NAMASTE SALPAPOKHARI

Peace Process: Human rights ‘top’ US

2010-01-21T11:26:00.001+05:30

The US has put equal onus on the Maoist and non-Maoist parties to take the peace process forward and complete the constitution by the May 28 deadline.

It has adopted a similar approach to human rights violations, with stress on the need to investigate violations by both Nepal Army and UCPN (Maoist) perpetrators. Action against the culture of impunity is high on the US agenda in Nepal.

“The US is urging timely progress in the peace process. We believe all parties need to be flexible to successfully reach agreements to meet the deadline,” visiting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Patrick Moon told reporters on Wednesday. “The High Level Political Mechanism could be a useful tool in bringing all the parties together and in reaching agreements on difficult issues that need to be decided.”

Moon suggested that the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Disappearance Commission would be important starting points in addressing outstanding cases of human rights violations. “I raised human rights in all my meetings. I indicated we wanted Nepal Army and the Maoists to seriously address human rights issues. We made it clear that human rights issues should be addressed as part of the peace process. It remains at the top of the US agenda.”

He said: “Maoists, like other parties, need to show flexibility and willingness to compromises. We don't think that strikes are useful. We also noted the importance of the release of the disqualified [Maoist] combatants.”

He said the US-Maoist dialogue would continue. “We talked about removing the Maoists from the terro-rist list and we talked about the steps Maoists should take including the renouncing of violence and terro-rism, holding accountable those who are responsible of human rights violations.”

Moon hailed UNMIN's role in Nepal's peace process. “We certainly think UNMIN's role has been a positive one. They, like others, have been a little frustrated with the slow progress on issues they have been charged with.”

CA panel endorses 14 provinces

2010-01-21T11:25:00.001+05:30

The Committee on Restructuring of the State and Devolution of State Power has recommended a federation with 14 states in the new constitution. A majority in the 42-member thematic committee endorsed this modality.

In Wednesday's vote, 23 CA members from UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML voted for the 14-state proposal. The amendmet made during voting includes two provinces in the Tarai--Tharuhat-Lumbini-Abadh and Mithila-Bhojpura-Madhes--and two new provinces Jadan and Sherpa.

Earlier, the subcommittee had proposed two alternatives -- a 14-province and a six-province federation. During voting, Nepali Congress and Madhes-based parties demanded inclusion of both recommendations in the concept paper. Madhesi parties were for amending both proposals, while the NC demanded their incorporation in the concept paper. Some lawmakers demanded that Chitwan also be included in the Tarai provinces.

The committee also voted in favour of priority rights for margi-nalised ethnic communities and linguistic groups in provinces and special structures under them. This allows the ethnic and linguistic group with majority population to lead the provinces and the special structures for the first two terms.

Proposed Federal States: Tharuhat-Lumbini-Abadh, Mithila-Bhojpura-Madhes, Jadan, Karnali, Khaptad, Sherpa, Sunkoshi, Kirat, Limbuwan, Newa, Tamsaling, Narayani, Tamuwan, Magrat

PM seeks explanation from Bhandari

2010-01-21T11:23:00.000+05:30

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Wednesday sought explanation from Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari over her statement that her ministry and Nepal Army (NA) had no compulsion to accept any decision on Army integration taken by the Prime Minister Nepal-led Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.

Following mounting pressure from his Cabinet, the prime minister telephoned Bhandari to ask why she had made such a controversial statement. Refuting media reports, Bhandari told the prime minister, “I did not say I would not accept the committee's decision. I just tried to convey that the participation of my ministry and NA should be ensured in the special committee,”

said a minister who overheard the telephonic conversation.

Minor dispute claims kid’s life

2008-09-24T08:19:00.006+05:30

In a shocking incident, Santosh Karki, a 10-year-old schoolboy was killed and three others injured when an armed group opened fire on them in broad daylight in Kathmandu's Gothatar area on Wednesday.
The incident at Birendra Chowk in Gothatar was an outcome of a minor dispute between...