Parliamentary Committee Directs The Govt To Nationalize Royal Properties
The Natural Resource Committee (NRC) of House of Representatives has directed the government to nationalize the properties of the King and the royal family members. It asked the government also to distribute thousands of ropanis of land to landless farmers. The committee has been investigating about the property of the King since past four months. The committee's report says King Gyanendra and his kin have been occupying 50,926 ropanis of land in 14 districts. The report has charged that the government ministries did not cooperate with the committee and did not provide full details. Leading dailies report.
NJP On Donation Collection Drive
The Nepal Jantantrik Party (NJP), which recently announced to raise arms to protect monarchy, has started collecting donations in the far western region. In this connection, a joint meeting of Nepali and Indian police chiefs and businessmen of Indo-Nepal border area in the far western region was held on November 4 in Banbasa of India. Businessmen on either side of the border have started getting threatening letters asking them to cough up hefty sums of money. Leading dailies report.
PM Koirala Stresses On Parliamentary Democracy
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the parliamentary democracy system would be the most appropriate and all-inclusive for Nepal . He said that although some term this as 'bourgeois system," this is the only system that can protect all political forces including the Maoists. "All forces can come into the fold of parliamentary democracy system," he said, adding that this system can also help in development and creation of a new Nepal . He made these remarks unveiling a book written by Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat at a program in the capital on Saturday (November 4). The translated version (in Nepali language) of book titled "In Defense of Democracy" was unveiled on Saturday. In the book Dr. Mahat has highlighted how democratic system had brought about fundamental changes in socio-economic situation of the country in the 1990s. Compiled from reports.
Army Objects To Maoist Search Of Its Vehicles
The Nepali Army (NA) has issued a strong statement objecting against the inspection of its vehicles by the cadres of Maoists. The Directorate of Public Relations (DPR) of NA issued a statement raising strong objections to the obstacles created by the Maoists in Paurahi VDC of Rautahat district on Thursday (November 2). The vehicles were ferrying essential items and regular logistics of the army to its barracks in eastern region. In the statement, the DPR has said the "concerned side would have to bear responsibility if any untoward accident occurs due to such acts against the Nepali Army, which is carrying out its duty as per the orders given by the Nepal government." The statement adds that the attention of NA has been seriously drawn by such acts that aim at discouraging or adversely affecting the management, prestige and daily work of NA. Some 40-50 Maoists had stopped the army convoy and the vehicles were allowed to move ahead after their inspection in presence of media persons and human rights activists could not fail to locate any weapon. Compiled from reports.
Maoists Not To Stop 'Law Enforcement' Activities
Despite the appeal by the UN human rights organization to stop its 'law enforcement' activities, the Maoists have indicated that they would continue with it. Talking to BBC Nepali Service on Thursday (November 2), Pawan Man Shrestha, Maoist leader chief of Newa National Liberation Front (NNLF), said their efforts were aimed at controlling criminal activities. Shrestha said his party will take steps to address the concerns of the UN Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR). "There have been problems due to lack of proper places where those detained could be held in custody. But everyone should understand our problem also," Shrestha added. Earlier, the OHCHR-Nepal had called on the Maoists to stop their "law enforcement" activities around the country. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the UN rights body said that such activities have resulted in serious abuses of human rights. "OHCHR-Nepal considers these parallel "law enforcement" activities to be illegal, as well as in violation of international human rights standards to which CPN-Maoist has made repeated commitments," the statement further said. The rights watchdog mentioned that it had confirmed the abductions of 39 individuals in the districts of Bhaktapur, Lalitpur and Kathmandu in October alone. The CPN-Maoist itself publicly declared on 21 October that more than 80 individuals had been taken into captivity, whom they accused of being linked to criminal activities. According to the OHCHR-Nepal, Maoist cadres have held individuals incommunicado in hidden locations – thus increasing their vulnerability to human rights abuses. The OHCHR-Nepal also complained that Maoists had at times obstructed the officials from gaining immediate access to those in captivity. In response to this charge, Shrestha said that they were willing to provide access to the UN rights officials if they are informed in advance. "Sometimes, they just want access within one hour, which is difficult," he added. Compiled from reports.
