PM ASSURES INTERNATIONAL MEDIA MISSION ON PRESS FREEDOM

PM TELLS INTERNATIONAL MEDIA MISSION GOVT. COMMITTED TO PRESS FREEDOM
Kathmandu, 27 Feb. :
Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said the government was committed to freedom of press and expression, RSS reports.
At a meeting with the visiting international media mission this night, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai
said no laws would be formulated to deprive citizens of their right to information (RTI).
According to chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Shiva Gaunle, the Prime Minister assured the journalists of the new constitution becoming media friendly.
The government has no policy and intention to limit the RTI law, he said adding that government had already rolled back the information classification.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai urged the Communication Secretary to make necessary arrangement to provide pay and perks to the media persons as per the Working Journalist Act. Presently, the Prime Minister also holds the portfolio the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The international media mission was on a five-day mission to Nepal at the request of the FNJ to take stock of the media situation and security of journalists in Nepal.
The Mission is returning back tomorrow [Monday].
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SPEAKER NEMWANG WARNS OF LIKELY CRISIS

Kathmandu, 27 Feb.:Constituent Assembly chairman Subas Chandra Nembang Sunday said that the nation would plunge into a deeper crisis if the political parties failed to forge consensus to resolve all contentious issues related to the peace and constitution writing processes, The Rising Nepal reports. From Pashupatinagar
Inaugurating a newly constructed FM radio building of ‘Ilam FM’, Nembang said that the parties had no option but to draft the new constitution and promulgate it by May 27.
"The nation might be turned into a battlefield if the political parties fail to fulfill people’s aspiration for peace and constitution," Nembang said.
Nembang said that he was hopeful of writing the new constitution and concluding the

peace process within the stipulated timeframe as the leaders of major political
parties had vowed to give a way out to present deadlock within a week.
The country would suffer more losses if the transition phase prolonged, he added.
"I’m hopeful that the political parties will forge consensus over the contentious issues related to forms of governance, electoral system and state restructuring," Nembang said.
The state is looking out for a common ground for all caste, creed, religion, culture, ethnic and minority to find their place during and after the restructuring of the nation, he further said.
At the function, two dozen people who made contributions for the construction of the building were also felicitated.
More than 200 shareholders of the FM station were also present at the function.
Similarly, chairman Nembang also inaugurated International Nepali Literature Convention organized in Ilam Sunday.
About 100 writers and poets from within and outside the country arrived in Ilam to participate in the convention.
At the programme, Nembang said that contribution from literature sectors should be aimed at helping the overall development of the nation.
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DETAILS OF PRACHANDA OFFER IN MAOIST INTEGRATION
Kathmandu, 27 Feb. : UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ Sunday floated a proposal to vacate all 28 cantonments of the Maoist combatants within two or three weeks in order to give a momentum to the stalled peace process, Ram Prasad Dahal writes in The Rising Nepal..
At a meeting of top leaders of three major parties—UCPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML-- held at Maharajgunj residence of NC president Sushil Koirala this morning, Prachanda informed about the proposal he prepared as assigned him by earlier meeting of the three parties.
"I have proposed to vacate all the cantonments within two or three weeks" said Prachanda after the meeting. However, at the meeting he demanded more time to present details of the matter.
The top leaders also discussed the implementation of the decision of the Army Integration Special Committee that existing 28 cantonments would be reduced to 14.
A meeting of the top leaders Friday had assigned Nepali Congress president Koirala to bring a proposal about the formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission on the forced disappearances through intra-party consensus and UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal a proposal to resolve the contentious issues of the new constitution, mainly related to state restructuring, form of governance and electoral model.
However, NC and UML leaders did not present their proposals formally at the meeting.
According to sources, NC president presented basic concept of the two commissions. However, UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal did not present any concept regarding the contentious issues of the constitution.
A dispute arose among the top UML leaders after the earlier meeting of the three parties assigned Nepal to bring the proposal on behalf of the UML. Chairman Khanal was not happy when Nepal was given the assignment. Sources close to UML said that party chairman Khanal himself wanted to take the responsibility stating that other two parties had assigned their party chiefs for the same.
Nepal did not attend the meeting today owing to the dispute.
It was uncertain who from the UML would present the proposal in the upcoming meeting.
UML leader Bhim Rawal told The Rising Nepal that
a proposal from his party would be presented in the next meeting of the three parties.
"However, I am not sure who (Khanal or Nepal) will present it," he said.
"Today we met without completing our assignments and we will sit again on March 1 to finalise all the issues," said NC chief Koirala after the meeting.
Prachanda said that the parties were seeking more time to complete the given assignments and they did not take any decision today [Sunday].
"We agreed to bring the proposals that would be acceptable to all after intra-party decisions within the parties and making necessary amendments," he said.
After the meeting, UML leader Rawal said the meeting discussed issues relating to peace, constitution and formation of national consensus government.
"The leaders will discuss the issues in details in the next meeting," he said.
(Note: Other published reports Monday said Prachanda proposal was conditional with the Maoist chief proposing vacation only former PLA fighters are appointed ‘honourary brigader general’or colonel in Nepal Army).
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