|
January 2
|
CPN-UML and NC rejected PM Baburam
Bhattarais' proposal to seek a common PM candidate belonging to
parties other than NC and UCPN-M or an independent candidate.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
assured that the political parties would find a consensus candidate
before the expiry of the five-day deadline issued by President
Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.
NC's Rukum unit staged demonstration
for the second consecutive day demanding punishment to the guilty
involved in the murder of NC Duli village unit president Kabiram
Khartri.
Coordinator of the Secretariat
of the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation
of the Maoist Combatants Balananda Sharma said that very few ex-Maoist
combatants want to quit the NA training meant for integration.
|
| January 3 |
The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda suggested to President Ram Baran Yadav to
pick an independent civil society leader with a political background
as the new PM.
NC rejected the proposal calling
it yet another ploy to prolong the stay in power and defer fresh
CA polls now scheduled by mid-May.
|
| January 4 |
The Government issued new identity
cards to former PLA combatants, who were earlier disqualified
by UNMIN during army the integration process.
Political parties failed to agree
on a common PM candidate for the consensus government to hold
fresh CA polls as the deadline expired.
The SC issued a show-cause notice
to the President, Ram Baran Yadav, for invoking Article 38 (1)
of the Interim Constitution towards forming a National Consensus
Government.
Armed group of about 10 persons
belonging to CPN-Maoist - Baidya vandalized the corporate office
of NDEX at Tinkune (Kathmandu District). According to NDEX, the
group had been demanding the derivative and commodity exchange
market to pay hefty amount as donation.
CPN-Maoist chairman Mohan Baidya
said that his party does not have the policy of forceful donation
collection. He said, "We, however, welcome voluntary donations."
|
| January 6 |
After a meeting with various political
parties, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav extended the deadline to
form a consensus Government for the eighth time.
NC leader Sujata Koirala said
that NC is ready to withdraw party President Sushil Koirala's
name from the race of premiership. She further said, "Koirala
was not interested to become prime minister but the party decided
to file his candidacy for the same after CPN-UML mounted pressure
on the NC.
|
| January 8 |
Deputy Prime Minister Narayan
Kaji Shrestha said the Government is ready to make necessary amendments
to the provisions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
ordinance - currently pending at the Office of the President -
for setting up transitional justice mechanisms.
|
| January 9 |
The seventh general convention
of the Mohan Baidya led Communist Party of Nepal- Baidya (CPN-Maoist-Baidya)
starts in Kathmandu. Around 2,000 leaders, activists and representatives
from across the country and abroad will participate in the convention
that will hold deliberations on the political report to be presented
by Chairman Mohan Baidya. Representatives from migrant state committees
(India), international state committees (Europe) including communist
leaders from Canada, the Philippines and Democratic Republic of
Korea are taking part in the convention and closed session.
In its first General Convention
(GC) since its split from the ruling Unified Communist Party of
Nepal (UCPN-M), the CPN-Maoist-Baidya leadership faces pressure
from its cadres to revive war-era structures, including the military,
to accomplish 'outstanding tasks of the revolution.'
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
said that there is no alternative to Constituent Assembly (CA)
elections to bail the country out from grave political and constitutional
crisis. He said that the country is passing through a critical
juncture due to the dissolution of CA which had a great cascading
effect in the country. He further said that the formation of the
national unity Government through package deal is the only option
to give a way out to the current political and constitutional
hassles.
|
| January 10 |
CPN-Maoist-Baidya has claimed
that as many as 3,500 cadres of the UCPN-M from across the country
have joined it. CPN-Maoist-Baidya general secretary Ram Bahadur
Thapa welcomed some of them at a programme organised at the party's
central office on January 8. Some of the new entrants are District-level
leaders of the UCPN-M.
