They were the public face of the 15-month-old royal regime. They had long term plans to entrench the regime and continue to run the show under the royal patronage. But thanks to the ‘jana andolan’ 2006, former Home Minister Kamal Thapa, former Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, former Local Development Minister Tanka Dhakal, former minister of state for Information and Communications Shris Shumsher Rana and former assistant minister Nikshya Shumsher Rana had their dreams shattered.

From left to right :Former Home Minister Kamal Thapa, Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey, Local Development Tanka Dhakal, Information and Communications State Minister Shrish Shumsher Rana and Assistant Minister for Health Nikshya Shumsher Rana (File photo)

Fate of the key functionaries of the royal government was sealed as soon as the new government announced the formation of a high-level, powerful judicial commission to probe into atrocities committed by the members of the royal regime to suppress the people’s movement. In its first meeting held at its newly installed office at Harihar Bhavan in Lalitpur on Friday, the Commission asked the government to take into control the members of the erstwhile royal cabinet for their role in suppressing the ‘people’s movement’ and suspend chiefs of all security agencies “to avoid loss or damage to evidence” that would be crucial in the course of the investigation.

The Commission, led by former Justice at the Supreme Court Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, summoned newly appointed Home Minister Krishna Sitaula at its office and handed him over their crucial decisions. Within hours, the emergency meeting of the seven-member council of ministers was in progress and the government issued orders to detain five key members of the former royal government and suspend nine senior security officials including chiefs of three security agencies.

The former ministers have been issued 90-day detention orders under the ‘Public Security Act 2047 B. S.’ and the government has accused them of “conspiring against people’s sovereignty and the outcome of people’s movement 2006.” Former Ministers Thapa, Dhakal and Shrish Shumsher Rana are being kept at the Police Training Academy at Maharajgunj where former premier Sher Bahadur Deuba spent nearly nine months during the royal regime. Former Minister Pandey and junior minister Rana have been kept at the Pahara Barrack, Tripureswore, where former minister and Nepali Congress (Democratic) leader, Prakash Man Singh, was detained.

The controversial Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC) had detained former premier Deuba and Shrestha on charge of indulging in corruption while awarding contract of the multi-million dollar Melamchi Water Supply Project. Both of them denied any wrongdoings. The Supreme Court later scrapped the Commission terming it as an ‘unconstitutional body.’

The newly installed government was under tremendous pressure from within the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and general public to take action against those responsible for suppressing the people’s movement. At least 21 people lost their lives and over 5,000 pro-democracy activists were injured during the pro-democracy demonstrations. Perhaps, top on the list for being responsible to suppress the movement is then Home Minister Kamal Thapa. Thapa started his political career in the eighties as the first elected president of the student body, Rastrabadi Bidyarthi Mandal– that supported the then partyless Panchayat regime. He served as the minister of state for Information and Communications in the Panchayat government that suppressed people’s movement of 1990. The Mallik Commission, that was formed after the movement, had recommended action against Thapa, among others, but he got scot free as the then interim government led by K P Bhattarai refused to implement the report.

Another advocate of direct rule of the king, Tanka Dhakal was appointed government’s spokesman as soon as King Gyanendra seized power in February 2005. His job was to defend the royal move and is known for introducing the controversial media ordinance aimed at controlling the independent media. He was later transferred to the local development ministry when the royal government decided to hold controversial municipal polls boycotted by major political parties.

A journalist-turned-politician, minister of state for Information and Communications Shris Shumsher Rana is also known as hard-liner within the royal regime. As people’s movement 2006 progressed at the call of the Seven Party’s Alliance (SPA), Rana was easily accessible to foreign media and tried his best to defend the regime and blame the SPA. He is also known for claiming that Nepali media enjoyed ‘absolute freedom’ in the country.

Assistant Minister Nikhsya Shumsher Rana was known for organizing small rallies in Kathmandu during the multi-party governments calling upon the king to take over. Chairman of Rastriya Ekata Parishad, a royalist outfit, Rana was awarded for his loyalty as the junior minister in the royal cabinet.

Perhaps sensing the changing mood of the nation, the high-profile Foreign Minister of the royal government Ramesh Nath Pandey kept himself ‘low profile’ throughout ‘jana andolan.’ He, however, was busy hosting cocktail parties for Kathmandu-based diplomats at his residence where delicacies from five-star hotels were served. Reports say Shital Niwas reimbursed over a million rupees for his extravaganza. Blamed for ‘distorting’ country’s independent and neutral foreign policy, Foreign Ministry under Pandey summoned ambassadors of India. UK and USA repeatedly at Shital Niwas and sought clarifications from them for their remarks that made the royal regime uncomfortable.

In an interview with Nepalnews early this year, Pandey said incumbent foreign ministers usually did not publish their memoirs while in office and that he wanted to be an exception. As things have turned now, it seems his wishes might remain unfulfilled.

