CPN-UML has nominated standing committee member KP Sharma Oli to lead UML in the government of the seven political parties.
Friday’s central committee of the party has decided to participate in the coalition government headed by Oli, formed after the reinstatement of House of Representatives (HoR).
The meeting condemned the murder of six civilians in Belbari of Morang and demanded punishment against the culprits and to provide appropriate compensation to the victims.
The meeting also said that the parliament should hold the election of the constituent assembly to bring Maoists into the mainstream of politics and restore sustainable peace in the country.
The meeting also hailed the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists and said that the parliament should be positive in this regard and should initiate process of holding elections of the constituent assembly as per the 12-point pact between Maoists and seven political parties.
The meeting also urged the government to be formed to remove red-corner notice and terrorist tag of the Maoists and release Maoists’ leaders and cadres to create conducive environment for talks with the Maoists.
The meeting also called to change the name of Royal Nepalese Army into Nepalese Army and to make it responsible towards the parliament, to suspend the provision of Rajparishad, and to name His Majesty’s Government as Nepal government.
The party also demanded to declare null and void all the decisions and laws formed during direct leadership of the King and to suspend the appointment in the municipalities through the municipal polls held by the royal government.
The King reinstated the dissolved HoR as per the demand of the seven political parties, following a popular movement of the country. nepalnews.com pb Apr 28 06
The first session of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) has been deferred for the later in the day.
According to the parliament secretariat, the session that was to kick off at 1 p.m. has been delayed till later in the day.
The meeting is taking place after four years after His Majesty the King reinstated the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR) on Monday, dissolved on May 22, 2002 as per the roadmap of the seven major opposition parties. nepalnews.com pb Apr 28 06
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) along with Buddha Air and Kathmandu Travel and Tours participated in SATTE Openworld 2006, held in India from 20th to 23rd April.
A press statement issued by the NTB said, the SATTE 2006 – Buyer-Seller Meet had embraced the entire spectrum of Indian and South Indian tourism market promoting all segments of travel and tourism, which also incorporated airlines and destination management companies.
”SATTE 2006 saw more than 250 international buyers from over 35 countries sourcing their tourism requirements and meeting with over 300 providers of the tourism products of the country,” the statement adds.
This year the Nepal pavilion was used as a platform to make people aware about the new brand, “Naturally Nepal – Once is Not Enough”, the statement adds.
A large number of trade operators visited the stalls especially from South American countries and the Middle East for future contracts the NTB statement adds.
“The visitors also looked forward to having promotional offers from airlines operating on Indo-Nepal sector to cash on the summer holiday season. NTB interacted with Media and tour operators and apprised them about the attractions and the improved facilities for the tourists,” the statement adds. nepalnews.com pb Apr 28 06
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has welcomed the three month long unilateral ceasefire announced by CPN (Maoist).
Issuing a press statement on Friday, the national rights watchdog expressed the hope that the ceasefire would help for the protection of human rights and allow people to enjoy their rights freely.
The rights watchdog also said that it will monitor the rights situation during the ceasefire period.
The NHRC also appealed to the Maoists to reciprocate the unilateral ceasefire announced by the Maoists.
Issuing a press statement on Wednesday, Maoists announced a three month long unilateral ceasefire, saying the truce was for facilitating the ongoing “people’s struggle” for a constituent assembly and a democratic republic “so as to lead the struggle to a historic conclusion” and for encouraging the parliamentary political parties to announce unconditional constituent assembly. nepalnews.com pb Apr 28 06
The first session of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) has begun at the Parliament Building, Singha Durbar, Friday afternoon.
The first parliamentary session was presided by deputy speaker of the HoR, Chitra Lekha Yadav.
His Majesty King reinstated the parliament, which was dissolved in May 2002, on Monday as per the roadmap of the seven-party alliance.
The Singha Durbar premises wore a new look after four years. Lawmakers seemed delighted to enter the parliament after four years.
The session was delayed for a few hours, as the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has not been able to attend the session due to his ill health.
The session started after it received the letter from PM Koirala with a proposal to go for the election of the constituent assembly to be filed in the session.
The swearing-in of the newly appointed PM, Koirala, has been delayed due to his ill health.
The opposition political parties say homework on the modalities the election of the constituent assembly is the main task of the HoR.