The ongoing 7th General Convention
of the CPN-Maoist-Baidya in Kathmandu formed 21 groups to discuss
the party´s political document and its statute. The 21 groups
will hold deliberations on the political dossier presented by
party Chairman Mohan Baidha within themselves, and present the
major highlights synchronizing all group discussions in the next
session.
|
| January 11 |
President Ram Baran Yadav has
given political parties five more days until January 14 to form
a Government of national unity. This comes as NC, CPN-UML, UCPN-M
and Madhesi Morcha leaders met the Head of the State urging him
to extend the deadline for the formation of a Government of national
consensus.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda,
chairman of the UCPN-M proposed reviving CA if the political parties
fail to reach consensus to form a unity Government by January
14.
|
| January 12 |
A political document endorsed
by the ruling UCPN-M general convention organizing committee has
proposed forming a national army by developing People´s Liberation
Army (PLA) as a professional army and democratizing Nepal Army.
Chairman of the Unified UCPN-M,
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, in a political document has
proposed reviving parallel Government at the local level. The
Government will comprise former members of PLA, Young Communist
League (YCL) and sister wings.
|
| January 14 |
Expressing solidarity with the
ongoing protest launched by civil society, the NC and CPN-UML
decided to launch protest against the Baburam Bhattarai-led Government.
CPN-UML Vice Chairman Bamdev Gautam said, "Baburam Bhattarai
Government has created state terror. Since he is acting against
country and its people, we have decided to bring people across
the country onto the streets against the current Government".
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula also told "The
way the prime minister has acted in recent days is unconstitutional.
He appears to be inciting the problems instead of resolving them."
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the Government was in favour
of formation of TRC to investigate the cases of human rights violations
recorded during the conflict. He said, “Government is committed
to punishing the guilty and ensuring justice to the victims.”
|
| January 15 |
President Ram Baran Yadav has
summoned leaders from 19 political parties to attend a meeting
called at his office with a view to seek their suggestions on
ending the political deadlock. The President has called a meeting
yet again as the political parties have failed to come up with
a consensus prime ministerial candidate to head the election Government
even as the ninth deadline issued by him expired on January 14
without any progress being made.
Nine parties in opposition, including
the NC and CPN-UML, made public their 21-day protest programmes
beginning from January 19. The opposition parties blamed the Government
for repeatedly violating law of the land, misusing state coffers,
abusing power and blocking the process to form consensus Government.
They said they would continue holding talks with the ruling alliance
on the sidelines of their protests in a bid to form a consensus
Government.
Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya
general convention concluded in Kathmandu retaining the existing
leadership of the party. As per the decision passed by the general
convention, Mohan Baidya will continue as chairman of the party
while CP Gajurel and Ram Bahadur Thapa have been retained as vice
chairman and general secretary. Likewise, Dev Gurung and Netra
Bikram Chand will continue as secretaries. The party will have
a 51-member CC.
|
| January 16 |
Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya
warned that the party will take up arms if the state power cannot
assure the rights of the people. He said "We will launch
the people’s revolt or people´s war as and when circumstances
compel us because no one takes up arms just on the basis of the
whim or interests of certain leaders. Arms will be taken up by
any other force also when the situation so demands, even if we
ourselves drop the idea."
Leaders of CPN-Maoist-Baidya said
that they will not participate in anti-Government protests organized
by NC and CPN-UML.
|
| January 17 |
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
claimed that the opposition parties are raising the cases of the
decade long Maoist insurgency to overturn the peace process. He
said, “We must understand the acts of not letting the TRC and
CID to be formed on the one hand and on the other hand raising
the conflict era’s cases.”