The government suspended the nine senior security officials including chiefs of the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force (APF) and the National Investigation Department on the basis of recommendation of the high-level judicial probe commission headed by former Supreme Court Justice Krishna Jung Rayamajhi on Friday.

An emergency meeting of the Council of Ministers chaired by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala took the decision Friday evening.

Inspector General of the Nepal Police, Shyam Bhakta Thapa, Inspector General of the APF, Sahabir Thapa, and NID head, Devi Ram Sharma, have been removed from their posts for their role in suppressing the recent people’s movement.

Other suspended police officers are Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGPs) Rajendra Bahadur Singh, Roop Sagar Moktan and Krishna Basnet, with immediate effect.

Similarly, the government has suspended Additional Inspector General of Armed Police Force Rabi Raj Thapa and SSPs’ Madhav Thapa and Durja Kumar Rai.

The senior police officers were suspended for their direct involvement in the brutal atrocities during peaceful demonstrations at Gongabu and Kalanki.

The Rayamajhi Commission, which has been investigating into the atrocities committed by the former royal government during the pro-democracy movement, recommended their removal from their respective posts.

A meeting of the Security Council is expected to take a decision about the fate of Royal Nepalese Army chief Pyar Jung Thapa. The seven parties have been facing strong pressure from their ranks and various other sections to remove the army chief as well.

Meanwhile, the government appointed Om Biram Rana, Basudev Oli and Dhan Bahadur Karki as the acting chiefs of the Nepal Police, APF and NID respectively. All three acting chiefs, it is said, were second-in-command in their respective offices.

The 2550th Birth Anniversary of Lord Gautam Buddha, the propounder of immortal messages such as ‘non-violence is the foundation of peace and harmony’ is being observed today wishing for world peace and prosperity.

As the birth, enlightenment and Nirvana of Lord Buddha falls on the same day of full moon of the month of Baisakh, Buddhists around the world, including Nepal, observe Buddha Jayanti with respect and devotion to Buddha.

The United Nations has been observing the Anniversary of Lord Buddha as a public holiday since 2002.

The books on teachings and messages of Lord Buddha are said to be the largest publication throughout the world.

Teachings of Lord Buddha are included in the world’s highly prestigious universities including the Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard Universities.

Lord Buddha, during his 80 year life, carried out a total of 84 thousand discourses which are compiled in various books including ‘Binaya’, Sutta, Abhidhamma and Tripitak.

Likewise, all general Nepalese people have only one wish that the day lead towards a peaceful and prosperous Nepal, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.

Buddhists around the world today organise a variety of programmes at the Buddhist religious sites and spread the message of world peace of Lord Gautam Buddha.

The government held an all party meeting at the Peace Secretariat on Friday to discuss the code of conduct for the talks between the government and the Maoists, a week after it received the draft of code of conduct from the Maoists.

The meeting called by Home Minister Krishna Sitaula discussed the formation of a peace committee and process of the government-Maoist peace talks. The alliance has agreed to restructure the Peace Secretariat to facilitate the talks.

Following the meeting, Sitaula said the government held discussion with representatives of the seven-party alliance on the government-Maoist peace talks.

Talking to journalists after the meeting Sitaula said, “The alliance representatives have suggested that the government initiate talks with the Maoists at the earliest after doing necessary homework.”

The Peace Secretariat was established by the then coalition government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba in 2004 with a view to initiating dialogue with the Maoists. But the then government could not bring the Maoists to the talks table as the latter refused.

CPN-UML standing committee member Jhalanath Khanal said the talks with the Maoists would be held based on the 12-point understanding reached between the alliance and the Maoists on November 22 last year. The Peace Secretariat would be restructured.

CP Mainali of the United Left Front said they had advised the government to start talks with the Maoists as soon as possible and the government had agreed to the idea.

According to participants of the meeting, next rounds of meeting would make decisions on the modalities, procedures and jurisdiction of the peace committee, which would facilitate the government for talks.

General secretary of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel, Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat of the Nepali Congress (Democratic), Lilamani Pokhrel of the Janamorcha Nepal, Rajendra Mahato of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi), Sunil Prajapati of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party and Bamdev Gautam of the CPN-UML were also present in the meeting.

His Majesty King Gyanendra has, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990, appointed Yagyamurti Banjade as the Attorney General of the kingdom of Nepal, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

This is stated in the notice published today by the Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Banjade has over 25 years of experience in the field of Law.

“I will try to uphold the rule of Law and Professionalism. I will try to set a norm where government lawyers will work to provide justice to the people,” report quoted Banjade as saying after being appointed for the key post.

The post remained vacant after the AG of the Kingdom of Nepal Laxmi Bahadur Nirala, who was appointed during the direct rule of the King resigned from his post on April 26, following the reinstatement of the parliament as per the roadmap of the seven political parties.

In clear violation of their commitment and the ceasefire declared by them, the Maoists on Friday murdered Jut Narayan Yadav, resident of ward no. 8 in Hardiya VDC of Rautahat district, reports said.

Yadav was a member of Terai Jantantraik Morcha, a breakaway faction of the Maoists.

