ANTI-FEDERATION STRIKE CLOSES DOWN CHITWAN

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ANTI-FEDERATION STRIKE CLOSES DOWN CHITWAN
Kathmandu, 2 April:
Banda enforced by Rastriya Janamorcha in protest of federalism has adversely affected life in Chitwan, RSS reports from .Chitwan.

Vehicular movement has been completely brought to standstill due to shutdown. Janamorcha has called shutdown to pile pressure on the government to promulgate constitution on time, scrap federalism and hold local level elections at the earliest.

The shutdown enforced as per the central program has thrown life out of gear in Bharatpur, Narayangarh, Ratnanagar, Parsa, Bhandara including other parts of Chitwan.

Janamorcha activists have been obstructing road staging demonstrations in Pulchowk, Bharatpur, Ratnanagar municipality and other thoroughfares.

Educational institutions and business establishment are completely closed down. Vehicles coming from west have been parked in Gaindakot.

Earlier, Janamorcha cadres had staged torch rally on Sunday evening ahead of
shutdown.
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SC OVERTURNS GOVT. AMNESTY FOR RAUTAHAT MURDER CONVICTS
Kathmandu, 2 April : The Supreme Court on Sunday annulled the government´s decision to withdraw murder case against seven persons filed at the District Court, Rautahat, Republica reports.

The government on February 27 had decided to grant general amnesty to 367 individuals convicted of criminal charges.

A division bench of Kalyan Shrestha and Bharat Raj Uprety said exonerating Mosafir Mahato Koiri and six others accused of murdering Dev Sharan Mahato two-and-a-half years ago is “utterly unjust”.

SC said the government fails to reasonably justify how it used the Government Cases Act 2049 BS to exonerate Koiri and six others. The government has referred to the recommendations of political parties as the sole reason for withdrawal of the case.

“It is not justifiable to retract a criminal case only on a political basis. This practice can set a bad precedent,” the verdict says.

All those convicted of the murder in the case except one Bigan Mahato Koiri, who died after being arrested, were absconding till
the government gave them clean chits.

The decision to grant amnesty to the absconding criminals even without a justifiable reason challenges the judiciary and criminal justice system and encourages impunity, said the verdict.

The government had withdrawn the murder case against Koiri and six others in March as recommended by CPN (UML), UCPN (M) and Sadbhawana Party. This shows how political parties join forces to clear their cadres of criminal charges.

Mahato was shot dead by Koiri and six others in his native village of Katahariya in Rautahat district on September 30, 2009.

Rautahat District Court initially had sent the accused to judicial custody. Subsequently, the Hetauda Appellate Court nullified the district court´s order and released the accused.

Mahato´s widow Rupiya Devi had lodged a writ petition in SC against the government´s February 27 decision.
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MAOIST CHIEF SAYS GIVE UP GIVE UP REVOLUTIONARY IDEALS

Kathmandu, 2 April:: Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday urged the Young Communist League (YCL) leaders to compromise on the party´s revolutionary ideals for the sake of peace and constitution.

"Time has come to make sacrifice. We will have to sacrifice our stance for peace and constitution," YCL leader Ram Parasad Sapakota quoted Dahal as saying, Republica reports..

Dahal was addressing a group of YCL cadres from the party establishment faction. Party Senior Vice-chairman Baidya faction boycotted the function.

YCL Coordinator Ganesh Man Pun stated that a national gathering of the YCL will be called in April last week.

Sapakota said YCL will be mobilized for one month for peace and constitution. He said sanitation campaign will be launched in the major cities for the sake of peace and constitution.

The YCL was inactive after another organization called People´s Volunteers (PV) led by party standing committee member Netra Bikram Chand was formed.

The newspaper adds:
Following the Special Committee decision to vacate the PLA cantonments by April 12, the PLA brass has begun selecting combatants most likely to qualify for integration into the Nepal Army (NA).

The last meeting of the Special Committee had decided to ask the combatants once again whether they want integration or voluntary retirement.

As of now there are 9,700 combatants who have opted for integration. While the seven-point deal states that a maximum of 6,500 combatants can be integrated, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had reportedly told other party leaders that the number of combatants to be integrated will stand around 4,000.

The confusion sorrounding the number notwithstanding, each combatant will have to meet the criteria of the NA for integration. Though they will get concessions in age, education and marital status.

"The number of PLA personnel to be integrated will be around 6,500," said Suk Bahadur Roka Magar, Second Division commander. "We are currently doing our homework for integration as per the 7-point agreement." According to Magar, the PLA will be ready for integration within the stipulated timeframe.

“The selection process is going on as per the spirit of the seven-point deal. We will honor the choices made by combatants," said Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, Sixth Division commander.

The commanders said they have adopted the policy of inclusion while selecting combatants for integration. Certain share has been allocated to the marginalized groups including women, Dalits, Bhote and those from backward regions of Karnali and Seti-Mahakali.

"I am not sure how many comrades will drop out of race. We have not been informed about the intention of the high ranking combatants. Most of the commanders will not join the NA if they don´t get what they have been expecting," said Roka Magar.
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