www.newsfront.com.np Kathmandu l 25 Nov-1 Dec, 2007 l # 42 l Price Rs. 25 Inside Koirala may ask for ministers’ resigna- tion page 2 Madi victims say, Prachanda is a liar page 3 New condition for CA polls pagepage 3 Shiatsu-Anma (Acupressure) Are you tired/sick, physically and men- tally? Why don’t you try our Center? We strengthen your body and mind with dynamic human touch using oriental my- thology Our Services: Shiatsu ,Anma (Tradi- tional Acupressure therapy of Japan), Re- Tapoban flexology Acupuncture. Osho Sanyasis Swami Yog Nityananda (Anil Nepal) and Maa Osho Arpita (Smarika Rijal) tying the knot at Tapoban, Kathmandu on Complimentary Healing Clinic(CHC) Nov 25, in presence of fellow Sanyasis and invitees. Maharajgunj, near to the Australian embassy Ph: 2160861, 9841419350, 9803205575 Carter ignored Koirala Overruled ä nf correspondent like Madhav Nepal and some of the ministers in between. He also met Chief of the Army staff Former US President Jimmy Carter was received Gen Rukmangad Katawal mainly to discuss warmly and heard patiently by Nepal’s key political status of the Maoists’ demand for reintegration actors during his recent 3 day visit, his second in of the Maoist guerrillas into the Nepal army. six months, but his ideas and suggestions made In an exercise different from last time, Carter no apparent mark in Nepal’s politics. also interacted jointly with leaders of three Prime Minister GP Koirala was apparently parties - Nepali Congress, UML and the ‘unhappy’ with the visiting dignitary for his having Maoists, but there was hardly any consensus he overruled his suggestion that he refrain from could encourage on the issue of Republican and going public on his prescription regarding what proportional electoral system being adopted type of electoral system should Nepal be immediately to facilitate early election as adopting for the constituent assembly. recommended by the Maoists. Informed sources from Baluwatar told “We are flexible and may reconsider our stand newsfront that Koirala had requested Carter not if Maoists prove that they are sincere in conduct- to make public his suggestion for 70:30 compo- ing election to the Constituent assembly,” nent of the proportional and first past the post Minendra Rizal told Carter. Clearly, the UML system. Koirala is believed to have advised Carter representatives also doubted Maoists’ sincerity not to go public on this when the two met at the about going to the CA. Carter also wanted to PM’s residence on November 24 morning. But know from Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat Koirala was overruled and ignored as Carter why the combatants in the cantonments were not went public on the issue when he met the press being paid as promised. Mahat’s answer was before he left for the United States the same day. simple, “Maoists are demanding payment even to However, the Nobel Peace laureate was those who have already deserted the canton- clearly rejected by the Nepali actors, not the PM ments or those who are disqualified to be there.” alone, if their initial response to his suggestion of In fact, thanks to Carter, he revealed before - mainly an enhanced dose of proportional parliamentarians that around 10,000 combat- representation system and adoption of a ants were found disqualified in the UN verifica- resolution in favour of Republican Nepal to be tion process. And against the total 31,000 endorsed by the Constituent Assembly yet to be combatants who had entered the cantonments, elected, is any indicator. Carter met Koirala and only 24,000 are living there now as the rest Prachanda twice separately, listened to others have deserted the camps. ä 2 26 Nov-1 Dec, 2007 News Koirala may ask for ministers’ resignation en masse Demolishing Operation Rescue judiciary The very concept of the independence of judiciary has been demolished. The interim constitution has and enhanced its representation in undermined the importance and the judicial council in a way that principle of the rule of law as well gives more say to the executive in as the independence of judiciary appointment of judges. as the basic pre-requisites of democracy, a senior judge of the Moreover, introduction of the new Supreme Court has said. system of the Supreme Court having to submit its annual report to “Democratic governance, values the prime minister and absence of and commitments cannot be right to the judiciary to conduct its promoted without an independent affairs autonomously all go against judiciary and the interim constitu- the concept of independent tion - 2063 has somehow missed judiciary….In fact the very concept of this point,” Justice Min Bahadur the independence of judiciary has Rayamajhi said. been demolished,” the paper said. In a paper, ‘State’s role and Justice Rayamajhi, known for his responsibility in