YCL To Launch Door-To-Door Campaign
Amid growing criticisms against it, the YCL has decided to launch door-to-door campaign in Kathmandu valley to collect suggestions from general public. The meeting of Valley bureau of YCL decided to launch the campaign from Monday (June 25). Cadres wearing YCL's uniform will be dispatched to streets and households to collect suggestions. They will also ask the public to name four persons who live nearby their houses and who they think are corrupt, smugglers, agents or thieves. Likewise, separate group of YCL cadres will also be dispatched secretly in plainclothes to learn about public viewpoint. Kantipur daily reports
Saptari Bandh By Maoists
Protesting the killing of their district in charge Gobinda Chaudhary by activists of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Goit faction), Maoists imposed three day bandh in Saptari district from Sunday. They also shut down Sunsari, Morang and Udaypur districts. They forcefully closed down markets and roads. In Rupani area in Mahendra highway of Saptari district, they set to fire four trucks carrying tens of millions of rupees worth of goods. Enraged by this, the cargo entrepreneurs have announced nationwide strike. Leading dailies report
Employees Withdraw Strike
The civil servants have withdrawn their agitation after the government signed a five point pact with them on Sunday (June 24) assuring to increase their salaries, among others. The government has agreed to increase salaries based on revenue growth. Likewise, employees up to section officer level will be allowed to join trade union. "Promotion of employees will be guaranteed based on report of taskforce (of Ministry of General Administration)," said Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, who led the government team in the talks. According to a representative of the employees, promotion of those who have served for over 10 years will be guaranteed. "We have also assured them of reliable security," Poudel added. Compiled from reports
YCL Threatens Madi Blast Victims
The Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) have issued death threats to persons injured in the Bandarmudhe blast. The YCL on Friday (June 22) evening threatened to kill post holders of the Bandarmudhe Victims' Committee who have been raising their voices against the Maoists demanding reparations, among others. The YCL cadres threatened the committee's deputy chairman Krishna Adhikary not to "act smart" and "speak against the Maoists." According to Adhikary, the village had grown fearful after the YCL members publicly threatened to kill four persons on the committee. According to a local, the YCL members said that the Bandarmudhe incident would not "cool down" until 2/4 people were "set right." Previously, the Maoists had asked the victims not to meet the press, warning them not to "widen the fissures" by publicizing their demands through the media. Following the dispute Prachanda's visit to the area was cancelled while package distribution program and construction of a memorial pillar was indefinitely postponed. At least 39 passengers were killed while 72 others were seriously injured when Maoists blew up a passenger bus at Bandarmudhe River in Madi nearly two years ago. eKantipur reports
Power Still Lies In Army HQ And Palace: Prachanda
Maoist chairman Prachanda made a blistering attack against the government claiming that it does not hold the power. "What is the reason why they do not make public the report of Rayamajhi Commission? Why they do not take action against those named guilty by the report? All this indicate that the power still lies in Army Headquarters and Narayanhity Palace," Prachanda said. Addressing a program organized by the families of people disappeared by the state, on Thursday, Prachanda said, "Until the power remains in Army Headquarters and the Narayanhity Palace , it will only be an intellectual exercise to talk about holding Constituent Assembly elections, having republic or making the whereabouts of disappeared persons public." Stating that he still believes in consolidating the eighty party unity, Prachanda added, "But if the need arises, our party will not hesitate a moment to take a tough decision. Let there be no doubt about this." Compiled from reports
Nepalis Can Invest Abroad
The government has initiated process to allow Nepalis to invest abroad. Entrepreneurs, industrialists and financial institutions had been demanding the permission to invest abroad for a long time. After 40 years, the government is initiating the process to lift ban on investing capital abroad. The government is preparing to amend the Act prohibiting the investment of capital abroad. Due to legal restriction, capital investment abroad has been taking place in roundabout manner at present. Nepalis have invested in places like India, Gulf, Sri Lanka, UK etc. Non Resident Nepalis have investment in many places. But the nation has not benefited directly from this capital flight. The new law will allow Nepali restaurants, finance institutions, and established industries to invest in foreign countries. "We are considering this. But there will be certain conditions," said Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat. The new legal provision is expected to be announced in the budget to be made public in mid-July. "It is good to allow investment. This will help to invest in areas from where general public can get maximum return," said Radhes Pant, president of Bankers Association of Nepal. He added that this area should be opened in a careful and gradual manner though. The authorities are considering allowing investment abroad, initially through three procedures. First, through mutual funds established by commercial banks under certain specifications. Second, through the transfer of Nepali skills and technologies and, third, the organized industries can invest certain amount of capital in course of expanding their businesses. Kantipur daily reports
