Constitutional amendment a must: Nepal

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 10: The leader of the Main Opposition Party today reiterated that it was necessary to amend the Constitution to resolve the problems facing the nation and to bring the Maoists into mainstream politics.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), said that his party’s proposals for constitutional amendment and comprehensive reforms were meant to serve the interest of the nation and its people.

"We believe that constitutional amendments and socio-economic reforms are needed to address the existing anomalies and bring the Maoists to the right track," Nepal told a face to face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club this afternoon.

"The Constitution requires amendment to empower the Prime Minister, to strengthen the constitutional bodies and to solve the problems of citizenship and discrimination, among others."

He said that the CPN-UML was not the only party seeking constitutional amendment. "All the major political parties in the country have agreed on the need to amend the existing Constitution to free the nation from the problem it is presently facing.

"There is a school of thought that says the Constitution should not be amended during a state of emergency. But solutions are sought at such times," said Nepal.

He also maintained that the Parliament had the right to amend the Constitution and showed reservations about the voices against constitutional amendment from outside the Parliament. "It is an attempt to undermine the Parliament at a time when efforts are necessary to make sure that the Parliament reflects the sentiments and opinions of the general public."

Nepal said that the proposal for constitutional amendment had been brought to win the confidence of the people and find a political solution to the Maoist problem. "We have been blamed for diverting the people’s attention from the crisis the country is facing. It has instead drawn their attention to the problem and this can be instrumental in finding a solution."

Nepal said the Maoists should give up violence and adopt political measures to attain their goals. "The Maoists should come to the table for talks; guns do not solve problems."

He welcomed the powerful commission to investigate into the properties of high-level politicians, bureaucrats and heads of constitutional bodies and promised his party’s full support to it. "The UML will not protect its leaders if found guilty."

Nepal called for an all-party government to hold fair elections.

He said the government should look for ways to shorten the period of the state of emergency, adding that the emergency should not be an excuse to harass innocent people.

Private sector role in education appreciated

Kathmandu, Mar. 10 (RSS): Chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Moshin has said development of the education sector is necessary for the overall development of the country.

Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Private and Boarding School Organisation of Nepal (PABSON) here today, Dr. Moshin said that the private educational institutions have been playing a vital role in checking the flow of money outside the country.

The educational institutions have been badly affected by violent and terrorist activities, he said, adding that the civil society should extend necessary cooperation for bringing improvements in the education sector.

On the occasion chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Moshin felicitated Pushpa Bhakta Malla, Bisworam Bhakta Mathema, Ratna Prasad Shrestha and Sabitri Singh for their invaluable contributions to the education sector by wrapping them with shawls and presented them letters of appreciation.

Dr. Moshin also presented a letter of appreciation To Mrs Pramila Singh in recognition of the contributions made by late N. K. Singh to the education sector.

Dr. Moshin also released the educational information directory published jointly by PABSON and Mileage International.

At the function chaired by PABSON president Rajesh Khadka, PABSON general secretary Bhoj Bahadur Shaha, Pushpa Bhakta Malla, Bisworam Bhakta Mathema and Sabitri Singh also expressed their views.

Seven terrorists killed, weapons, explosives seized

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Seven armed terrorists were shot dead and weapons and explosives seized by the security forces in separate operations in different parts of the country during the last two days.

According to the Defense Ministry, three terrorists, including the area commander, were killed in encounters at Shankarpur area of Kanchanpur district, two in Kharanitar of Nuwakot and one each in Kapurkot of Salyan and Sigha of Myagdi district.

The Ministry said that the two terrorists were killed on the spot when the security forces retaliated against a group of terrorists trying to set up an electric ambush at Kharanitar. The security forces are interrogating 26 suspects who have been rounded up from the area.

Security personnel, who were injured in the ambush, were brought to Kathmandu by helicopter yesterday. They are undergoing medical treatment at the Birendra Military Hospital.

The terrorist, killed in Sigha is said to have laid an electric ambush at Chitreni of the same district.

The security forces also seized three guns, other weapons and socket bombs from the areas.

The Ministry informed that the security forces recovered four 12-bore guns and one shotgun in the course of their search operations in Chhoprak of Gorkha district yesterday. They also found two guns and explosives from Aglewa area of Gulmi district. They seized a large quantity of foodstuffs from Khanchok of Gorkha district and handed it over to the local people. The terrorists had looted the foodstuffs from the locals.

In the meantime, the security personnel recovered two tractors and some goods that had been looted by the terrorists and returned them to the concerned businessman.

