A parliamentary committee has instructed the government to study the legal provisions for non-residents in neighboring countries and submit a refined bill.
The Industrial Relations and Labour Committee of the Legislature-Parliament has asked the government to improve the Bill on Non-Resident Nepalis (NRN).
The instruction was given on Tuesday following discussion on the proposed NRN bill.
The NRN community has been demanding for a separate NRN bill to ensure their recognition and facilitate their investment in the country, among others.
A central-level leader of Maoists has been killed by the cadres of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Goit) in Saptari district.
Dasarath Thakur aka Rohit, who is a central member of Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Peasants Association (Revolutionary), was killed on Tuesday night hours after he was abducted by JTMM-G cadres.
Thakur was taken to a nearby jungle while he was on his way to home in Banauli of Prasabani in the district. Later, he was shot to death.
Raja Sarthak, who claimed to be Saptarai 2 No. in-charge of JTMM-G, owned up responsibility for the killing.
Decline in production of food stuffs and delay in political resolution have dragged the economic growth down to 2.5 percent this fiscal year, estimates the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
According to a report in Kantipur daily, this is the least growth rate witnessed in the last five years. Last year, the economy had grown by 2.8 percent.
When it presented the budget of this fiscal year, the government had predicted there would be 4.5 percent growth in economy. However, the production of food stuffs decreased by 2.78 percent this year while wholesale and retail trade also came down by 2.6 percent.
The industrial sector, too, marked a minimal growth of 2.16 percent in the face of bandhs, lack of infrastructure, power cuts, labour disputes and so on.
The agriculture sector grew marginally by 0.7 percent – compared with 1.1 percent growth previous fiscal year. Likewise, non-agriculture sector also grew by 3.7 percent – compared with 4.6 percent growth previous year.
However, due to new base year and procedural adjustments, the per capita production of Nepalis is estimated to have increased to $383 from $350 last year and the per capita national income is estimated to have increased to $456 from $420 last year.
Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Ramesh Lekhak on Tuesday vowed to eliminate child labour while addressing the plenary sitting of the 96 th International Labor Conference (ILO) in Geneva.
He said that the government of Nepal is fully committed to eliminate all exploitative forms of child labour.
“National Master Plan on Child Labour is also under implementation. This plan has set a time-bound goal to eliminate worst forms of child labour by 2009 and other general forms of child labour by 2014,” he informed.
Highlighting some of the historic changes that took place in the political landscape of Nepal, State Minister Lekhak said, “The Comprehensive Peace Agreement places special emphasis on the maintenance of industrial harmony, right to collective bargaining, social security, amicable settlement of industrial disputes and respect of fundamental ILO principles at work.”
He further said that in the Interim Constitution of Nepal, the right to employment, social security and right to form trade unions have been enshrined as fundamental rights for the first time in its constitutional history.
Reiterating the abiding commitment of the government of Nepal to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Lekhak said the ratification of ILO Convention no. 87 and 105 is under active consideration of the Government of Nepal and will soon be produced to the parliament for the final approval.
The Home Ministry has made it clear that there is no scientific or any rational basis behind rumors that have been spread all over the country that a major earthquake is set to hit Nepal in the coming Nepali month (third week of June).
In a statement Wednesday the home ministry said that no reliable technology had been developed yet that could rightfully predict an earthquake and requested all not to believe in these baseless rumours.
The statement further said that as it is a fact that Nepal sits in the most earthquake prone zone in the world, it is advisable that the people be well aware of all the safety measures that should be taken in the event of an earthquake.
Bizarre ‘astrological predictions’ of earthquake and other natural calamities in the Nepali month of Ashad have been doing the round, particularly in Kathmandu, for some time now.
A central member of Maoist-aligned Young Communist League (YCL) was killed in a ‘clash’ between the YCL members and Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) activists in Ganwaha of Rupandehi district Wednesday morning.
Jeetendra, YCL vice-chairman of Lumbini zone, was killed in the clash that had ensued after MJF activists engaged in a verbal dispute with a team comprising YCL cadres, rights activists and media persons that had gone to inspect the barrage that India had built by encroaching upon Nepalese land in Gunwaha area, reports said quoting police officials.
During the clash, MJF activists also kidnapped YCL’s Rupandehi leader Mani. His whereabouts are still unknown. Police said they were unable to confirm anything officially as they were yet to receive full information about the incident.