Entrepreneurs Shut Down Bara To Protest Killings
Bara district was shut down on Friday (November 3) after two traders were killed by unidentified groups in separate attacks. The district chamber of commerce held a protest rally demanding full security. On Friday, Amarjit Singh died after being shot at by unidentified persons in Nitanpur of Bara district. Singh was the owner of local Bagga Oil Store. Shot at in the head, Singh died immediately after he was taken to a local hospital. Earlier, on Thursday, unidentified group had shot young entrepreneur Abhimanyu Kumar Shah. He later succumbed to bullet wounds at Tribhuwan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu . His families suspect that the killers could be members of notorious Indian criminal Chhote Lal Sahani, who operates his cross-border crime network from an Indian jail. Leading dailies report.
Prachanda To Attend Meet
Maoist chairman Prachanda is scheduled to address a public meeting in the capital on November 10. He will be addressing the inaugural session of the second national conference of Newar National Liberation Front (NNLF). Chairman of NNLF Pawan Man Shrestha said, "The Maoist chairman is going to address the meeting for the first time." He also said that Prachanda and his deputy Dr. Baburam Bhattarai will head for New Delhi to attend The Hindustan Times Leadership Summit to be held on November 17 and 18. "They will also meet some top leaders in New Delhi and use the occasion to pressurize the Indian government on releasing Maoist leaders and activists in various Indian jails," he said. The Himalayan Times daily reports.
Matrika Yadav Accuses Indian Pm Of Delay In Talks
Matrika Yadav, a central member of the Maoists, has accused the Indian Prime Minister of delaying the fruitful peace talks in the country. Yadav who heads Maoists' Madhesi National Liberation Front (MNLF), addressing the first convention of the front in Bhairahawa on Wednesday (November 1), said, "The key of the talks is in the hands of Indian PM." He further revealed that Maoist chairman Prachanda had recently met with the Indian ambassador to Nepal Shiv Shankar Mukherjee to untie the knot. He also accused the Indian government of interfering in Nepal 's internal affairs "The capitalists from all over the world have gathered in New Delhi to make Maoists unsuccessful." He further accused that US ambassador James Moriarty, too, had recently visited New Delhi with the same purpose. Rajdhani daily reports.
Maoist Leaders Meet With Indian Envoy
Maoist chairman Prachanda and his second-in-command Dr. Baburam Bhattarai went to Indian embassy in Lainchour at the invitation of envoy Shiv Shankar Mukherjee on Tuesday (October 31). According to Indian embassy spokesperson Gopal Bagley, they discussed "prevailing political situation." Meanwhile, Dr. Bhattarai later informed media that the meeting was called by the envoy to express India 's assurance of all possible help in successfully concluding the ongoing peace process. Dr. Bhattarai added that the Indian envoy also agreed for release "within a few days" of their colleague CP Gajurel, who is languishing in an Indian jail. However, regarding the release of another senior Maoist leader Mohan Baidya, the Indian envoy is learnt to have said that it could take more time. This is the first time that the Indian envoy has met with Maoist chairman Prachanda since the April change in Nepal . Dr. Bhattarai, however, has already met with him once. Compiled from reports.
SLC To Be Based On Ten Class Syllabus Only
With the objective of lessening the burden of students, the government has decided to include the syllabus of Tenth Grade only at the School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations. Till now, the SLC comprised of syllabi of both 9 th and 10 th grades. The government made this move to check the growing number of students who fail the SLC tests every year. The Education Ministry has made the decision to this effect last week. Leading dailies report.
Human Rights Community Want Wider Participation
The human rights community has urged the eight parties (the Seven Party Alliance government and the Maoists) to initiate wider consultations with rights workers and civil society in the ongoing peace talks. "In order to make the peace process inclusive and durable and to ensure the implementation of its decisions, there is a need for public debate, transparency and broad consultations," states an appeal issued by Human Rights Home and signed by leading rights activists including Sushil Pyakurel, Subodh Pyakurel, Shobhakar Budhathoki, Gopal K. Siwakoti, and Kapil Shrestha, among others. The appeal calls for attention in four major areas: initiating wider consultations; signing human rights accord; signing comprehensive ceasefire pact; and making the peace process inclusive. "The human rights accord should include all international human rights instruments to which Nepal is a state party as well as commitments to other humanitarian laws. This should address the impunity," the statement says. Likewise, the statement calls for comprehensive ceasefire to build 'environment of trust.' Compiled from reports.
