UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF LAWYERS TELLS PRESIDENT IT OPPOSES APPOINTMENT OF REGMI-LED GOVT. Kathmandu, 1 March: Office bearers of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) Friday briefed President Dr.. Ram Baran Yadav on their opposition to an election government headed by Chief Justice Khil Regmi during an hour-long meet. Top lawyers said such appointment will undermine independence of judiciary and established democratic doctrine of separation of power between executive, legislature and judicioary. Parliament/ constituent assembly has been dissolved without promulgating a promulgating a constitution to institutionalize a declared republic. Nnnn PRACHANDA, MOHAN BAIDHAYA DISCUSS SHARING OF PARTY ASSETS Kathmandu, 1 March: Maoist Chairman Prachanda and Chairman of CPN Maoist Mohan Baidhaya Friday discussed sharing of party assets after the parties split nearly nine month ago. Baidhaya expressed dissatisfaction with the division of assets at a Prachanda residence meeting. nnnn . NEPAL COMMITTED TO RIGHTS PROTECTION Kathmandu, 1 March : Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Shanker D. Bairagi, has reiterated Nepal´s unconditional commitment to protecting the human rights, RSS reports.. Addressing the General Segment of the High Level Segment of the 22nd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday, he said that Nepal has unflinching commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law and inclusive development, and that it has mainstreamed a rights-based approach in such development process. "The Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2007 guarantees human rights and fundamental freedoms to all citizens and we have put in place necessary legislative, policy and institutional measures for their realization," he said, adding that the Government was committed to strengthening the capacity of all human rights institutions from national to grassroots levels, to ending impunity through effective enforcement of all possible measures and to promoting wider observance of the rule of law. Ambassador Bairagi informed that the violators of human rights are prosecuted as per law. Stating that discrimination on any ground and in any form is strictly prohibited by the Constitution and relevant laws, Ambassador Bairagi told the Council that gender equality and mainstreaming remains a top priority and effective legal, policy and institutional measures are being taken to bring an end to the gender-based violence, including domestic violence. He told the Council that Nepal respects and safeguards the rights of human rights-defenders, journalists and women rights activists. The ambassador informed about Nepal’s ongoing and sincere efforts towards concluding the peace process and told that the technical aspect of the peace process has been completed with the integration of the Maoist combatants into the national army. He further told the Council that efforts are underway to forge consensus on holding elections to a new Constituent Assembly in a credible manner under a neutral non-partisan government. The promulgation of the new constitution through the new Constituent Assembly will bring the peace process to its logical conclusion, he said. While making it clear that the establishment of a Transitional Justice Mechanism, in line with the international standards and the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Accord and the Interim Constitution of Nepal to suit the specific needs of the country, is an important step in completing the peace process as well as laying concrete foundation for lasting peace, he said that the ordinance bill for the formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission is soon going to be resubmitted after necessary revisions for assent of the President. Highlighting the considerable progress that Nepal has made in the field of human rights despite the numerous challenges it faces as a least developed, landlocked and country emerging from conflict, he concluded that we need continued and constructive support from the international community at a time when we are undergoing a democratic transition of historic proportion. He said that Nepal underscores the importance of the Human Rights Council in promoting and protecting all human rights including the right to development in an evenhanded manner. "As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action this year, this would be fitting that we underline the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity be coupled with constructive dialogue and cooperation to underpin the Council’s work," he said. Highlighting the significance of the UPR as the most innovative and participatory feature of the Council, he said that it should be preserved with the active and unconditional participation of all concerned. He told the Council that Nepal has taken concrete measures, through the adoption of an action plan, for the implementation of the recommendations and the voluntary pledges and commitments made during its UPR. Nnnn