VDC Secretaries Launch Agitation
The VDC secretaries have said that they will not return to their work until the government fills the vacancies in the local bodies; guarantees security; and declares employees killed in Terai as martyrs. The VDC Secretary Rights Protection Center, an umbrella organization of the VDC secretaries, organized a special gathering in Kathmandu on Sunday (July 22) and announced their agitation. The VDC secretaries have been stopping their works since a VDC secretary of Govindapur VDC of Siraha district was killed by cadres of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Jwala Singh). The VDC secretaries have also given the ultimatum of three days to the government to fulfill their demands, if not, they have warned that they will all come to the capital. Kantipur daily reports
Parliament Passes RTI Bill
The Parliament has endorsed the much awaited Right to Information Bill, thus meeting the long-standing demands for a law ensuring that a Nepali citizen seeking any information from government bodies can have it after following a due process of law. Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the new bill could prove a cornerstone towards democratizing the state authorities as well as building proper mechanism for free flow of information. He said the bill was based on the norm that the state bodies should not operate in non-transparent situations. Now anyone seeking any information from the government offices is eligible to get it 15 days after submitting an application. Refusal or denial to this mandatory responsibility would invite Rs 1,000-25,000 fine on the responsible official. This provision is mandatory to NGOs as well. The parliamentary Committee on Environment, Media and Technology had finalized the draft of the bill following discussions held at the parliamentary secretariat on Friday. The bill proposes a three-member high-level National Information Commission. Likewise, every government office should appoint a spokesperson to coordinate with media and provide information to the seekers. The new law, however, does not allow disseminating information that poses threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, national security, public security, or any information that might pose a threat to international relations. It also states that it is not necessary to provide information to anyone if such information might affect the economic condition, business and monetary issue of the nation, and the protection of intellectual property rights and business. It also restricts dissemination of information if that information affects relations between several castes and tribes. Compiled from reports
Congress Moves Closer To Unification
Following the meeting between Prime Minister and president of Nepali Congress (NC) Girija Prasad Koirala and president of NC (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba at Baluwatar on Wednesday (July 18) evening, the two parties have moved closer towards unification. "Girijababu and I are positive towards uniting Congress soon," Deuba told reporters after he had over one hour meeting with Koirala. Deuba informed that taskforce prepared by the two parties will carry forward the dialogue from Thursday. He, however, refused to give a date for the unification. When asked if the two parties were preparing to announce their unification on July 22 – the anniversary of legendary Congress leader BP Koirala -, Deuba said he cannot confirm whether the unification will actually take place on that date. Compiled from reports
Talks With MJF On July 25
The second round of talks between the government and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) could take place on July 25. A leader of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi) informed that the talks will be held on July 25. "The government will hold talks with MJF on July 25," said Anil Kumar Jha, leader of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP-Anandidevi) after he emerged out of the meeting of eight party coordination committee held at the premises of Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction. The government has already held one round of talks with MJF in Janakpur. Meanwhile, the high level committee has decided to forge stronger coordination among the eight parties and make the report of Rayamajhi commission public. "In many instances, the government is functioning as if it is a one-party government. So we decided to form eight party mechanism for stronger coordination. Likewise, we also decided to make public the report of Rayamajhi commission soon," said Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, a senior Maoist leader. Compiled from reports
MJF Registered As Political Party
The Election Commission (EC) registered 17 more political parties on Wednesday (July 18) and allocated them election symbols. Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), which spearheaded the Madhes agitation in January/February this year has also been registered as a political party. It has been allocated the election symbol of "Flame held by hand." Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) led by Rabindra Nath Sharma, too, has been registered. It has obtained 'Cow' as the election symbol. Other parties registered include Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist (election symbol - Trident), Sa-Shakti Party (election symbol - Taraju), Nepal Rastriya Loktantrik Party (election symbol - Topi), Nepal Jagriti Dal (election symbol - Baby sitting on mother's lap), Prajatantrik Shanti Party (election symbol – Rice Panicle), Rastriya Janata Dal Nepal (election symbol – Lantern), Nepal Prajatantrik Yuba Party (election symbol - Cross Khukuri), Shanti Party Nepal (election symbol – Satkon), Hindu Prajatantrik Party (election symbol – Woman), Rastriya Jana Prajatantrik Party (election symbol – Rhinoceros), Nepal Janabhawana Party (election symbol – Panas) and Prajatantrik Janamukti Party (election symbol - Comb). Similarly, Loktantrik Janata Party, Nepal (election symbol – Airplane), Nepali Janatantra Party (election symbol – Axe) and Prajatantrik Shakti party (election symbol – Clock) were also registered with the EC. Compiled from reports
Great Disaster If CA Not Held In November: PM
