FOREIGN HELP FOR ELECTIONS Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: The European Commission , UNDP and other Development partners gave Nepal euro 19.978 million Thursday through the finance ministry to conduct national elections in April.May The money will be spent over a four-year period. Agreement was signed between the Ministry of Finance, the European Commission, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other development partners to implement a new project—Electoral Support Project Phase II. Head of the European Union Delegation to Nepal Dr Alexander Spachis said, “The EU is committed to democracy around the world. It wants to see national and local elections taking place in Nepal. “ nnnn MEDIA GOOGLE "The opposition parties have been inciting the President to stage a coup like that of 2017 BS (1960).” (Finance minister Barsh Man Pun The Kathmandu, 30 Nov.), “We cannot hold elections without clearing legal hurdles [by 30 December] , forging consensus among parties and appointing commissioners at the EC." (EC Commissioner Ayodhee Prasad Yadav in The Kathmandu Post, 30 Nov.) nnnn SUPREME COURT JUSTICE BHARAT RAJ UPRETI RESIGNS Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Supreme Court Justice Bharat Raj Upreti resigned on Thursday. His resignation comes just two weeks before the curtain falls on the term of temporary SC justices, Pranab Kharel writes in The Kathmandu Post. By mid-December the apex court would have only six justices, which will affect the justice delivery. As per the constitutional provision, a parliamentary hearing is a must for the appointment of justices at the SC. Upreti submitted his resignation, effective from Sunday, before the apex court administration. “I spent four years in the Supreme Court and now I feel like working in the private sector,” Upreti told the Post. He, one of the seven temporary justices who came to the apex court in January 2009, was set to retire on January 21. A petition is subjudice in the SC, arguing that the justices who have undergone parliamentary hearing once, could be retained. Asked what would he do if the court issues the petition, an irate Upreti remarked, “Do you think I would accept a post at the mercy of somebody?” But he went on to add that the process to make justices permanent had been delayed. Replying to a question that whether he felt let down by the judicial leadership for failing to expedite the appointment process, Upreti refused to comment. “How can I say that? You should ask this question to the chief justice.” Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, who also heads the Judicial Council—responsible for the appointment of justices and judges—said it was Upreti’s personal decision and did not want to comment further. “As far as the appointment of judges is concerned we are working on that,” said Regmi. But former justice of the apex court, Balram KC, said, “Upreti’s resignation is an unfortunate incident as judiciary would suffer if competent people resign.” “Bharat Upreti is an expert in corporate law. Judiciary needs people like him. All the temporary justices are competent and need to be retained,” said KC. Former Justice KC rued the day that CJ Regmi was well aware of the situation but remained “inactive”. “A large Bench led by the incumbent chief justice had put a term cap on the Constituent Assembly. Therefore, he was aware of the situation and should have ensured that the vacant posts are fulfilled and temporary justices are reappointed,” added KC. nnnn ABDUCTIONS UNCHECKED IN CENTRAL REGION Kathmandu, 30 Nov.: Indralal Chaulagain, 55, and his neighbour Bhimlal Shrestha, 52, of Nijgadh in the district went to a nearby forest to collect fodder. But they did not return home. Some unidentified persons called the family members over telephone demanding ransom of Rs 1 million each for their release, :Axmi Sah writes in The Kathmandu from Bara.. The whereabouts of the abductees is still unknown for the past two months as the victims’ families failed to cough up the amount. This is just a case in point. Abduction cases are unchecked in Bara and its neighbouring districts. Five persons have been abducted in the past two months in Bara, Parsa and Rautahat. Their situation is still unknown. People complain that general life has been increasingly unsafe in the region due to the unchecked abduction. They blamed the government for not taking strong measures to bring abductors to book. “The general life has been insecure in the recent time due to unchecked abductions. Insecurity prevails in the region as the authorities concerned fail to control the organised network of abductors,” said Hasta Lama, a teacher at a local school. The abductees’ family members are restless. They have urged police to take initiative for the safe and immediate release of the victims but to no avail. “We are restless. We asked one and all for the release but we are unknown about his situation,” said Ramila, Chaulagain’s daughter. Likewise, the situation of 19-year-old Raju Prajapati of Birgunj in Parsa district is still unknown even after his family provided Rs 1 million to abductors. “We sold our land and coughed up the amount hoping his safe release. But his whereabouts is still unknown,” said Prajapati’s uncle Birendra. So is the fate of 45-year-old Dasharath Kankar of Ranighat, Birgunj, and 13-year-old schoolboy Sunil Baitha of Samanpur-9 in Rautahat district. The victims’ kin and family vented their ire on police for inaction. They claimed that they informed the police on time but the latter failed to take any initiatives for the victims’ release. “We have been working to release the victims as per the information provided by their families. I have directed police chiefs in the districts to work seriously to rescue the victims,” said DIG Yadav Adhikari at the Central Regional Police Office. nnnn