Nepal’ Once is not enough” to Chinese travel trade personalities. Leading dailies report.

PAC To Probe Pashupati Bhatta

Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC), on Thursday (July 6), decided to call the main priest (Mul Bhatta) of Pashupatinath temple to question him about the reported irregularities in the temple funds that comprises people’s offerings. The committee delved into a report prepared by the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) on its ‘moveable and immoveable properties’ as well as the misuse of people’s offerings. The committee members also showed concern over the recent flood that damages 11 houses in the Pashupati area. “Misuse of people’s offering to Pashupatinath temple ahs been reported time and again. We have decided to send out team for field visit to investigate such matters,” said PAC chairman Chitra Bahadur KC. The Himalayan Times daily reports.

Petrol Demand In Border Areas Rise

As the price of petrol is lesser by Rs 15 per liter in Nepal than India, demand for the same has soared in border areas. Vehicles from across the border are seen entering into the Nepalese side to fill up their tanks. In the current year, Amlekhgunj depot (near Birgunj border) alone has sold 24.5 million liters of petrol compared to 19.3 million liters last year. The price difference in diesel stands at Rs 2.6 per liter while that in kerosene stands at Rs 3 per liter. All of them are cheaper on Nepalese side. Kantipur daily reports.