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that there will be a 'great disaster' if Constituent Assembly election is not held on November 22. Talking with a delegation of elected leadership of Nepal Students Union (NSU) on Tuesday (July 17), PM Koirala said he wants help from all to hold the elections successfully. PM Koirala said he was fully committed and singularly focused on the elections. PM Koirala urged the NSU to work to create conducive atmosphere for the elections. Compiled from reports
Maoist And PF Ministers Complaint Against Cabinet Procedure
Ministers belonging to the Maoists and People's Front (PF) have raised their complaints against the cabinet procedure. Claiming that the cabinet was making decisions by overruling their dissenting opinions six ministers have made the complaint demanding immediate correction in the manner of cabinet functioning. In their complaints, the ministers have said that although eight parties should be jointly conducting the government based on mutual consent, the cabinet was functioning as if it belonged to one-party government. They also demanded proper system of registering their notes of dissent over cabinet decision. The ministers who have made this complaint include Minister for Information and Communication and government spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Minister for Local Development Dev Gurung, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Matrika Yadav, Minister for Works and Physical Planning Hisila Yami, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Khadga Bahadur Biswakarma and Minister for Health and Population Giriraj Mani Pokharel. Compiled from reports
Jwala Singh Asks 'Pahade Employees' To Leave Terai In One Week
Accusing them of strengthening the regime, Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Jwala Singh) has asked 'Pahade' (people of hilly origin) government employees and administrators to leave Madhes region within a week. The Singh faction has threatened to take action against those who refuse to comply with their diktat. The warning has come as a response to Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitauala's appeal to Terai agitators to come for dialogue within 15 days or face security action. Leading dailies report
VDC Secretaries Seek Transfer
Senior officials of Ministry of Local Development have informed the parliamentary committee on CA Election Monitoring that a large number of VDC secretaries were seeking transfer from Terai region due to insecurity. They also said that some secretaries were still working from district headquarters instead of venturing to the remote regions. Ram Kumar Shrestha, acting Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development, said that secretaries of VDCs in Terai districts have started applying for transfer elsewhere. They informed that 366 VDCs were without secretaries. At the parliamentary committee, Minister for Local Development Dev Gurung said that vacant positions will be filled by recruiting temporary secretaries on contract basis. He said people of Madhesi origin will be given priority to fill the positions in Terai VDCs. Lawmakers, however, were not assured by Gurung's statement. MP Mahesh Acharya said that presence or absence of particular community is not an answer to the problem. "You may send secretary of Madhesi origin. But who will you send as media representative or observers?" he asked. The MPs also said that recruiting temporary VDC secretaries could complicate the problem further. They said restoration of previously elected local representatives could mobilize 200,000 local leaders. Kantipur daily reports
Sitaula Leaves For India
Home Minister Krishna Sitaula who had gone to visit Terai districts has left for India on Monday. Reports say he will try to hold talks with leaders of two Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) factions. Sitaula informed that he left for ‘pilgrimage’ to Jharkhand along with family. But sources say he was actually trying to meet with JTMM leaders Jai Krishna Goit and Jwala Singh. Security sources say he will return after two/three days. Sources said that Nepali Congress MP Amaresh Singh is in New Delhi trying to arrange meeting between Sitaula and Goit and Jwala Singh. Amaresh Singh had met with the two in India a few months ago. Meanwhile, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel who is in Janakpur said, on Monday, that formal initiatives to negotiate with JTMM has started. “We tried to contact with both JTMM leaders here but could not do so as they are in India,” Poudel said. Kantipur daily reports
EC Changes Maoist Election Symbol
Following protests by other communist parties, the Election Commission (EC) has changed the election symbol of the Maoists. The new election symbol of the Maoists will be ‘hammer and sickle within a circle.’ Other communist parties including UML had protested the symbol of ‘hammer and sickle’ saying that it is the common emblem of all communist parties, which cannot be given as election symbol of a particular party. Earlier, angered by the EC decision to award 'hammer and sickle' as election symbol to the Maoists, the UML had registered an application seeking its cancellation. Leading dailies report
Nepal, South Korea Sign Labour Pact
Nepal and South Korea signed a memorandum of understanding for Employment Permit System (EPS) in Seoul on Monday, opening up the prospects of more job opportunities for Nepalis in Korea. Nepali Labor Minister Ramesh Lekhak and Korean Minister Lee Sang-Soo signed the MoU amid a ceremony, a statement issued by the Nepalese embassy in Seoul said. According to the new provision, the Nepal government would make all necessary arrangements such as providing training on Korean language and proper selection procedure before sending workers to Korea. The expenditure that Nepali workers need to make prior to flying to Korea for job would be determined on consensus, the agreement reads. Speaking on the occasion, Korean minister Soo said the agreement would help strengthen the bilateral relation between the two countries. Minister Lekhak also expressed Nepal government's commitments to effectively implement the understanding. As per this agreement, Nepal will send around 5,000 Nepali workers to Korea every year. Similar agreement was signed recently with United Arab Emirates. nepalnews.com reports