They have also said they will form a powerful commission to initiate action against those found using excessive force to suppress the pro-democracy movement and to provide compensation to the victims of the government clampdown.
The session is also expected to remove the red corner notice and terrorist tag of the Maoists and reciprocate the unilateral truce announced by the Maoists.
Out of the total 205 members, only 202 MPs ware attending today’s session. While the NC has expelled two of its MPs, Prakash Koirala and Narayan Singh Pun, for joining the royal government against the party policy and UML parliamentarian Hem Narayan Yadav was killed a few years back.
Various organisations and rights activists organised sit-in in front of Singha Durbar to pressure the lawmakers to work in favour of the people and announce unconditional election to the constituent assembly. nepalnews.com pb Apr 28 06
In what could lead to a historic turn in country’s politics, the first session of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR) today accepted a proposal tabled by newly appointed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to go for election to constituent assembly.
The parliament hall erupted in applause as deputy speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav, read out the sankalpa prastab (memorandum) sent by PM Koirala, who could not attend the parliament session due to his frail health. The Prime Minister’s proposal was supported by CPN (UML) general secretary and MP Madhav Kumar Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba of Nepali Congress (D), Lilamani Pokhrel of People’s Front Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasant Party’s Narayan Man Bijukchhe and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) MP Hridayesh Tripathi.
“I shall remain committed to the six-point roadmap of the seven-party alliance (SPA) and the 12-point understanding with the Maoists. I have tabled my proposal for election to constituent assembly in today’s session,” Koirala’s proposal read, adding, “This public commitment is my oath taken amongst the people”.
PM Koirala also proposed to announce ceasefire and peace talks with the Maoists as per the mandate of the people’s movement, the roadmap of the SPA and the 12-point understanding reached with CPN (Maoist).
Lawmakers stand in silence in memory of martyrs of the recent people movement in the first session of the parliament, Friday, Apr 28 06. nepalnews.com/rh
Deputy speaker Yadav told the House that the PM could not attend the first session as well as his swearing-in ceremony because of his poor health. But he hopes to attend the next parliament session, she said.
The MPs cheered when the deputy speaker welcomed Indian parliamentarian and CPI (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechuri and other delegates in the parliament session. Yechuri is of the few Indian leaders who have been vocal in favour of the people’s movement in Nepal and the SPA’s agendas.
Seven-party cadres and civil society activists staged sit-in front of the main entrance of Singha Durbar, chanting slogans in favour of immediate announcement of constituent assembly election.
In the beginning of the session, Yadav read out the royal proclamation of April 24, a letter of the Royal Palace and the resignation letter of Taranath Ranabhat as the speaker of the HoR. Ranabhat resigned from his post on Wednesday “to pave way for fresh election to the post”.
The next session has been called on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. the parliament building in Singha Durbar. nepalnews.com mk Apr 28 06
They are still wanted by the government but two leaders of the Maoist-affiliated oganizations appeared at a mass meeting in the Nepali capital on Friday and also addressed the audience.
It was already late by two hours but thousands waited the pro-Maoist leaders under the burning sun. The enthusiastic people continued to throng to `Shahid Manch’ at Tundikhel. Preparation had begun since 10 in the morning.
People in a mass meeting organized by the ?Joint Democratic Forum? at Tundikhel, Friday. Leaders of Maoist student and trade union wings also addressed the mass meeting, Apr 28 06. nepalnews.com/rh
The mass gradually increased as rallies from different places of the capital entered the open ground at around 1:45 p.m. By 2:00 p.m. the mass has nearly covered the whole of the open theatre. More foreign media correspondents were seen covering the event compared to the Nepalis.
Pamphlets signed by chairman Prachanda were distributed in thousands.
Speakers had already arrived at the stage. When the master of ceremony announced the name of student leader Lekhnath Neupane, president of All Nepal National Independent Students’ Union (Revolutionary) and as he appeared on the stage with smiling face, the crowd pitched its voice out of control.
Hooting from the audience further increased when he was called to address the meeting, Neupane said Maoists were ready to lay down their arms if the reinstated parliament declared to go for unconditional elections to the constituent assembly to decide the fate of monarchy.
He warned foreign powers not to intervene in the elections to constituent assembly, which he said was the popular mandate expressed in the recent movement.
The firebrand student leader warned that the CPN (Maoist) would not accept even the ceremonial role of king even if the seven parties went for it. Our aim is to turn Nepal into a ‘People’s Republic,’ he declared.
