MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTING COMMITTEE MEETS

MAIN CONSTITUTION DRAFTNG COMMITTEE MEETS

Kathmandu, 8 April: The main constitution drafting committee headed by Nilambar Acharya Friday began discussing remaining 30 contentious articles and
issues to be incorporated in a constitution that has to be promulgated by a
second 28 May deadline.
Only 50 days remain for the promulgation of the basic law.
A group earlier disrupted its meeting hurling a chair demanding interests of Dalits, Muslims and minorities should be addressed in a proposed constitution.
The issue and a federal structure will be taken up Friday.
The group threatened to disrupt Friday’s meeting as well
The council meets after Maoist Chairman Prachanda reconsidered his decision toresign as a chairman of a sub-committee under the main committee to speed up
differences on the contentions points.
Prachanda named party Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shestha as his
replacement opposed by NA and UML.
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TERAI, EASTERN HILL DISTRICTS CLOSED DOWN

Kathmandu, 8 April: Tharu community closed down most of the terai districts from the East to the West on the first day on an indefinite regional strike Friday pressing for community rights.
The strike hit Sunsari and Morang in the west to Banke, Bardiya and Kailali in the west.
Nine districts in the eastern hills across Arun river were also closed down Friday by activists of Limbuwan Rajya Parishad.
Limbuwan activists are demanding an autonomous region and protesting
updating of a voters’ list by election commission.
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THREE-PARTY MEET ON GOVT. EXPANSION INCONCLUSIVE

Kathmandu, 8 April; A three-party meet on government between Maoists, UML and MJFN was inconclusive Thursday.
Maoist Chairman Parachanda and Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, who is also
UML chairman, had earlier agreed to complete expansion by Wednesday.
Khanal was elected 3 February with Maoist support; but Maoists and UML
have nominated only four members each in their government teams.
MJFN Chairman Upendra Yadav Thursday blamed the two big
communist parties the delayed expansion.
MJFN has demanded four ministerial berths; it has been offered three by
Maoists and UML, including foreign ministry.
Yadav is leading his party team as foreign minister.
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CHAIRMAN PRACHANDA ALSO COMMENDA NA RECOMMENDATION

Kathmandu, 8 April: After Secretary CP Gajurel, Maoist Chairman Prachanda also welcomed an idea floated by Nepal Army for the creation of a separate
force of former Maoist combatants and state security agencies.
Gajurel welcomed the army proposal after a recent meeting of Maoist standing committee in Sindhupalchowk.
“On behalf of Nepal Army (NA) recently, positive thinking has come for
integration and resettlement. This indicates NA and Maoist PLA jointly
want to create a new Nepal. This is a very positive indication,” the Maoist chief a public meeting in the capital Thursday.
Integration and resettlement of 19,000 plus former combatants haven’t
progressed in four years even though it was envisaged the processes
could be completed six months.
NA has circulated its proposal for consideration.
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CONSTITUTONAL COUNCIL MEET TO SELECT CHIEF JUSTICE

Kathmandu, 8 April: Prime Minister Jhalanatha Khanal has convened a
meeting of the constitutional council Monday. to nominate chief justice of the supreme court.
Chief Justice Ram Prasad Shrestha has stopped hearing cases at the apex
court one prior to his superannuation.
Khil Raj Regmi is the senior most judge at the supreme court.
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US ASKED TO TAKE UP ARMY RIGHTS ABUSES WOTH ARMY
CHIEF

Kathmandu, 8 April: During the current US visit of Army Chief Gen. Chatraman Singh Gurung, Human Rights Watch (HRW) based in USA has asked
the US government to pressurize the top Nepali army general bring to book persons who abused rights during a 10-year Maoist people’s war.
Gen. Gurung is holding talks with US military brass and State Department
officials on military cooperation.
“Nepal Army has steadfastly refused to hold its soldiers accountable, even
when the police have shown courage and charged their officers for
despicable crimes.
‘Victims are looking to the US to show leadership and pressure Nepal’s
army to come clean on its wartime record.
“They should make it clear that it is not acceptable that not a single
soldier has been brought to justice before a civilian court for grave human
rights violations during the country’s conflict,” a statement said.
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GOVT. PRIORITIZING ENERGY CRISIS RESOLUTION













Kathmandu, 8 April : Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahadur Mahara Thursday said that Nepali Congress had politicised the resignation of Finance Secretary, which he said, also exposed its character, The Rising Nepal reports.
"The NC shouted slogans against the government and halted the meeting of parliament over the resignation of Finance Secretary, which debunked its political character," DPM Mahara said at a press conference organised by Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Baglung.
He said that the government was planning short and long term projects to solve the energy crisis.
He said that the government would give priority to solving the energy crisis.
Stating that he took the responsibility of Communications Minister for four times, he gave due attention to the professionalism of communication sectors.
DPM Mahara also claimed that the government would be of national consensus with the participation of three big political parties.
He appreciated the modality of army integration brought by Nepal Army, terming it positive.
Mahara said that the government was for commencing the fiscal year from Baishakh (April-May) for expediting the development activities.
The new budget to be unveiled within May 3 will reflect the government’s intention to bring about socio-economic changes in the country, he said.
"The new budget will be village-oriented and try to address those issues, which the previous budget failed to do so," he added.
He downplayed the bickering besetting the party’s labour wing, stating that this happened as there was not purification campaign in the party.
"This dispute is minor and is now solved," he claimed.

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