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VOL. 27, NO. 6, September 21, 2007 (Ashwin 04 2064 B.S.)
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THE ELECTION COMMISSION (EC) has introduced the election code of ethics and has announced its phase-wise enforcement in different sectors. According to a press release by the EC, the code of ethics will come into force from September 18 for government, semi-government and local bodies. The code of ethics will be enforced from September 31 for political parties. The same will come into effect for candidates from the date they file their nomination papers. The private media will have to observe the code of ethics from the date the candidates get their election symbols.
FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENT OF OVER 4000 People's Liberation Army (PLA) combatants from Arunkhola fourth division cantonment at Nawalparasi on Friday (September 14) morning, the UNMIN has condemned it as violation of agreement. The combatants demonstrated outside cantonments demanding payment of salaries and fulfillment of 22-point demands raised by Maoists. "UNMIN has monitored the movement of large numbers of Maoist army personnel outside the main cantonment site in Nawalparasi and its satellite sites, in the western region. This is a serious violation of commitments made in the agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel reached between the Maoists and their partners in the Interim Government," states a press release by the UNMIN. It said it deployed three mobile teams to monitor the movement of Maoist army personnel. "UNMIN has communicated its concerns direct to the political and military leadership of the CPN (Maoist), who advised that it ordered the immediate return of personnel to the cantonment. While the verification process of Maoist army personnel is proceeding well, implementing the commitments in relation to the management of arms and armed personnel, without exception, is essential to the overall peace process and in particular to preparing a free and fair atmosphere for the Constituent Assembly election."
CROWN PRINCE PARAS HAS BEEN discharged from Norvic Hospital on Wednesday (Sep 12). He had remained hospitalized since last Thursday after he suffered from heart attack. Doctors had performed angioplasty and stent procedure on him the same day he was rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, CP Paras will remain under close medical observation. He has been asked to follow strict dietary restrictions and adopt change in lifestyle to avoid further complications. After he was discharged from the hospital, CP Paras told media that he was thankful to all for their kind concerns. Meanwhile, King Gyanendra's aunt, Helen Shah, passed away at the age of 75 on Wednesday. She passed away at Chhauni military hospital. She was suffering from cancer. Helen Shah is the wife of late Prince Basundhara who was a younger brother of late King Mahendra.
RICHARD BENNETT, CHIEF OF THE Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR-Nepal) has called for protection and respect of sexual minorities. Speaking at a program organized by Blue Diamond Society, Bennett said, he congratulates BDS "for your continuing efforts to ensure that the human rights of minorities – especially lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and metis (transgender people) – are respected and protected in Nepal, and that they are able to participate fully in the ongoing project to reshape Nepalese society." Stating that Nepal's Interim Constitution specifically outlaws discrimination on the basis of "sex," he said it was an essential first step towards ensuring that the dignity of sexual minorities will be assured in Nepal. "However, as you are all too aware, legal provisions alone will not ensure that discrimination and ill-treatment of LGBT people will end immediately. That will require a major social transformation," he said.
KUNIO SENGA, ADB'S DIRECTOR GENERAL for South Asia, expressed cautious optimism over Nepal's medium term prospects for economic development based on the Government's continued commitment to the reform process. He expressed his optimism at the end of 5-day official visit on Wednesday (Sep 12). However, he expressed concern over the security situation, noting that the currently uncertain environment could affect implementation of development activities. Given the significant risks in the run up to the Constituent Assembly elections, he urged the Government to try its utmost to maintain a conducive environment for effective delivery of development assistance. He reiterated ADB's commitment to assist Nepal's development but underscored that effective and safe implementation of development projects depends on the ground realities, states a press release issued by the ADB.
MAOIST CHAIRMAN PRACHANDA HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED with spondylitis. He had gone to the TU Teaching Hospital on Thursday (Sep 13) after he had a severe back pain. Spondylitis, also called ankylosing spondylitis, is a type of arthritis that affects the spine or backbone. Spondylitis may cause back pain and stiffness. Doctors have asked Prachanda to take complete rest for a few weeks.