Reports coming in from Rupandehi say the MJF activists used hand grenade, homemade weapons, machetes and spears against the YCL cadres.
In another incident, after YCL activists had set fire to the house belonging to MJF leader Om Prakash Yadav in Shivapur, a place at some distance from Gunwaha, which is considered an MJF stronghold, irate locals had attacked YCL cadres resulting in further clashes.
The team that had gone to inspect the barrage has not come into contact while, according to reports, the Maoist have dispatched large number of cadres to the area.
Following the clash, armed cadres of the forum including the local residents of Shivapur village fled to India for safety.
The situation in and around Ganwaha is tense as large number of government security personnel have been deployed fearing further clashes between the two sides.
Similarly, reports from Jhapa say that local administration has prevented MJF from holding its central assembly in Bhadrapur of Jhapa fearing the possibility of violence. MJF’s central vice-chairman Kishor Kumar Biswas and some other leaders were to address the assembly.
Meanwhile, in protest of the killing of their leader Dasarath Thakur aka Rohit by cadres of Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM-Goit), Maoists have announced shutdown strike in Rabjbiraj Bazaar of Saptari district.
Normal life in Rajbiraj has been badly affected by the strike, according to reports. The CPN-Maoist has requested the government to arrest Thakur’s murderers and take strong action against them.
Similarly, four people were injured in a clash between Maoists and Nepali-Congress (Democratic) cadres in Ramechhap district today. The dispute resorted at the village council meeting had resulted in a violent scuffle.
Aimed at strengthening trade and investment between Nepal and China, the business communities of these two countries have agreed to share expertise, experiences and information that can be helpful for promoting the economic cooperation.
President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Chandi Raj Dhakal (right) and vice-chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce Zhang Logzhi signing the memorandum of the 9th meeting of the Nepal?China Non-Governmental Cooperation Forum in Kathmandu, Wednesday, June 13 07. nepalnews.com/rh
At the end of the ninth annual meeting of the Nepal-China Non-Governmental Forum held in Kathmandu Wednesday, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Chandi Raj Dhakal and vice-chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) Zhang Longzhi signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) expressing commitment to improve bilateral trade and investment for mutual benefit.
Speaking on the occasion, Dhakal said there was a need to increase bilateral trade, promote tourism and explore the possibilities of Chinese investment in Nepal. According to him, Chinese entrepreneurs had shown interest to invest in Nepal.
Zhang said the Chinese business community was ready to share its experiences of economic development with Nepali entrepreneurs as well as strengthen trade and investment cooperation with Nepal.
He also stressed the need for separate discussions and interactions between Nepali and Chinese business communities before the annual meetings of the forum are held so that the efforts of the forum to promote bilateral economic cooperation would become fruitful.
Earlier today, the delegation of Chinese industrialists met with Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan and Industry and Commerce Minister Rajendra Mahato.
The two-day meeting ended with agreement to promote bilateral trade, tourism and investment, enhance cooperation in sectors like industry, tourism, hydropower, herbal medicine, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, communication and handicrafts. FNCCI and ACFIC also agreed to promote a ‘mini Nepal pavilion’ in Jiuzhaigou.
Next meeting will be held next year in China.
Five months after it was promulgated, the Interim Constitution has been subjected to second amendment after the parliament, with overwhelming majority, approved the Second Amendment Bill on Wednesday evening.
When the bill was presented for voting, it received 281 votes in favour and only two votes against the proposal of amendment.
The Second Amendment Bill was tabled in the parliament by Home Minister Krishna Sitaula on behalf of Law Minister Narendra Bikram Nemwang.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, in his statement, said that the second amendment will ensure the Constituent Assembly elections. As he was not present at the parliament during Wednesday’s session, Home Minister Sitaula read out his statement.
Likewise, participating in the discussion of the bill, MPs welcomed the second amendment hailing the inclusion of a provision whereby the parliament can abolish monarchy.
MPs Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Minendra Rijal, Gobinda Bikram Shah, Narayan Man Bijukchhe, among others, spoke at the parliament.
Earlier, the Special Committee of the parliament formed on Tuesday and headed by Nepali Congress Democratic leader Purna Bahadur Khadka had approved the bill with some changes in the draft presented by the cabinet.
