Reports say supporters of the Seven Party Alliance have taken out “victory rallies” in various parts of the country welcoming the “historic” proclamation passed by the House of Representatives that has drastically curtailed royal powers and brought the army—for the first time in the country’s history—under the control of the legislature, among others.

Rallies have been taken out in Kathmandu, Bara, Sarlahi, Dolakha and Baglung districts, among others. People came out to the streets, greeted each other and chanted pro-democracy slogans.

People could be soon glued to their radio and TV sets as the state-run Radio Nepal, Nepal Television, Kantipur TV and a number of F. M. radio stations carried live the proceedings of the reinstated House of Representatives from Singha Durbar Thursday afternoon.

In front of Singha Durbar – the main government secretariat– despite fresh ban imposed by the local administration over procession, gherao, meetings, sit-in etc., hundreds of people gathered near the statue of late King Prithvi Narayan Shah in order to draw the attention of lawmakers who were meeting inside the House of Representatives.

People representing various indigenous groups, unions, institutions and the
civil society were present during the demonstration cautioning political parties not to betray the spirit of the people’s movement 2006.

Addressing the public gathering in front of the West Gate of Singha Durbar—a restricted area– leader of the pro-Maoist student body, ANNFSU (Revolutionary), Lekhnath Neupane, challenged the present government not to undermine the Maoist contribution in restoring citizen’s rights in the country. “ If the present government fails to address the people’s sentiment
then they will have to face unforeseen consequences,” he warned.

Neupane said the government should immediately address the issue of hundreds of captured and missing Maoist cadres who played important role in the people’s movement. He also demanded that the parliament should not spare a single moment on declaring country a secular state.

Women’s rights activist, Dr. Renu Raj Bhandari, warned the current government not to repeat the same mistake made by all the previous government of denying women from their basic rights and not granting them appropriate opportunity in decision making.

Interestingly, the gathered crowd took no time to shoo away as soon as the news of country being declared the secular state flashed out of the parliament. A leader of the civil society movement, Malla K Sunder, announced the news for the gathered public outside Singha Durbar.

Talking to Nepalnews after the declaration of the country as a secular state, one of the members of the indigenous communities, Dandu Sherpa, said that the declaration was just a first step towards a democratic Nepal based on equality.

The participants were euphoric as soon as they heard about the HoR proclamation that made sweeping changes in the country’s constitution.

Leaders of parliamentary political parties have warned that any attempts against today’s historic parliamentary proclamation, which has made the people sovereign, will be futile.

Speaking at the meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR) before the voting on the parliamentary proclamation presented by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, leaders of the parliamentary parties said today was the historic day in the country’s political history, declaring that autocracy would never raise its head in future.

“Now history is not going to repeat; country will only move forward. Any side going against this declaration would face people’s uprising,” CPN (UML) general secretary and MP, Madhav Kumar Nepal said while commenting on the proclamation.

He further said the parliamentary proclamation has come as per the aspiration of the people’s movement and has established that there is no power above the people and the constitution. “All sectors of the country should now adopt the concept of inclusive democracy,” he said.

The parliamentary proclamation, he said, has been brought despite all kinds of rumors that the parties were lacking courage to bring it before the parliament.

Similarly, commenting on the proclamation, president of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba said those going against it “will be digging their own grave”. He said the focus should now be on restoring peace in the country.

The proclamation presented before the House terminated the provision of Supreme Commander of the army, a post earlier held by the King, turned His Majesty’s, Government into ‘Nepal Government’ and the Royal Nepalese Army into ‘Nepal Army’ declared Nepal as a secular state and scrapped the Raj Parishad, among others.

The draft of the proclamation presented by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala after consensus in the Council of Ministers and the seven-party alliance, was endorsed by the HOR unanimously.

Similarly, describing the proclamation as historic, NC leader Sushil Koirala said that, after this declaration, no dictators would dare to raise their heads in Nepal as well as elsewhere in the world.

Rastriya Prajatrantra Party (RPP) chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana also expressed support to the historic parliamentary proclamation as well as the proposed constituent assembly elections.

