CPN MAOIST DRAWS PRESIDENT’S ATTENTION Kathmandu, 3 Feb.: : CPN-Maoist, the breakaway faction of the ruling Maoist party, has met President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on Sunday and demanded the cancellation of the agreements signed with India on the Upper Karnali, Upper Marsyangdi and Arun III hydro projects and utilize the projects for the welfare of the country, RSS reports. A delegation led by the party's politburo member and hydropower and energy department, Dharmendra Bastola met the President and said the total authority to utilize all rivers including the Upper Karnali hydro project should be with the Nepalis. On the occasion, President Dr Yadav said the demands were positive and he would make special initiative to respond to the demands, according to Bastola. The governments have been signing agreements relating to the natural resources ignoring the national interest for long, Bastola said, adding that the Upper Karnali, Marsyangdi and Arun –III hydropower projects were the cheapest projects. He said the projects need to be built with the economic contribution of the Nepalis. The delegation also drew the President's attention on other issues of the promotion of national economy. nnnn DR..ANJANI JHA NEW NMA CHIEF Kathmandu, 3 Feb.: Dr Anjani Kumar Jha was elected Sunday chairman of Nepal Medical Association (NMA) in elections conducted 30 January. He defeated Dr Krishna Kumar Rai. Dr Jha is consultant at Bharatpur Cancer Hospital. Nnnn FNCCI CONDEMNS RATHI MURDER Kathmandu, 3 Feb.: FNCCI Sunday condemned the murder of Biratnagar businessmen Ganga Bishan Rathi in West Bengal after abduction for ransom. FNCCI asked government to enforce rule of law in the country. drawing the attention of political leadership toward growing impunity in the country. The umbrella organization of businessmen asked security forces of Nepal and India to stop cross-border criminal activities. Nnnn Nnnn PM ASKS SC TO ANNUL INTERIM ORDER ON DEKENDRA MURDER CASE Kathmandu, 4 Feb.: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has urged the Supreme Court (SC) to annul the latter´s interim order to proceed with investigation into the murder of Dailekh-based journalist Dekendra Thapa, Republica reports. In an application registered at the apex court on Sunday, Bhattarai has argued that the regular criminal justice system cannot deal with conflict-era cases. He has further argued that the interim constitution envisages formation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to resolve cases related to insurgency. The prime minister has said the letter and spirit of the CPA should be kept in mind while interpreting the interim constitution. “CPA is the foundation of the interim constitution. Hence, it would be against the principle of constitutionalism to interpret, amend and implement the constitution in contravention of the CPA,” reads the application, adding, “Such a move is unacceptable.” The prime minister has also maintained that various countries have set up transitional justice mechanisms to maintain peace and deliver justice in post conflict situations. “I urge SC to annul the interim order as it overlooks the international norms, practice, the distinct nature of cases related to insurgency and constitutional provisions regarding such cases,” Bhattarai has stated in the application. In a separate application, the prime minister has also urged the SC to scrap a writ petition filed by advocate Govinda Prasad Sharma seeking the court´s order to proceed with the investigation into Thapa´s murder. Though, applications of the prime minister were submitted to SC on Thursday, they were not registered as they lacked proper documents. Attorney General Mukti Pradhan has already filed similar applications at the apex court. The SC on January 15 had ordered the Office of Attorney General, Dailekh District Attorney´s Office and District Police Office not to obstruct the ongoing investigation into the case. Thapa was killed by Maoist cadres some eight years ago. nnnn