Govt abolishes bonded labour system
UML welcomes Govt decision Kamaiyas freed of debts

Kathmandu, July 17 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government has, with immediate effect, abolished the bonded labour system existing in the country as a quintessence of social inequality.

Making a statement of public interest at the House of Representatives and the National Assembly today, Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddharaj Ojha announced that the cabinet meeting today took a decision prohibiting any one from employing any person as a bonded labourer throughout the Kingdom of Nepal. He also informed Parliament that the decision will come into effect from today.

He said that notwithstanding the constitutional and other legal provisions which prohibit the trafficking of any individual or the practice of slavery as well as exploitation of labourers in any form against one’s will bonded labour system had been existing in some parts of the country and the helpless and illiterate labourers were reeling under severe exploitation as bonded labourers. On line with the cabinet decision all such bonded labourers have been automatically freed from today, he added.

The act of working and making one work as bonded labourer on the basis of any written or verbal bond or against the existing law will, hereafter, be punishable it will be punishable he said, adding that any such deeds signed for this purpose with any bonded labourer or any member of his family will be regarded null and void from today.

Ojha said that since the bonded labourers are freed from today they needn’t pay any due debts they owe to their masters.

Minister Ojha also informed that a decision has also been taken to register with the Parliament Secretariat a bill designed to make procedural and institutional arrangements for ensuring just wages and, rights and well-being of labourers in any domestic and agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has withdrawn the adjournment proposal registered at the Parliament Secretariat for the liberation of the Kamaiyas or bonded labourers.

CPN-UML’s Bharat Mohan Adhikari informed the House of Representatives today that the proposal was withdrawn since the government has taken positive steps to resolve the problem.

Speaking of the need for the government to pay attention to settling the bonded labourers and to form a monitoring committee for this purpose, Mr Adhikari noted that his party has long been raising voice for the emancipation of the Kamaiyas and thanked HMG for declaring them freed.

MP Narayan Man Bijukchhe complained that the main opposition party agreed with the government without the knowledge of other parties, demanding that the land they were tilling should be transferred in their names or at least half of the land should be given to them.

MP Chitra Bahadur KC of the Rastriya Janamorcha observed that whether the Kamaiyas would get the land they are tilling is a major question though HMG’s announcement is good to some extent.

Similarly, at the National Assembly meeting today, when Minister for Land Reforms and Management Siddharaj Ojha declared the Kamaiyas freed from today, whip of the main opposition party Surendra Prasad Pandey welcomed the government’s decision as a positive step and spoke of the need to provide settlement to some 200,000 bonded labourers in the country.

Meanwhile, Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya has expressed the commitment of introducing socio-economic programmes with new approach for the rehabilitation of the bonded labourers after the historic announcement of elimination of the bonded labour system.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives after the announcement of the government to liberate the bonded labourers, Mr Acharya said that the government would introduce skill development, income generation and employment programmes conducted through landless squatters problems resolution commission for the rehabilitation and livelihood of the bonded labourers.

Govt to encourage honest civil servants, says Koirala

Kathmandu, July 17 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that no civil servants will be discriminated against on the basis of conscience.

Responding to questions during question hour at the House of Representatives today, Prime Minister Koirala said that hike had been made in the pay of the civil servants so that they perform their role honestly but action would be taken against the employees who do not bear responsibility or involve in wrong practices.

He said, "As long as I am in the government, there will be no discrimination against anyone on the basis of faith but if the laws and rules are violated and the official position abused, the government would take action".

Stating that the transfer and promotion of the civil servants were made in accordance with the civil service act and rules, Prime Minister Koirala said that amendment had been made in the civil services act some time ago in a bid to make the transfer and promotion of the civil servants systematic.

He said that HMG had been alerting and making active all the bodies of HMG to protect the rights, freedom, security and dignity of the Nepalese citizens guaranteed by the constitution and these activities are being monitored from time to time.

Stating that National Human Rights Commission had been constituted recently with the objective of enhancing human rights education and raising human rights awareness, Prime Minister Koirala said that HMG had taken ahead the task of performing socio-economic activities along with the formulation of law relating to protection of the life and property of the people and also of the impoverished classes victimised by social inequality and discrimination.

He noted that as the issue of human rights was a national one, it should be dealt with on the basis of national consensus.

Prime Minister Koirala said that the involvement and effectiveness of the regional offices of the National Planning Commission in all the five development regions of the country would be ensured for the evaluation and implementation of the projects in the years ahead.

He said that the task was going on for maximum utilisation of the regional offices of the NPC in helping in formulation of the periodic plans and bringing in regional balance in the districts.

Stating that the government was firm on its earlier commitments, the Prime Minister said, "There can be fight with the visible enemy but as corruption was an invisible force, it is difficult to combat it and cooperation of all concerned is necessary in this respect".

Stating that HMG had adopted a new kind of financial discipline and attention has been paid so that many people were not affected by it, he said that the temporary employees and those working on contract would be reinstated after making necessary arrangement.

MPs Gokarna Raj Bista, Mahadev Gurung and Parasuram Meghi Gurung had asked questions to the Prime Minister.

Japanese aid for UNHCR’s refugee operation in Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 17: The Government of Japan has announced its contribution of US$ 1.3 million to UNHCR’s refugee operation in Nepal in response to its global appeal for the year 2000.