Govt Health Official Rescued From Clutches Of YCL
Following abduction of senior government official by YCL cadres in Nepalgunj who accused him of corruption, police raided their office on Wednesday (June 20). Police rescued regional health director Dr. Piyush Bahadur Rajendra and also vacated the building being forcefully occupied by the YCL. Protesting the raid YCL cadres burnt tires, raised slogans against the Prime Minister and Home Minister and obstructed traffic movement. They also later vandalized the statute of late King Birendra. Along with Dr. Rajendra, police also rescued one Ganga Gurung from Pokhara who was held captive since past one and a half month. Chief District Officer of Banke, Narendra Raj Sharma said he has received directives from the government to control activities like abductions and detentions. Leading dailies report
Double Salaries: Report
A secretary-level taskforce formed by the government to study the problems faced by civil servants has recommended doubling their salaries. The taskforce made the recommendation on the basis of report presented by National Pay Commission – 2061. The coordinator of taskforce Yubaraj Pandey, Secretary at the Ministry of General Administration, said the recommendation will be submitted to the government on Thursday. The government had formed the taskforce after its employees launched agitation demanding timely increase of salaries on the basis of market inflation, and formulation of Civil Service Act, among others. As per the taskforce's recommendation, monthly salary of a secretary should increase from existing Rs 14,000 to Rs 27,700. Likewise, it has suggested increasing the monthly salaries of joint secretary to Rs 23,300; under secretary to Rs 18,900; section officer to Rs 15,200; Nayab Subba to Rs 10,200 and peon to Rs 5500. In order to fulfill its recommendations, the government will need to allocate Rs 50 billion to pay salaries of civil servants – up from current Rs 30 billion. Kantipur daily reports
RPP-Nepal Stresses On Constitutional Monarchy
Stating that the monarchy is essential for smooth functioning of democracy, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) has said it will follow the path of constitutional monarchy and Hindu nation. President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nepal) Rabindra Nath Sharma has said that the institution of monarchy is necessary to preserve national unity and integrity. "In order to save national unity and integrity, the institution of monarchy is necessary," said Sharma, addressing a press meet at the end of two-day national gathering of his party in Lalitpur on Tuesday (June 19). Sharma said that at present the national unity is in a 'dangerous position.' He also said that the recent second amendment of constitution whereby two-third majority of MPs can vote out the monarchy is unacceptable. Sharma said that even the Constituent Assembly cannot decide the fate of monarchy. "Only referendum can do so," he added. Compiled from reports
SC Interrogates Jana Ashtha Editor, Journos Protest
The Supreme Court interrogated Kishor Shrestha, the editor/publisher of Jana Astha weekly, on Monday (June 25). Shrestha along with other journalists of the weekly including managing editor Rajendra Sthapit and sub editor Chudamani Bhattarai were summoned to the SC to record their statement for publishing news two weeks earlier about "sexual abuse" by the Chief Justice. They face contempt of court charge. "Since the defendants denied the charge of contempt of court, they should be let off on general court date as per Section 118 (5) of the Court Management Chapter of Civil Code 1963," a division bench of Justices Kedar Prasad Giri and Sharada Shrestha ruled. The bench also called the Nepal Bar Association and the Supreme Court Bar Association to appoint amicus curiae to help the apex court settle the case. The court later let off the journalists of the weekly without demanding any bail amount or any personal guarantee. Meanwhile, saying that the summoning of the editor of Jana Astha is against the norms and spirit of free press, representatives of various media organizations including the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ), Weekly Fortnightly Newspapers Network and Press Chautari Nepal picketed the Supreme Court (SC) for an hour this morning.
Samacharpatra Resumes Publication
Kamana Publications has resumed the publishing of Nepal Samachapatra daily and Mahanagar eveninger from Sunday (June 24) after five days of obstruction by pro-Maoist workers. The publications were resumed after the pro-Maoist workers withdrew their agitation and ended obstructions. At a meeting held, on Saturday, among the representatives of Publications, pro-Maoist trade union, and workers working under Customer Solution company – which has been out-sourced to distribute the newspapers – the latter agreed to withdraw their strike. "I hope similar obstruction do not take place again. It is the victory of press freedom," said Pushkar Lal Shrestha, executive chairman of the Publications. Meanwhile, on Saturday Shrestha was invited by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence in Baluwatar where the former briefed him about the agitation leading to obstruction of publications. "It is the press freedom that shows whether there is democracy in the country. I cannot tolerate the situation of obstruction in press in democracy," Shrestha quoted the PM as saying. Media workers and political parties had strongly denounced the move by Maoist workers to obstruction the publications.