Communist leader and MP Chitra Bahadur KC was of the view that as the feudal autocratic rule has now become history after the parliamentary proclamation, the Maoists should also come to the political mainstream.

Nepal Peasants and Workers Party chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe, People’s Front Nepal’s Pari Thapa, Neppal Sadbhawana Party’s Yagya Jit Shah, Sadbhawana (Anandi Devi) leader Hridayesh Tripathi also gave their views in support of the proclamation and stressed on ‘total democracy’ through election to constituent assembly.

By Indra Adhikari

People injured during the recent ‘jana andolan’ say the ‘historic’ proclamation made by the reinstated House of Representatives on Thursday was satisfactory, but not adequate.

While the state-run Radio Nepal was carrying the proceedings of the House of Representatives live on Thursday afternoon, Nepalnews spoke to some of the injured people who were still undergoing treatment at the Kathmandu Model hospital at Baghbazar.

Rajendra Lama, who was injured during the pro-democracy demonstrationsin Banepa on April 19, said he was happy to hear the HoR declaration to drastically curtail the powers of the king. “But I suspect the royalists may hatch conspiracies against this declaration or the leaders might fear to implement what they professed today,” he added.

Krishna Pokhrel, who was injured when police charged demonstrators with batons at Banasthali in Kathmandu on April 21, said most of the people’s aspirations were addressed by the declaration. “I am happy with it. Since the leaders did not dare to remove the king, the only way to do so was through elections to the constituent assembly (CA),” he added.

Pokhrel was still angry with monarchy. “If leaders, by any means, try to save monarchy, we will start armed struggle,” he warned. “I am ready to die for the country.”

Pokhrel said he felt proud to be one of the pro-democracy activists since the ‘jana andolan’ had forced the king to accept that people were sovereign and that alone had right to rule the country.

15-year-old Nawaraj Parajuli, who was also injured during the demonstrations, said, “The declaration is inadequate since we can’t have “loktantra” (democracy) as long as the king is there.” Parajuli – who still had bullet in his leg—blamed the king of ordering security forces to kill people who were taking part in the peaceful demonstrations.”

Sagar Gurung, who was shot at his stomach in the western town of Butwal on April 9, said though the news of the declaration was inspiring to hear, it was not complete. “It gave me much satisfaction,” he added.

“However, the people’s movement had empowered HoR to remove the king from Nepal, the leaders did not do so,” he said further, adding, “It is a betrayal.”

The declaration tabled by the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before the HoR for approval was passed unanimously after nearly one-and-half hour long debate. Even the royalist parties supported the proposal.

People in the street looked euphoric and were discussing the implications of the ‘historic’ declaration. But, pro-democracy fighters undergoing treatment at the Model hospital—which was in the forefront of treating the injured—still had bitterness in their mind and a strong sense of hatred towards the erstwhile regime.

People injured during the recent ‘jana andolan’ say the ‘historic’ proclamation made by the reinstated House of Representatives on Thursday was satisfactory, but not adequate.

While the state-run Radio Nepal was carrying the proceedings of the House of Representatives live on Thursday afternoon, Nepalnews spoke to some of the injured people who were still undergoing treatment at the Kathmandu Model hospital at Baghbazar.

Rajendra Lama, who was injured during the pro-democracy demonstrationsin Banepa on April 19, said he was happy to hear the HoR declaration to drastically curtail the powers of the king. “But I suspect the royalists may hatch conspiracies against this declaration or the leaders might fear to implement what they professed today,” he added.

Krishna Pokhrel, who was injured when police charged demonstrators with batons at Banasthali in Kathmandu on April 21, said most of the people’s aspirations were addressed by the declaration. “I am happy with it. Since the leaders did not dare to remove the king, the only way to do so was through elections to the constituent assembly (CA),” he added.

Pokhrel was still angry with monarchy. “If leaders, by any means, try to save monarchy, we will start armed struggle,” he warned. “I am ready to die for the country.”

Pokhrel said he felt proud to be one of the pro-democracy activists since the ‘jana andolan’ had forced the king to accept that people were sovereign and that alone had right to rule the country.