enforcing verdicts straightforwardness and commit- of independent judiciary’ ment to independent judiciary also presented at a programme demanded an immediate amend- organised by the Administrative ment to the constitution to rectify Court on November 24 in the these lapses. “I am hopeful that the capital, Justice Rayamajhi said constitution this country is going to that the interim constitution has adopt in future will not entertain any Pix by Newsfront almost demolished the concept of provision that will adversely affect independent judiciary. or demolish the concept of ä nf correspondent An effort to have the Khadga Oli in the ministry once again. independent judiciary.” Justice Similarly, he is understood to have “The government has armed Rayamjahi is in the line of As Koirala’s legitimacy has come ministers resign en told some Congress leaders that he is itself with the power to depute the succession as the Chief Justice increasingly under question both at masse to give him a now considering going to the polls Chief Justice as well as other when the incumbent CJ, Kedar home and abroad, fuelled by his even without the Maoists, if the judges to any other assignments Prasad Giri retires. ä inability to maintain law and order in free hand to hand-pick former rebels, “create obstacles one the country and hold elections to the ministers of his choice, after another in conduct of the polls.” constituent assembly on schedule, spin doctors in the party are making a at least from his Nepali Koirala, sources claim, has now last minute effort to salvage his Congress, is on. arrived at the conclusion that the position. Maoists are not at all keen to face the polls and they are changing their goal An effort to have the ministers the party. posts, by putting forth newer resign en masse to give him a free demands. But Koirala faces criticism hand to hand-pick ministers of his In any case, there are many seats within his own party with at least four choice, at least from his Nepali lying vacant in the council of ministers, dozen leaders including parliamentar- Congress, is on. “ The PM is seriously since at least four ministers from the ians telling him that he must improve considering it,” a prominent member Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists the law and order situation before the of the Congress Central Committee (CPN-M) who resigned nearly two country goes to the polls. told newsfront, adding, “this may months ago continue technically as happen soon.” the ministers, as their resignations Party central committee members, have not been accepted and notified Binay Dhoj Chand, Govinda Raj Joshi “We are hopeful that his failure by the government yet. and Lakshman Ghimire told him to do so in the past has thoroughly recently that if he was not going to discredited him and he will take the Although it is a coalition govern- make any minister accountable for suggestion seriously now,” he said. ment and those in the council of the current mess, he must at least get Apart from others, party’s Working ministers are nominees of the all to resign and, “form a government President Sushil Koirala is also coalition partners, the PM is sup- which can go to the polls with an believed to have asked the PM to posed to have asked UML General image of efficiency and ability to go for the much needed change in Secretary, Madhav Nepal to spare deliver.” ä News 26 Nov-1 Dec, 2007 3 Combatants integration into army - new condition for CA Newsbrief Nepalis killed in intimidation on journalists are reported. The Deposing Koirala decision to have Nepal on its watch list, 18- months after the return of democracy was Kashmir taken during IPI’s executive board meeting held ä nf correspondent Kargil, once feared as a nuclear flashpoint, in Germany recently. Other countries included when India and Pakistan went in for a third war on the list include Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Russia Maoists have now put forth a new within a span of 52 years in 1999, has now turned and Zimbabwe. IPI’s Director, Johannn P Fritz demand - reintegration of their combatants into a grave for three Nepalis during peace time. said Nepal is a very dangerous place for in the Nepal Army, as the pre-condition for At least three Nepalis - Mochha Ghale, Suku journalists and needed to be on its watch list. going to the polls to the constituent Ghale and Bir Bahadur Ghale of Nuwakot district, “The IPI watch list is a list of countries in assembly. Absence of a prompt ‘yes’ to the died instantly when a live shell went off in Kargil which press freedom conditions have rapidly demand from Prime Minister GP Koirala will on November 22, according to the reports. Their deteriorated. The guiding principle behind the set the political movement for his ouster, mutilated bodies have been recovered.