Similarly, the Maoists on Wednesday reportedly extorted money at the range of Rs 300 to Rs 3,000 from the locals in different areas of Khotang district.

The Maoists have taken into control two homes of Kumbu Malla in Taligaon area of Bafikot 2. Malla is the outgoing vice president of the District Development Committee.

Earlier speaking at an interaction at Reporters’ Club on Friday, politburo member of Maoist Matrika Yadav ruled out that they are extorting money from people.

Speakers at an interaction program organized by the Society for Preservation of Shelters and Habitations in Nepal (SPOSH) Friday said that the existing law, the constitution and the government have failed to address the problems faced by more than 1.7 million refugees living across the country.

At a time when the country is moving towards realizing full fledged democracy, the refugees have been desperately seeking the rapid resolution of their problems. They also demanded their rights to be secured like other citizens of the nation.

Speaking at the programme, CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the task of building a new Nepal would be much easier if the new government could address the problems of indigenous and backward people

Chairman of People’s Front Nepal Amik Sherchan, said it was the duty and responsibility of the government to fully resolve the refugee problem. Distributing land certificates will not be the solution to settle the problem of refugee but the nation should provide equal opportunity for education and employment without any bias.

Addressing the programme, Bimala Lama, President of SPOSH, said that the newly formed government should initiate steps to address the refugees’ problem when the much talked about constituent assembly would start functioning.

Lama also said that the existing laws and constitution had failed to meet the aspirations and wishes of the poor people. Many rich people became richer while the poor were further suppressed and marginalized, she added.

Government should make a policy to distribute the citizenship certificates even to those people having no land ownership certificates to protect the rights of refugees and to provide equal opportunity, she further said.

The Maoists have formed the high level negotiation team under the leadership of chairman Prachanda.

According to a statement released by the Maoists on Saturday morning, a team led by its spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara will work for preparation of peace talks.

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has said party chairman, Prachanda alias Pushpa Kamal Dahal, will lead its negotiation team to hold dialogue with the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) government.

In a statement issued on Saturday, chairman of the CPN (Maoist) Prachanda said the special central committee meeting of the party has asked him to lead the Maoist negotiation teams to hold what he called “summit talks” (with the government). He said the party has deputed a team comprising Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Gurung and Dinanath Sharma, to make preparations for peace negotiations.

In his statement, Prachanda blamed the reinstated parliament of failing to address people’s aspirations and called upon all to remain alert towards the activities of the reinstated parliament. He also called upon the “republican forces” to constitute a front and remain intact until the elections for constituent assembly are held.

While urging the SPA government for immediate implementation of the 12-point memorandum of understanding, the Maoist supreme warned that “If the seven parties acted against the 12-point agreement and people’s interest for a republican Nepal, there will be another armed struggle and Maoists are ready to lead this struggle as well.”

The CPN (Maoist) party said the new Constituent Assembly should ensure that (there is) secular state, right to self determination, regional and ethnic autonomy, federal system with Nepali characteristics, special rights to Dalits and women, revolutionary land reforms programme, independent national fiscal policy, scientific and people oriented education and employment opportunities within the country.

The Maoist roadmap, made public on Saturday, includes:

i. Declaration of ceasefire

ii. Finalization of code of conduct

iii. Formation of talks team

iv. Release of prisoners

v. Start of dialogue

vi. Dismissal of parliament, constitution and (the present) government

vii. Formation of interim government, interim governance regulation through political conference of political parties, civil society leaders and intellectuals.

viii. Determination of election constituencies taking into account the equal representation of groups, region and ethnic groups

ix. election of CA under reliable international supervision

x. restructuring of the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) after the results of the elections.

The Maoist supremo said his party has also assigned party’s leaders including Matrika Yadav, Hit Man Shakya, Gopal Kirati, Chandra Khanal, Agni Prasad Sapkota, Devendra Poudel, Netra Bikram Chand, Pampha Bhusal, Janardan Sharma, Narayan Prasad Sharma, Lekhraj Bhatta, Ram Karki and Kharga Bahadur Biswakarma to address meetings to make party’s views clear during the proposed peace negotiations.

The government is yet to announce its peace negotiation team.

CPN (UML) lawmaker, Subash Nemwang, has been elected unopposed to post of Speaker of the House of Representatives on Saturday.

Nemwang was the sole candidate to contest for the post. He will be declared new Speaker of the reinstated House of Representatives this afternoon.

A former minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Nemwang is considered a close confidante of UML. He was also actively involved in the people’s movement as one of the members of the ‘Jana Andolan central coordination committee.’

Nemwang’s unanimous election to the post of Speaker became possible after Nepali Congress (Democratic) – one of the constituents of the SPA—decided to withdraw its claim for the post. Earlier, the party had lobbied to get its member and deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav to get elected for the coveted post.

As the reinstated House has already decided to go for constituent assembly elections, analysts say the role of the Speaker would be crucial in ensuring smooth constitutional transition.