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NC candidate wins
Sunsari-3 parliamentary seat His nearest rival Narendra Chaudhari of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) secured 17,668 votes. RPP and CPN-UML had forged an electoral alliance to back the RPP candidate in Sunsari-3. Contrary to their agreement, CPN-UML candidate Phani Lal Chaudhari secured more than 5,000 votes. Had the votes secured by CPN-UML candidates gone to the RPP candidate, Chaudhari would have easily won. With the election in Sunsari-3, election in all 205 constituencies of the House of Representatives has been complete. Nepali Congress now has 111 seats in the House of Representatives, the Lower House of Parliament, CPN-UML 71, RPP 11, Nepal Sadbhavana Party 5, United National Front 5, United People's Front 1 and Nepal Workers' and Peasants Party 1. Election for six seats of Upper
House held According to Election Commission, election in all five development regions for the six seats of Upper House was held in a peaceful manner. Counting of votes has already begun in all five development regions. One candidate each is to be elected from Eastern, Central, Western and Far-Western Development Regions and two from Mid-Western Development Region. NC and CPN-UML candidates had filed nominations in the Eastern and Central Development Regions. In Western Development Region, NC, UML and National People's Front have fielded their candidates. In the Mid-western region, NC, UML, Nepal Workers and Peasant Party and National People's Front candidates were in the election fray, while CPN-UML and CPN-ML candidates contested for the Far-western seat of National Assembly. In one seat of Mid-western region, RPP, RPP(Chand) and National People's Front put up their candidates. Parties had forged an alliance for the election of the six seats of National Assembly to be elected from development region. Nepali Congress, CPN-ML and RPP ( Chand) had agreed to jointly face CPN-UML-led opposition alliance. According to the agreement, they supported NC candidates in Eastern, Central, Western and Mid-Western Regions, RPP (Chand) candidate in Mid-Western Region and CPN-ML candidate in Far-Western Region. Similarly, CPN-UML and RPP supported each
other in the Upper House election. Accordingly, CPN(UML) backed RPP candidate in one seat
of Mid-Western Region, while RPP supported CPN-UML candidates in other five seats. CPN-ML condoles Sergeant Rai's
death Kathmandu, June 27: Communist Party of Nepal ( Marxist-Leninist) expressed grief over the death of Gurkha Sergant Bal Ram Rai of British Army in Pristina, Kosovo on June 20. In a press statement issued today, the party has expressed its condolence and paid tribute to the late Rai. Sergeant Rai died in a bomb explosion while clearing land mine in a school at Pristina. The statement says, " we highly honor the valor of late Rai and pay our sincere tribute to him". CPN-UML said that Rai's death raised a serous question about the use of Gurkhas in British Army in international conflict. It has demanded with the British government that late Rai's family be given compensation, pension and other facilities at par with that of other British army personnel. CPN-UML has also urged His Majesty's Government to take initiatives to ensure that late Rai's family gets adequate compensation and facilities. Meanwhile, All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU), student wing of CPN-ML, submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai calling upon his to take moves at the government level in order to persuade Indian government not to use Gurkhas in Kashmir conflict with Pakistan. As Pakistan is Nepal's friend, the use of Gurkhas in war against Pakistan is against the tripartite agreement reached between Nepal, India and Britain. Several Gurkhas are believed to have been killed in conflict between India and Pakistan in Kargil, Kashmir. However, it has not been confirmed. Five CPN-UML & one RPP
candidates elected to Upper House Kathmandu, June 27: Five CPN-UML and one RPP candidates were elected to the National Assembly, Upper House of Parliament, from four development regions. Election for the six vacant seats of National Assembly, to be elected from development regions by the elected representatives of the local bodies, had been held today. Results of Upper House election in all five development regions have been declared. In the Eastern Development Region, Uttam Bahadur Mahat Chettri of CPN-UML was elected to the Upper House by securing 889 votes. His nearest rival Birbal Biraji of Nepali Congress secured 316 votes. In Central Development Region, Kedar Neupane of CPN-UML was declared elected. Neupane polled 1371 votes. His nearest rival Jip Tsering Lama of Nepali Congress received 817 votes. In Western Development Region, Ram Chandra Bhattarai was elected to the Upper House by polling 890 