WEEK IN NEWS







UCPN (Maoist) Secretary CP Gajurel refuted reports that all ideological differences in the party had been sorted out. He said that the recent Central Committee (CC) meet had only saved the party from a split by forging consensus on some of the points of disagreements. He urged everybody not to be misled by the "rumour" that all the disputes have been sorted out. “All disputes in the party have not been sorted out”. Claiming that the present government was an utter failure, he urged it to step down. On the possibility of drafting the constitution within the deadline, Gajurel said, “The new constitution will be drafted if NC and CPN-UML agree to the new system. If they stick to the old system, the constitution will not be drafted. We will not accept it.” (Jan 22) Opposition parties – CPN-UML and Nepali Congress (NC) – on Friday obstructed the House session protesting the government decision to provide legitimacy to the properties purchased, sold, and distributed by the UCPN (Maoist) during the decade-long conflict. Earlier today, a joint meeting of the 17 opposition parties had warned the governmetn to obstruct the House session if the decision was not revoked at the earliest. Immediately after the beginning of the session, UML Lawmaker Agni Kharel and Puspa Bhusal of NC said that they would not allow the House proceedings to resume until the decision was rolled back. (Jan 20)

The Supreme Court issued a stay order against the government decision to legalise the transations of land and other property carried out by the Maoists during armed conflict. The apex court also ordered the government to furnish explanation by Jan 25 on its January 12 decision to legalize the conflict-era transactions. A single bench of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi issued the order. The government decision has also drawn criticism in parliament. Opposition parties NC and CPN-UML on Thursday said they will continue with their protest programs including the boycott of the House until the government scraps its recent decision to legalise the conflict-ear land and property transactions carried out by the Maoists. (Jan 19) Eight student unions and five youth wings of the major political parties announced a series of nationwide protest programmes against the government decision to hike the price of petroleum products. A joint meeting of the students’ unions including All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNISU), ANNISU-Revolutionary and Nepal Students Union held in the capital gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw the price hike decision. As part of the protest, the student bodies announced protest rallies on January 20, corner meets at major thoroughfares in towns across the country on January 21, chakkajams in front of campuses on January 22, picket Nepal Oil Corporation office at Babarmahal followed by torch rallies on Jan 23 and 24 before enforcing a Valley banda on January 2. The student bodies warned of an even "stronger" second phase of protests if the government failed to roll back the fuel price hike decision. (Jan 19)




Indian PM Dr Manmohan Singh said he was willing to visit Nepal as soon as possible. Singh said so in his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar in New Delhi. “Indian PM Singh told me that he will manage time to visit Nepal soon,” DPM Gachchhadar informed reporters after the meeting. In the meeting, the Indian PM also expressed his concern over the ongoing peace and constitution drafting processes in Nepal and expressed India's commitment to support Nepal's development. Leading a delegation including Nepal Police Chief Rabindra Pratap Shah, Nepal Army’s Brigadier General Daman Ghale, National Investigation Department chief Moti Gurung, Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana and AIG of the Armed Police Force Durja Rai, DPM Gachchhadar had gone to the Indian capital on a four-day visit to attend a security meet. (Jan 18) Two major opposition parties, Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML boycotted a meeting of the major political parties called by Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai. PM Bhattarai had summoned the meeting at the Peace Ministry as an attempt to break the deadlock in the peace process. The NC and the UML said that they boycotted the meeting to protest against the government’s decision to legalise the transactions of land and other property carried out by the then Maoist ‘Revolutionary Council’ during the insurgency period. NC Vice-president Ram Chandra Poudel said the unlawful decisions taken by the ‘revolutionary council’ could not be legalized at any cost. (Jan 17)

A cabinet meeting decided to fill the vacant ambassadorial positions in various countries. As per the decision, the new Nepali envoys to different countries include: Shanker Bairagi (Switzerland), Mukti Nath Bhatta (Denmark), Rudra Nepal (Australia), Bharat Raj Poudel (Pakistan), Ram Mani Pokhrel (Belgium), Param Mani Ghimire (Myanmar), Prahlad Prasai (Israel), Ravi Mohan Sapkota (Russia), Kaman Singh Lama (South Korea) and Dr Maya Kumari Sharma (Qatar). The cabinet meeting also decided to allocate Rs. 1.97 billion to fund the voluntary retirement scheme for the ex-Maoist combatants. The government will provide the amount from the Peace Ministry in installments. (Jan 17) Lawmaker and Chairman of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi Devi) Shyam Sundar Gupta was arrested from his residence at Siddharthanagar-5, Rupendehi, on the charge of masterminding the kidnapping of Kathmandu-based Marwari businessman Pawan Sanghai. A police team deployed from the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, arrested him from his Bank Road residence in Siddharthanagar Municipality. Gupta, also a former minister, was arrested on the basis of the statements given by two persons who were arrested by the police from Hetauda on Sunday in the Sanghai kidnapping case. (Jan 16)