15-year-old Nawaraj Parajuli, who was also injured during the demonstrations, said, “The declaration is inadequate since we can’t have “loktantra” (democracy) as long as the king is there.” Parajuli – who still had bullet in his leg—blamed the king of ordering security forces to kill people who were taking part in the peaceful demonstrations.”

Sagar Gurung, who was shot at his stomach in the western town of Butwal on April 9, said though the news of the declaration was inspiring to hear, it was not complete. “It gave me much satisfaction,” he added.

“However, the people’s movement had empowered HoR to remove the king from Nepal, the leaders did not do so,” he said further, adding, “It is a betrayal.”

The declaration tabled by the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before the HoR for approval was passed unanimously after nearly one-and-half hour long debate. Even the royalist parties supported the proposal.

People in the street looked euphoric and were discussing the implications of the ‘historic’ declaration. But, pro-democracy fighters undergoing treatment at the Model hospital—which was in the forefront of treating the injured—still had bitterness in their mind and a strong sense of hatred towards the erstwhile regime

The Supreme Court has issued show cause notices to the Prime Minister’s Office and Council of Ministers, the Home Ministry and Kathmandu District Administration Office on Tuesday asking to furnish reasons for detention of former ministers in the royal cabinet Ramesh Nath Pandey and Shrish Shumsher Rana.

Justice Tahir Ali Ansari issued the notices in response to the habeas corpus petitions filed by the two ministers on Monday seeking release. The single-bench also ordered the government to be present before the court for a hearing on Thursday on the detention of the ministers.

The government had arrested and given the former ministers a three-month detention letter on the recommendation of the Rayamajhi Commission. The ministers were accused of holding secret meetings to thwart the people’s movement.

The ex-ministers moved the Supreme Court claiming their detention was illegal. The ministers, in their writ have stated that the government has violated the fundamental rights under Article 12 and 14 of the Constitution on the right to assembly and fair trail.

Meanwhile, former assistant health minister Nikshya Shumsher Rana in the royal cabinet also filed writ petition at the apex court asking for this release on Tuesday. He has stated that the government has illegally detained him.

Besides the above three ex-ministers, the government on Friday also arrested former Home Minister Kamal Thapa and former Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal.

One day after making public the white paper on the status of the national economy, finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat disclosed that the government is planning to bring in a massive rural investment plan.

Speaking at Reporters Club on Tuesday, Dr Mahat said the proposed plan would emphasise employment and income generation in order to revitalise the rural economy. “The plan will focus on reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure as well as economic activities,” he added.

Although Dr Mahat didn’t mention when the plan would come into force, he said that the programme will focus on sustaining peace by means of developmental activities.

Dr. Mahat’s statement came one day after the Maoist supremo Prachanda, during an interview with local FM in Palpa, urged the government to allocate 50 percent budget for the rural development and to feed Maoist rebels.

He also asked the Maoists to create a conducive environment for industrial activities and stop extortion targeting industrialists. “In the current industrial climate, neither domestic nor foreign investors will be willing to invest in new ventures,” he said.

On the current macroeconomic situation, he said the Nepali economy met with a serious problem due to unproductive spending by the royal government. “Development work has been stalled, giving a blow to the economy,” he said.

Dr Mahat also reiterated that the government would completely scrap the unnecessary and unproductive expenses of the Royal Palace, and stop recruitment of any security personnel and purchase of military goods.

Stating that the country is passing through a critical juncture in its history financially and politically, Dr Mahat urged the private sector and concerned stakeholders to cooperate and act accordingly for revival of the economy.

He also urged the Maoists to stop extortion and forced donations in order to create a congenial environment for the peace process.

Commenting on the government’s effort to seek aid from donors, he said the government is going to hold a meeting with donor communities on Wednesday to get international community’s help in development activities.

Referring to past expenditures, he said the government would take action against those in the royal government who spent money recklessly, if it is possible to punish them under existing laws.

The World Telecommunication Day or World Information Society Day is being celebrated on Wednesday amidst various programmes.