votes. His nearest rival Dipak Bahadur Gurung secured 662 votes. In one seat of Mid-Western Region, Bir Bahadur Singh of CPN-UML was declared winner. He polled 676 votes. His nearest rival of Nepali Congress Lal Hamal polled 386 votes. In another seat ( for four years) of Mid-Western Region, Bala Ram Ghartimagar of Rastriya Prajatantra Party was declared elected to the National Assembly. He polled 386 votes. His nearest rival Chhetra Bahadur Shaha of RPP (Chand) polled 372 votes. In Far-Western Development Region, Mohan Bam of CPN-UML was elected to the National Assembly. Bam polled 355 votes. His nearest rival Govinda Prasad Kalauni of CPN-ML secured 342 votes. Results of two seats of Mid-Western Development Region are yet to come. According to Election Commission, vote counting in Mid-western Region is going on. Parties had forged an alliance for the election of the six seats of National Assembly to be elected from development region. Nepali Congress, CPN-ML and RPP ( Chand) had agreed to jointly face CPN-UML-led opposition alliance. According to the agreement, they supported NC candidates in Eastern, Central, Western and Mid-Western Regions, RPP (Chand) candidate in Mid-Western Region and CPN-ML candidate in Far-Western Region. Similalry, CPN-UML and RPP supported each other in the Upper House election. Accordingly, CPN (UML) backed RPP candidate in one seat of Mid-Western Region, while RPP supported CPN-UML candidates in other five seats. King Birendra nominates 3
persons in Upper House Kathmandu, June 28: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev nominated three persons in the National Assembly, Upper House of parliament, today. Those nominated in the Upper House today are Ramesh Nath Pandey, Riddhi Babu Pariyar and Mohan Raj Sharma Chapagain. The King nominates three persons in the National Assembly in every two year. According to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990, National Assembly consists of 60 members. Of the 60 members, 35 members are elected by members of the House of Representatives by means of single transferable voting system, 15 are elected by local representatives of five development regions (three from each development region) and 10 are nominated by the King. The tenure of member of National Assembly is six years. Tenure of one-thirds members terminates in every two year. Of the three nominated in the National Assembly by the King, Ramesh Nath Pandey was re-nominated. He had just completed his tenure of Upper House member. Other two are new faces. House caves in, 5 killed According to Police, Govinda Raikamagar, 42, his wife Maiya Raikamagar, 35, his daughters Simnila Raikamagar, 15, and Elika Raikamagar,4, died on the spot when the house they were living collapsed Monday morning. Govinda's two sons Anasha Raikamagar died in hospital while undergoing treatment. Another son Umusha Raikamagar is undergoing treatment in the hospital. Doctors said his condition is also critical. The Raikamagar family hailed from Ramechhap, 150 kilometer east of Kathmandu. The house where Raikamager family was residing belonged to one Pema Wangdel of Kathmandu. The house collapsed when the upper part of the land caved in. The House has been completely destroyed. Meanwhile the government has decided to provide 50,000 rupees to the family of the deceased for the immediate relief. Hong Kong defeats Nepal by 2-1 in
Olympic Asian Qualifying Football Game Dilli Ram Shrestha scored one goal for Nepal. The group six match of Asian Qualifying Football Tournament is being played in Japan. The preliminary round was played in Hong Kong, where Nepal had defeated Hong Kong, and Philippines. Nepal, however, had lost to Japan by 5-0. The game played between Nepal and Malaysia had been declared a draw as the organizers had to postpone the game because of violence between fans of Nepal and Malaysia team. FIFA decided to fine Nepal 10,000 US dollars. Yadav sole candidate for Deputy
Speaker Today was the last date to file nominations for deputy speaker. Chitralekha Yadav was the lone candidate to file nomination for the post when the time for nomination expired today. Mrs Yadav now has been unanimously elected as Deputy Speaker. However, she will be formally declared elected in the meeting of the House of Representatives tomorrow, as some legal formalities have to be completed. Mrs Yadav was elected to the House of Representatives from Siraha-2 constituency. Hom Nath Dahal and Shiva Kumar Basnet, both Member of House of Representatives, proposed and seconded Yadav's candidacy for deputy speaker. Other opposition parties did not put up their candidate saying they wanted both Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be elected unanimously. Even if opposition parties had put up their candidates, Yadav victory was certain as Nepali Congress has comfortable majority in the House of Representatives. Gurkha Ex-Servicemen demand end to
