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VOL. 28, NO. 24, March 20, 2009 (Chaitra 07 2065)
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS SIGNED A SIX-POINT ACCORD with agitating Tharus on Saturday (Mar 14) night following which the latter have called off their 13-day-old strike in Terai region. The agreement signed in the presence of Prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ at his official residence in Baluwatar, assures that Tharus and all other indigenous communities will have their distinct identity in the new constitution. Any provision in the interim constitution deemed to violate the spirit of their distinct identities will be amended. The government has also agreed to declare those killed during Tharu agitation as martyrs. The pact was signed by Peace Minister Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’ and five leaders of Tharu organizations.
PRESIDENT RAM BARAN YADAV has summoned the winter session of the parliament from March 29. President Yadav summoned the house by issuing a statement on Friday evening as per the recommendation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The PM had called on President Yadav to tender a recommendation to call the house on Friday. According to the provisions in the interim constitution of Nepal, parliamentary sessions are called by the President as per the recommendation of the Prime Minister. The house has been summoned from March 29, as the CA members who have gone to various districts for opinion collection on the form and content of the future constitution are scheduled to return by March 28. The winter session of the parliament was supposed to start by mid March and conclude by mid April, according to the planned schedule of the legislative.
THE ARMY INTEGRATION SPECIAL COMMITTEE (AISC) has decided to constitute an eight-member technical committee to assist it to on matters related to the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants. A meeting of the AISC held at the Prime Minister's office in Singha Durbar Monday (Mar 16) took the decision. According to chief secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimire, who is the spokesperson of the AISC, the meeting also passed the terms of reference of the special committee. He said the next AISC meeting will nominate the coordinator and the members of the technical committee. The AISC, which is headed by the Prime Minister, is responsible for overseeing the integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA). Compiled from reports
MEETING THE DEMANDS OF THE business sector partially, the government has said it will waive the income invested in hydropower and productive sectors from the VDIS scanner. The government has said it will not seek the source of such income. This was made clear during the meeting between business leaders and the Prime Minister on Wednesday (Mar 11) when only two days remained before the VDIS deadline expired. “We cannot waive all kinds of investment,” said Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai. “The government has not fulfilled all our demands. But this has provided some relief to investors. What we have demanded is that the government should not spoil the environment of investment. Investment is what this country needs the most at this moment,” said Kush Kumar Joshi, president of Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).
THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS SAID THE fresh recruitment conducted by Nepali Army and the Maoist People's Liberation Army (PLA) is a violation of the peace accord and such moves risk undermining the ongoing peace process. A statement issued by the Embassy of Finland, the local presidency of the EU, on behalf of the EU Heads of Mission, said, "In our view the recruitment campaigns carried out by the Nepal Army and the Maoist Army are a violation of spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and pose a serious threat to the peaceful democratic future which the Nepalese people have fought so hard for." "We urge the Government and all parties to rededicate themselves to resolving the future of Maoist combatants as they committed to do in the peace agreements. The European Union has constantly made clear its willingness to assist this process in any way the government would find helpful," the release further stated. The EU Heads of Mission also asked the government and the army integration special committee (AISC) to ensure the discharge of disqualified Maoist Army personnel goes ahead without further delay. "We particularly urge them to expedite the discharge of disqualified minors in accordance with previous commitments made by the Unified CPN (Maoist) and as required by international law."