Addressing the meeting, president of All Nepal Trade Union Federation, Shalikram Jamarkattel, said Nepalis had to arrive at a critical situation like this since parliamentary forces refused to form a United Front soon after the royal massacre some five years ago. “The leaders who have boycotted our proposal have been finally forced by the regime to realise the importance of our proposal,” he said. “Soon, they will realize monarchy is no more essential for the Nepalis,” he claimed.
Advocate Borna Bahadur Karki said the reinstatement of the parliament was due to the people power and that it should pave way for drafting a constitution, which no ruler could trample upon.
Leaders of various pro-left organizations, addressing the meeting, expressed their suspicion over the reinstated parliament and said people should continue to warn the seven parties to keep moving as per the 12-point understanding with the Maoists.
The mass gradually begin to disperse after the address of Neupane and had halved by the time Jamarkattel finished his hour-long address. Over a dozen people were invited to address the meeting, whose time had been consumed by long speeches and frequent songs and dances by a Maoist-affiliated cultural group. Similar meetings have been organised in various parts of the country over the last two days.
Maoist leaders who spoke today are still labeled as ‘terrorists’ by the state. But there was no attempt by the authorities to arrest the leaders who were “underground” for the past several years. The fact that change is in the air was more than obvious at `Shahid Manch’ on Friday afternoon. nepalnews.com Indra Adhikari Apr 28 06
Hours after withdrawing the blockade of the capital and all district headquarters, the CPN (Maoist) on late Wednesday night announced a unilateral ceasefire for three months with immediate effect.
Issuing a statement on Wednesday, Maoist Chairman Prachanda said the truce was for facilitating the ongoing “people’s struggle” for a constituent assembly and a democratic republic “so as to lead the struggle to a historic conclusion” and for encouraging the parliamentary political parties to announce unconditional constituent assembly.
The Maoists had announced a similar truce in September last year and later extended it by a month.
The Maoists withdrew the blockade of the Kathmandu valley and other district headquarters on Wednesday considering the appeal of Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala to do so.
Earlier, in a statement, Koirala has urged the Maoists to call off the general strike in the wake of the new political development of the country.
The SPA selected Koirala for the post of Prime Minister of the reinstated HoR.
On Tuesday, the rebels had announced blockade of the capital and all district headquarters until there was an announcement of unconditional election for constituent assembly expressing dissatisfaction over the royal proclamation to revive the dissolved House of Representatives (HoR), instead of holding the election of the constituent assembly.
However, the statement said other peaceful protest programs would continue as usual. nepalnews.com pb Apr 27 06
Attorney General (AG) of the Kingdom of Nepal Laxmi Bahadur Nirala resigned from the post on Wednesday.
State run news agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) quoted Nirala as saying that he decided to resign on his own so that it would be easier for the head of the government to appoint a new AG in the changed political scenario.
Janakpur based senior advocate Nirala, who had actively advocated in favor of panchyati regime, was appointed for the post on December 25 last year, replacing Pawan Kumar Ojha.
He was one of the members appointed by the government during pro-democracy movement of 1990 to disseminate message in favour of Panchyati regime in Europe. nepalnews.com pb Apr 27 06
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Daman Nath Dhungana urged the reinstated House to go for unconditional election to the constituent assembly, which would draft a new constitution and decide a place for the King.
Speaking at an interaction in the capital on Wednesday, Dhungana, one of the drafters of the 1990 constitution said, “The time has come that the people get the right to decide a place for the King as kings have been deciding the rights of the people so far,” adding, “The constituent assembly would fix the rights of the people and the place for the King.”
Speaking at the same programme, member of the reinstated House of Representatives (HoR), Subhas Nembang, asked officials who were appointed by the King during his direct rule and who had curbed the rights of the people to quit before Parliament initiates action against them.
President of the Nepal Bar Association, Shambhu Thapa, said nobody should excuse a leader who involves himself in corruption and irregularities. “If we find any leader involved in any scandal, we will demand action against him even without giving him a chance,” he added.
Senior advocates Basudev Dhungana and Bishwa Kanta Mainali urged the Parliament to focus on bringing the Maoists to the mainstream according to the roadmap of the seven-party alliance and the agreement reached with the rebels. nepalnews.com pb Apr 27 06