Yesterday, residents of Rupandehi collectively handed over 15 guns to the district-based security forces. Meanwhile, the security forces have nabbed two suspects from Dharmapur village of Kailali district for necessary investigation. They also seized three guns, one pistol, some charcoal, camouflage shirts, books and booklets from the area.

Nepathya sets out on nationwide peace mission

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Nepathya, a musical band, set out on a nationwide tour this morning to promote peace and support education under the slogan Shanti Ko Lagi Sikchya (Education for Peace).

The tour to be managed by Event Nepa-laya, Event Crafters and promoters, was flagged off from the Basantapur Dabali, Kathmandu.

The three-week tour will feature musical programmes across the country. The band will stage its first show at Nepathya’s home ground Pokhara (March 12) and will proceed to the eastern city of Biratnagar (March 19), making stopovers at Narayangadh (March 14) and Hetauda (March 16). The tour will finally conclude with the band performing to the Capital audience at the Birendra International Convention Centre on March 30.

The event is being held to spread the message of peace and support the local educational institutes of the host cities, said a joint press release of Nepathya and Event Nepa-laya. The schools that are affiliated with the tour are Amar Singh High School in Pokhara, Balkumari High School in Narayangadh, Siddartha Secondary School in Hetauda, Gograha Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar and Padma Kanya Vidyashram in Kathmandu.

Accordinng to the organisers these schools have been given the responsibility of organising the shows in their respective cities.

"This is a peace campaign, which we believe, will echo the message of patriotism throughout the country," the press statement notes.

Party imbroglio can obstruct anti-Maoist move: Paudel

Punjab, India, Mar. 10 (RSS): Nepali Congress leader and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel said the destruction of the Maoist is evident as all the Nepali people, political parties and the global community is against terrorism.

Speaking at the "Public Awakening Against Terroris" training programme organised by the Nepali Janasamparka Samiti here on Sunday, Poudel said there is no alternative left for the Maoists then to regret of what they have done so far and give up their arms and ammunition to the government.

The incidents of murder and terror perperated by the Maoists has given a bad name to Maoism and communism, added Poudel.

Intra-party debate and division inside the Nepali Congress could obstruct the anti-terrorist campaign carried out to put an end to violence and terror, Poudel said adding that all Nepali Congress workers should become united and help the government towards that end.

MP Krishna Kishore Ghimire said all political parties should become united in disarming the Maoists for the interest and well-being of the nation.

Central general secretary of Nepal Women Association Puspa Bhusal, central chairperson of the organising committee Shivalal Bhusal and other speakers also expressed their views.

Workers and members of central committees and five different regional committees, branch and units in various states and other leading workers under the Nepali Janasamparka Committee are taking part in the daylong training.

Meanwhile in Ludhiyana, Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel has said Maoist terrorists themselves broke the peace talks and are now indulged in bank robbery and brutal murder of the poor and innocents, destroying development-construction works, terrorising people and capturing power by force.

Paudel, who was inaugurating a people’s awareness campaign programme organised in connection with the 52nd democracy day and on the occasion of the Nepalese people’s liaison committee North West Ludhiyana, India today said since the Maoists are killing helpless people, innocent teachers and political workers, they are not revolutionaries, but are terrorists.

Committee central chairman Mahendra Bhusal said no country or people in the world have ever benefited from terrorism and the Maoists do not have any right to misguide the people by doling out false dreams.

MP Krishna Kishore Ghimire noted that terrorism has no objectives and spoke of the need of unity to discourage terrorist activities.

General secretary of Nepal Women’s Association Pushpa Bhusal pointed out the need of unity of the Nepalese people to fight against the design aimed to weaken the country and democracy and said at a time when the country had to expedite economic revolution, the nation is fighting terrorism and corruption.

During his stay at Tata Cancer Hospital for cancer treatment in Bombay, popular leader Biseshwor Prasad Koirala had formed the committee as a social institution with the objective of promoting brotherhood among the domiciled Nepalese people and jointly resolving their daily problems.

The committee established as a social institution had significantly contributed to the Nepal’s democratic movement in 2036 BS and 2046 BS.

Balkrishna Pandey of the committee said the committee has a total general membership of some 50,000 in New Delhi, Madras, Chandigarh, Bombay and Bhopal.

There are eight million plus Nepalese people living in India, sources said.

A host of other speakers including Nepali Congress general committee member Gopal Prasad Koirala and chief of Nepal Students Union foreign department Tirtha Bhattarai also spoke at the function chaired by committee’s Ram Prasad Ghimire.