RIVAL GROUP STAGE SIT-INS AT BALUWATAR FOR AND AGAINST MAOIST MURDER CONVICT Kathmandu, 17 March: Supporters of UCPN Maoist and activists of Occupy Baluwatar movement held rival sit-ins in front of the official residence of the prime minister in favour and against former Maoist lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel convicted by the supreme court for murder. He was sentenced to a jail term with confiscation of property bt moves around freely with top party leaders, including Baburam Bhattarai. Police separated the two groups. Occupy Baluwatar activists have been continuing their extended protests demanding action even after government change as they demanding transparency and punishment of those involved in abuses. Nnnn CPN MAOIST, OTHER PARTIES TO COTINUE PROTESTS AGAINST REGMI GOVT. Kathmandu, 17 March: CPN Maoist and other parties are continuing protests Sunday for the third consecutive day against the Khil Raj Regmi govrnmetnt in the capital amid clashes with police. Parties are holding corner corner meetings s they decided to boycott programmes attended by the president and members of the government. The partiess charge a non-party government has been formed with foreign interference with threats to boycott constituent assembly elections. nnnn. OCCUPY BALUWATAR ACTIVISTS PROTEST MAOIST THREATS Kathmandu, 17 March: Occupy Baluwatar campaigners on Saturday objected to the threats issued by the UCPN-Maoist party through its sister Organizations, The Kathmandu Post writes.. On Friday, the party issued a joint statement signed by Devendra Paudel and Lila Bahadur Thapa, coordinators of the party’s Newa and Kirat State Committees, respectively, warning of ‘stern action’ against rights activists and Occupy Baluwatar campaigners unless the ongoing protests against the party’s former lawmaker Bal Krishna Dhungel were halted. The campaigners have been demanding the arrest of Dhungel, who was convicted of murder of one Ujjan Kumar Shrestha by the Okhaldhunga district court in 2004, which the appellate court repealed. He won the Constituent Assembly election in 2008 from Okhaldhunga. Later, the Supreme Court upheld the district court verdict in 2010. However, the verdict was never implemented. In a statement on Saturday, the campaigners said it was an act of infringement on the citizens’ right to voice the truth. “The campaign is not directed at a particular political party. It is a peaceful citizen movement against gender-based violence, culture of impunity and the malpractices of political protection to the perpetrators,” read the statement. The campaigners have urged UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to justify reasons behind issuing such threats of stern action against the protesters. “This is sheer irresponsibility displayed by the country’s biggest party,” it said. “The threat is not a coincidence, as it comes two days after [Baburam] Bhattarai’s exit as the prime minister.” The campaign, which is on its 80th day, has been raising issues related to the violation of women rights and justice for victims. “Our demands should be addressed or else we will continue the campaign,” said Pranika Koyu, one of the campaigners. The campaigners have also planned to put forth their demands to Khil Raj Regmi, the newly appointed chairman of the election government, on March 20. nnnn EU WELCOMES DEVELOPMENTS Kathmandu, 17 March:: The European Union (EU) has welcomed the formation of interim election council under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Khila Raj Regmi in Nepal., The Rising Nepal writes. Catherine Ashton, spokesperson of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the formation of the council to conduct national and local elections. Issuing a press statement, she commended Nepal’s political leaders for making the necessary concessions to guarantee that elections would be held in 2013 and encouraged all parties to extend their support to the newly appointed interim election council chairman Khila Raj Regmi. “Credible, transparent and inclusive elections are vital to meeting the rights and aspirations of the people, to reviving Nepal democratic institutions, to finalising a new constitution, and to securing a lasting peace,” the press statement read. Nnnn FORMER ELECTION OFFICIALS SAY VOTE POSSIBLE IN JUNE Kathmandu, 17 March:: The European Union (EU) has welcomed the formation of interim election council under the chairmanship of Chief Justice Khila Raj Regmi in Nepal, The Rising Nepal writes.. Catherine Ashton, spokesperson of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the formation of the council to conduct national and local elections. Issuing a press statement, she commended Nepal’s political leaders for making the necessary concessions to guarantee that elections would be held in 2013 and encouraged all parties to extend their support to the newly appointed interim election council chairman Khila Raj Regmi. “Credible, transparent and inclusive elections are vital to meeting the rights and aspirations of the people, to reviving Nepal democratic institutions, to finalising a new constitution, and to securing a lasting peace,” the press statement read. nnnn