The World Summit on Information Society, which was held in two phases (in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005), proposed to celebrate May 17 as World Information Society Day.

The day is being celebrated to mark the founding of the International Telecommunication Union on 17 May 1865.

Experts said that in an increasingly networked society, safeguarding cyberspace as well as ICT systems and infrastructure has taken on real urgency. Achieving cyber security depends on the security practices of each and every networked country, business and citizen.

Nepal has taken the aim of promoting awareness of ICTs as a tool for economic and social development, while sharing information on the threats and vulnerabilities resulting from their misuse.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has denied its hand in Tuesday’s violent protests in the capital, Kathmandu.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, in-charge of the Kathmandu valley bureau of the CPN (Maoist), Prabhakiran, said the Maoists did not have any protest programmes in the capital on Tuesday. “The acts of vandalism and arson were deliberately committed by some reactionary forces to tarnish the image of our party,” he added.

Meanwhile, general secretary of the CPN (UML) and a senior leader of the Seven Party Alliance (SPA), Madhav Kumar Nepal, has also urged mebers of general public to maintain restraint. He said the SPA government was working in accordance with the spirit of the people’s movement and that proclamation declaring the reinstated House of Representatives as “sovereign representative of the people and supreme body” would be adopted by the House on Thursday.

As demonstrators vandalized government vehicles and burnt tyres in the streets disrupting traffic in different parts of the capital on Tuesday, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula urged the demonstrators to maintain restraint. He also denied reports that former premier and Nepali Congress (Democratic) president Sher Bahadur Deuba had proposed that the king should continue to remain as “supreme commander in-chief” of the army. Deuba has also strongly refuted such reports.

Unruly demonstrators burnt at least four government-owned vehicles along the Bagmati bridge at Thapathali on Tuesday. The crowd then marched to Singha Durbar gate where one Dr. G. B. Shah addressed the corner meeting. He said he had formed a front called ‘Ganatantra Mancha Nepal’ (Republican Forum Nepal) after the royal proclamation of April 24.

King Gyanendra had proclaimed reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives last month after weeks-long nationwide protests and general strike.

There were reports of demonstrations and acts of vandalism in different parts of the city till late Tuesday. Kalanki, Imadol, Balkhu and Basundhara area remained tense. In Kalanki, angry demonstrators vandalized hoarding boards carrying slogans of King Gyanendra, In Basundhara, demonstrators chanted pro-monarchy slogans, according to eyewitnesses.

A local resident of Banasthali told Nepalnews over phone that hooligans arrived in the area in four trucks and strarted vandalizing vehicles – both government and private—from around 8 p. m. Tuesday. They abused local residents and forced them to switch off their lights. “The miscreants continued to rule the streets for over two hours leaving dozens of vehicles damaged and hundreds of people stranded. But security personnel were not seen in the area till late in the evening,” he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that it had never made any communication to the UN authority to recall Lt General Balananda Sharma, who is currently working as Force Commander in the UN Peace Keeping Force in the Middle East.

A press statement issued by the MoFA on Tuesday said that news stories published in some dailies were totally false.

The ministry has also advised the media “to consult a competent government authority and verify the authenticity of news before they are published”.

Some media reports said that the MoFA recalled Lt General Sharma as the government is taking action against the Chief of the Army Staff.

The first Nepali woman with a record number of climbs, Lakpa Sherpa, again conquered the world’s highest peak Mount Everest on May 11, for the sixth time.

Reports quoted Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association as saying that she climbed the peak from the North Col, Tibetan side along with her husband George Dijmarescu as part of the International Everest Expedition team.

She broke her earlier record of climbing the world’s highest peak five times.

She climbed Mt Everest for the first time from the South Pole in 2000. Then after, she climber the peak in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

She is the second Nepali woman to climb the peak. Pasang Lamu Sherpa first scaled the peak, but she died while descending.Meanwhile a report said Italian climber Alois Brugger, 47, of Kammerlander Pasang Lhamu Chuli Expedition team, died while climbing the 7351 m Mt Pasang Lhamu Chuli on May 11.