Parties ‘agree’ for peaceful vote as clashes continue

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 April: Clashes continued even as Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) agreed Tuesday to form a mechanism to monitor and implementa 10 –point agreement to hold independent, free and fair elections 10 April.
A three- member monitoring committee consisting of Amrit Vohra (CPN-UML), Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ and Dr Prakash Saran Mahat (NC) has been formed to monitor the agreement.
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) leaders held a summit meeting Tuesday morning after Election Commission ordered them one day earlier to strictly enforce an electoral code of conduct.
An indefinite curfew was again slapped on Dandeldhura headquarters Tuesday morning after clashes continued at headquarters between workers of Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists even though it was lifted four hours earlier.
The curfew was slapped the previous day as Maoists and CPN-UML accused Congress for starting the violence.
Congress Tuesday suspended campaigning in Gorkha from where Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai is contesting elections; Maoists seized the house of Congress leader Chin Kazi Shrestha in the district.
CPN (United) office was attacked in Banepa by Janamorcha whose leader Kaman Singh Lama was seriously assaulted.
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Amnesty International

Kathmandu, 1 April: Tibetan refugees in Nepal have received support for their anti-Chinese protests.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, in a communication to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, have condemned the police action against protesting refugees who are staging daily protests in front of the UN office and the Chinese embassy.
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