discrimination against Gurkhas in British Army In a press statement issued in Kathmandu following the death of Gurkha Segeant Balram Rai in Kosovo, Gurkha Ex-Servicemen Organization said, "British government must stop discriminatory treatment and pay honour to the clean loyalty and bravery of the Gurkhas with equal pay and equal pension". Following is the statement issued by the Gurkha Ex-Servicemen Organization: Again, the blood the Nepalese youth is pouring in alien land for alien cause. Death of Balram Rai in Kosovo while clearing the mines has shocked the whole family of Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen Organization and the Nepalese people. The degrading treatment the family of deceased received in pension and compensation has generated tremendous anger not only to his wife and children, but also the entire Gurkha ex-eervicemen. The British government again made an attempt to fix the price of blood based on the nationality of " who died". Deceased Balram Rai being not a " British national" is not entitled to equal treatment in matters of pension and other facilities, is plainly a discriminatory policy of the British government having been excuted for over decades. The British government in the long history of the bravery of the Gurkha troop is repeatedly excuting this policy. At this moment of grief, we would like to reiterate our concern that " British Government must stop discriminatory treatment immediately, and pay honour to the clean loyalty and bravery of the Gurkhas with equal pay and equal pension". British government is making an excuse, rather an ill argument, that the Tripartite Treaty of 1947 is an obstacle to this. We have several times from several forums answered this ill argument properly. At this juncture, we would like to reiterate our stand and urge the British government to resolve the problem immediately, otherwise prepare to face a grave situation. The British government's excuse that it is unable to review the pay and pension because of 1947 treaty is unreasonable and baseless. The issue of approximation of pay and pension of British Gurkha Ex-Servicemen to Indian Pay Code is not applicable to the Gurkha troop. The Annex II, which provides for approximation, is a bilateral treaty between India and the United Kingdom. Nepal is not a signatory to it, and has not approved the said bilateral treaty concluded by those countries on 7th November, 1947. Therefore, it is just meaningless to make attempt to invoke the treaty against Nepal. By making an attempt, to invoke the said bilateral treaty, UK is not only trying to deceitfully perpertuate the discrimination against Gurkhas, but also it is flagrantly violating the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Nepal. UK has no authority given by any law to subject Nepal to comply a treaty, which it has never signed or approved. For Nepal, Annex III of the treaty is the concerned and only applicable part. It unequivocally guarantees " Treatment of Gurkhas on equal footing of Parent Army ( the British White Troops) in matters of promotion, welfare and other facilities. The Race Relation Act of UK also prohibits the discrimination in pay and pension based on nationality. In is matter of great regret that thousands of Gurkhas have been subjected to discrimination over many decades. The parliament of Nepal a few months ago made recommendations to end this discrimination. The British Embassy in Kathmandu in its reply to a query of the House of Representatives has accepted that 15,053 Gurkhas have sacrificed their lives for the cause of UK in various wars. Unfortunately, no compensation of whatsoever is paid to their family. Is this a reward tountainted service of the Gurkhas? The British Government must now answer this concern appropriately. Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen Organization at this moment of grief would like to strongly urge Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom and British Prime Minister that immediate steps to be taken to end the prolonged discrimination. We are optimistic that we will have an easy and comfortable end of the problem. The delay will just generate unwanted end. Chitralekha Yadav unanimously
elected Deputy Speaker June 30, Kathmandu: Chitralekha Yadav has been
unanimously elected the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. King Birendra expands Cabinet June 30, Kathmandu: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on the recommendation of Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has expanded the present cabinet from 16 to 32 . The names of the cabinet members and their portfolios are as follows:
Newly appointed ministers sworn in
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LAST UPDATED : Monday, July 05, 1999 02:11:38 PM NST
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