PM BHATTARAI SAYS PREVIOUS GOVT. TOOK DECISION TO SEND BACK OHCHR-N

PM CERTAIN PEACE PROCESS WILL STABILIZE
Kathmandu, 10 Dec. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has said it is certain that the peace process will get stability because of the environment of consensus that is emerging among the political parties of late, RSS reports from Lalitpur.

Addressing a special programme organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day here on Saturday, he said the process of constituting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Enforced Disappearances, the main part of the peace process, has reached the final stages.

Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said nobody would be benefited by licking the old wounds dating back to the conflict period and that both the commissions would be formed for building the environment for forging reconciliation.

Stating the human rights could not be guaranteed due to the various activities that took place in the country, he pledged that the present government is committed to upholding the human rights, the press freedom and the legal norms and principles.

“The government is working vigorously towards rendering the NHRC and the National Women’s Commission capable and resourceful for fully guaranteeing the human rights to the general public as per the democratic process,” the prime minister said.

At the programme, Chairman of the NHRC, Kedarnath Upadhyaya said that although the government is in the process of implementing the different recommendations of the Commission, the action taken against the culprits responsible for human rights violations of the serious nature was not encouraging.

Chairman Upadhyaya said the Commission which has gained the status of a constitutional body as provided for in the Interim Constitution has made recommendations, following investigations, to the government on taking action against the perpetrators in 416 complaints in the last four years and the perpetrators in 566 complaints in the last 11 years since its establishment.

Coordinator of the Human Rights Magna Meet, Prof. Kapil Shrestha said all governments formed since the restoration of the Parliament have confined the topic of human rights only to policy and failed to guarantee its implementation in practice.

Chairman of the NGO Federation Dr. Netra Timilsina said impunity was gaining ground in the country as the successive governments failed to implement the various recommendations of the NHRC.

UN representative to Nepal, Robert Piper said although the government has expressed its commitment to human rights, still there are some practical problems in its implementation.
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PREVIOUS GOVT. TOOK DECISION NOT TO EXTEND OHCHR-N TENURE SAYS PM BHATTARAI
Kathmandu, 10 Dec.: Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai organised a tea party in the Singha Durbar on Saturday on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, RSS reports.

Constituent Assembly (CA) Chairman Subas Chandra Nembang, Chief Justice Khila Raj Regmi, leader of the main opposition party Ram Chandra Paduel and others were present on the occasion.

Likewise, ministers, lawmakers, rights activists, legal practitioners, journalists, chiefs of security bodies, top government officials also attended the tea party.

Talking to journalists on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai said the current government only implemented the decision of the previous government not to extend the term of the OHCHR-Nepal Office.

He said the previous government extended the term of the OHCHR-Nepal Office for the last time earlier, adding that the OHCHR-Nepal Office has also informed the government about its exit plan and schedule.
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TUSKER TARROR IN NORTH JHAPA
Kathmandu, 10 Dec.: Normal life in north-east part of Jhapa district has been crippled due to tusker terror of late, RRRS reports from Bhadrapur.

A herd of wild elephants appeared in the north-east belt of the district from Indian border and entered the settlements, terrorizing community by killing human beings and destroying the houses and crops, said a local.

A herd of tuskers has destroyed a house of Lok Bahadur Lopchan and gobbled at the grains in store last night, said police [Saturday].

Local residents and police chased away the elephants to the Indian border at around 3:00 am today.
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