The Government of Japan continues its humanitarian assistance to the Bhutanese Refugee Assisted Programme in Nepal and this contribution is expected to assist UNHCR to carry out its care, maintenance and assistance programmes for the Bhutanese Refugees while waiting for their permanent final solution, an Embassy of Japan press statement said today.

The Government of Japan also hopes that the long awaited solution for these refugees is reached soon by the Governments concerned as it is in the best interest of all concerned, including the international communities, to see the end of the plight of the Bhutanese refugees, the press release further noted.

It may be recalled that Japan is one of the largest donors of UNHCR operations globally.

‘Efforts on to resolve Kalapani issue’

Kathmandu, July 17 (RSS): Responding to queries during question hour at the National Assembly today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola said that efforts are being made to peacefully resolve the issue of removal of Indian army from Kalapani through dialogue and sought cooperation of other political parties in this regard.

Minister Bastola, in response to another question, said that the matter of reviewing the Treaty of 1950 between Nepal and India and making timely changes in it had been raised time and again, and there should be national consensus in this regard.

He said that the notice for extending the period for utilising the Fulbari transit route had already been issued.

Referring to the nine ministerial meeting so far in connection with the Bhutanese Refugee issue, he said that diplomatic and international effort were on to resolve with the problem.

Stating that matter of Nepalese facing hassles while crossing the Indian border had been raised with the Foreign Minister of India during talks with him, he said adding that the attention of the Government of India was also drawn when this kind of incidents occurred.

Kashinath Adhikari, Kedar Nath Neupaney and Mrs Gaura Koirala of the CPN-UML and Bhim Bahadur Shrestha of the Nepali Congress had posed questions to him.

Judiciary vigilant to protect its domain: CJ

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 17: Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya today said that the judiciary would remain vigilant to check the attitude to defame the Court and undermine its authority.

"Guided by the principles of tolerance, good temper and sympathy, the judiciary is watchful of the attempts to defame and undermine it and will move ahead accordingly to maintain its dignity," Upadhyaya told a talk programme on ‘Dignity of the Court and Human Rights Issue’ here this afternoon.

The programme was organised by Nepal Bar Association (NBA)’s Human Rights and Public Concern Committee (HRPCC) with a view to discuss the importance of independent judiciary for the protection and promotion of human rights.

Upadhyaya said that justice was the touchstone of the democratic system, adding that the Court would not shy away in matter of effecting justice to the people. "The Court is determined to face the forces trying to encroach into its domain and nullify its decisions."

The government, the Opposition and the police have time and again assaulted on the dignity of the Court, HRPCC head Daman Nath Dhungana said. Dhungana said that the government as well the Opposition party blamed the Court if the verdict went against them while the police detained innocent people undermining the Court’s order to release them. "Neither is the press sensitive about the Court’s dignity," Dhungana said. "This is a dangerous attitude posing threat to the democratic system."

The attitude to go against the rule of law despairs people that may bring about serious consequences, NBA President Harihar Dahal said. It will ultimately harm democracy, he added.

Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Sushil Pyakurel said that the government was not accountable to human rights violation. "One wing (police administration) of the state is negating the other (judiciary)," Pyakurel said. "What will happen to the judiciary in such a situation?" he questioned.

"NHRC has taken it seriously," he said and stressed on solidarity between the watch dog agencies, human rights organisations and the media.

Another NHRC member Kapil Shrestha said the attitude of undermining the Court’s authority would weaken the democratic system.

Showing reservations about the government’s attitude to the Commission, Shrestha said, "We will not compromise in cases of protecting and promoting human rights."

Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi stressed on aggressive civil society and the NHRC to nip what he said the culture of impunity.

Violence threat to rule of law: Thakur

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 17: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Mahantha Thakur has said that rule of law is the essence of a democratic system.

"Rule of law guarantees equal opportunities and distribution of resources which play significant role in the consolidation of democracy," Minister Thakur said at a talk programme "The Concept of Rule of Law and the Provision of Sentencelessness" organised by Amnesty International Nepal to mark international justice day here this afternoon.

Referring the ongoing Maoist insurgency throughout the Kingdom, he said the violence posed hindrance on the way to establish rule of law in the country. "The insurgency has threatened the normalcy of everyday life in the country."

Law should be equal to all regardless of class and position, he said adding punishment should be fixed as per the magnitude of crime.

Stating that partisan interest has overshadowed the national interest in the country, he asked all the concerned individuals and organisations to support the government’s campaign to reform laws so as to enhance the judiciary system.

Nepal Bar Association President Harihar Dahal said that the individuals who are responsible for making and maintaining laws and order are violating the laws themselves.

Stating the tendency of violating laws existed in politics, police and judiciary, he said, "This situation has ridiculed the concept of rule of law."

He charged the leftist and rightist extremists of trying to disrupt democracy by spreading among common citizen negative attitude about the system.

He pointed the need for an efficient punishment system supported by a systematic investigation strategy.

Spokesman of the Supreme Court Kashi Raj Dahal said that political intervention in judiciary, rampant corruption and the growing tendency of abusing authority were some of the challenges posing threat to the rule of law. "The government should enact a stringent punishment system to get rid of the problems prompted by the social evil," he said.

Stating the Nepal’s punishment system was reformed only twice, he stressed the need for making it compatible with the international standard.

From the chair, AIN president Krishna Kandel demanded that Nepal ratify the International Criminal Court Statute enacted in Italian capital Rome two years ago. "The court can punish the law violators whom the national court failed to punish," he said. "The state of sentencelessness would not come to an end unless we took the culprits to the court of justice."