The draft passed by the committee has provision for removing the monarchy by 2/3 majority of the parliament, if the cabinet tables a proposal for the same. The bill proposed by the cabinet had stated that a fourth of the House could table such a proposal.
There is another crucial provision according to which no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister can be tabled once in six months. The bill presented by the government had fixed that time to one year.
The bill says 2/3 majority of the House can vote the Prime Minister out.
The Special Committee also agreed to incorporate the demand made by the CPN (UML) for parliamentary hearing on appointments of Supreme Court judges, ambassadors and heads of constitutional bodies.
According to the bill, constituent assembly election will be held in Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December).
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala had, on behalf of the government, had answered the queries of the committee members regarding the disputed provisions in the amendment bill. Speaker Subash Nemwang had also participated in the daylong debate.
The Interim Constitution, which was promulgated on January 15, had been subjected to first amendment on March 9.
Saying that non-economic issues were hurting the country’s economy, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has called for singular focus on economic issues.
Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (file photo)
Finance Minister
Dr. Ram Sharan
Mahat
(File Photo)
“All the political forces must realise that economy is the primary issue. It is all about improving investment climate, generating jobs and taking the nation on the path towards prosperity,” Dr. Mahat said, addressing a pre-budget discussion programme organised by Management Association of Nepal on Wednesday.
“It is true that economic statistics are not favourable. But they are all due to non-economic factors. The conflict, social indiscipline, anarchy and demands galore about consumptions have derailed the economy,” he said.
Dr. Mahat said that productions have not increased, there are no new investments and even existing capacities in industrial and tourism sectors are not being utilised.
The Finance Minister said that he will be preparing the budget for the forthcoming fiscal year 2007/08 based on the Common Minimum Programme agreed upon by eight parties.
He urged for consensus on inviting big investments in hydropower sector. “If we can get one big investment then that will open the floodgate. Otherwise, nobody will believe our credibility,” he said.
Pointing out at some positive aspects of economy, Dr. Mahat said that in the eleven months of the current fiscal year, the capital expenditure has increased by 50 percent – compared with the same period previous year. “Revenue has grown consistently at around 20 percent because of which we could manage despite having to dole out Rs 4-5 billion in extra-budgetary topics,” he said.
Earlier, Professor Dr. Madan Dahal presented a paper on “Issues and Challenges” for the coming budget. “Our economy is in crisis. It suffers from conflict, recession and corruption,” he said.
Likewise, industrialist Rajendra Khetan also presented a paper giving suggestions for the coming budget. “Industries are closing down, investment has stopped whereas 200,000 new labour force enters the market every year looking for jobs. Isn’t it contradictory?” he asked. Khetan called for various measures to boost exports and investment.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (PP) chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana speaking at an interaction in the capital Monday, June 11 07. Criticising the proposed second amendment in the Interim Constitution, Rana said the constitution should not be changed too frequently. nepalnews.com/ANA
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (PP) chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana speaking at an…
As the parliament is all set to start discussions over the proposed Second Amendment Bill on interim constitution from Tuesday, Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has raised objections against it.
RPP president Pashupati SJB Rana has said the second amendment containing provision to abolish monarchy by two-third of parliament if the King is found conspiring against Constituent Assembly (CA) elections is unjustified.
“It is unjustifiable and contradictory to insert the provision of abolishing monarchy by two-third majority of the parliament at a time when it was already decided that the issue of monarchy will be settled by the first meeting of CA,” Rana said.
Rana accused that the eight parties were attempting to hijack people’s sovereign right to make their decision on monarchy.
Meanwhile, MPs belonging to all the parties except Nepali Congress have registered 57 amendment proposals even on the proposed second amendment bill. Such a huge number of amendment proposals have been registered even though the Second Amendment Bill was tabled as per the decision of eight parties.
UML MPs have registered amendment proposal demanding clarity on the issue of monarchy; while several other lawmakers belonging to Maoists, People’s Front, and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party have also registered separate proposals demanding different changes.
However, three largest parties NC, UML and Maoists have already issued whip to their MPs to attend the discussion of statute. The UML, on Monday, also decided to move ahead as per the eight party decision.
Speaker Subas Nemwang has set aside three days for discussion before approving the amendment bill.