UDMF said they would discuss the
FDRA proposal to hold mass rallies in different parts of the country
and form lower level chapters of the alliance at its next meeting
slated for January 22. Vice-chair of Tarai Madhesi Democratic
Party, Brikhesh Chandra Lal said his party would take the final
decision on the alliance’s proposal at its next meeting. According
to Lal, front leaders were of the view that implementation of
the four-point agreement and inclusion of Madhesis in Nepal Police
and Nepali Army were a must for state restructuring.
|
| January 18 |
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda held
a joint meeting with ambassadors of major foreign diplomatic missions
including that of the USA, the European Union and representatives
of donor agencies on the concerns over Nepal's failure to start
transitional justice process. PM Bhattarai and Dahal tried to
convince the diplomats that the Government and the Maoist party
were 'committed' to establish the TRC to deal with conflict-era
human rights abuses. However, the representatives of the foreign
missions highlighted Nepal's failure to provide justice to the
victims of conflict and emphasized that the Government and the
political forces must be ready to establish the TRC at the earliest.
Gauri Pradhan, Spokesperson of
the NHRC, warned if Nepal failed to give justice to the conflict-era
victims through the TRC and CID, international jurisdiction on
human rights would become active and take its own course. He added,
“At that time, more and more perpetrators could be arrested in
foreign countries like the arrest of Nepali Army’s serving Colonel
Kumar Lama in the United Kingdom on January 3”. He further said
“The best answer to stop such arrest and trial in foreign lands
is to address all cases of conflict-era rights violation through
forming a credible TRC and CID.”
|
| January 19 |
Nine opposition parties, including
CPN-UML and NC organized a protest assembly against the murder
of journalist Dekendra Thapa some eight years ago during the Maoist
insurgency.
NC decided to intensify its anti-Government
protests in a meeting of the opposition party’s Central Working
Committee meeting. During the meeting, the NC leaders also expressed
strong objection to the recent threats issued by UCPN-M chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda that all past understandings
and agreements between the Maoist party and the “democratic parties”
can be scrapped if the latter organizes anti-Government protests.
|
| January 20 |
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said that his party is ready to either reinstate
the CA or to go for fresh elections. He also accused NC and the
CPN-UML leaders and the erstwhile CA Chairman Subas Nembang of
stopping other parties from putting the disputed issues to vote
in the full CA.
|
| January 21 |
UCPN-M coordinator Ganga Karki
warned of retaliation against the ongoing protests by journalists
and human rights activists seeking justice in the journalist Dekendra
Thapa murder case, saying that the agitation was backed by the
NC and the CPN-UML parties.
CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal
said the country cannot bear yet another rebellion or conflict.
If the UCPN-M presses ahead with yet another rebellion, the party
will head towards self-destruction, said Khanal. The Maoist party
needs to stop threatening other political parties and engage in
serious dialogue to resolve the political crisis, he added.
UCPN-M leader Haribol Gajurel
said all conflict-era cases should be tried by the TRC. He urged
the opposition parties not to take political mileage and target
the Maoist party, as the Government has started mulling necessary
changes process regarding the same.
|
| January 22 |
Leaders of the ruling UCPN-M have
called on all political parties to reach a deal on holding fresh
CA elections by the end of May. "We are ready to make any sacrifice
necessary to conduct elections by May," said Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai. He accused NC of being bent on toppling the Government
at any cost. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda
also said a deal should be reached to hold elections by end of
May.
Nine opposition parties have announced
10-day protest programmes in Biratnagar in Moran District against
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai starting from January 25. The
opposition parties declared protest programme to topple the Bhattarai-led
Government through street protests as he has been refusing to
put in his papers. They have even formed the Protest Coordination
Committee comprising District chiefs of all the nine parties.
UDMF, a key ally of the Baburam
Bhattarai Government, said that the implementation of the four-point
agreement - rectification of budget, seeking alternative option
to State Restructuring Commission, resolve debate over national
dress, and lastly democratization of Nepal Army - which was signed
between UDMF and UCPN-M on September 25, 2011, has not been satisfactory
and that they should now mount pressure on both the ruling UCPN-M
and opposition parties to forge consensus.
|
| January 23 |
At least 60 persons were injured
in sporadic clashes that erupted as opposition parties tried to
stop UCPN-M leaders, including Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
and Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, from entering
Dailekh District.
|
| January 24 |
UDMF, a major partner of the ruling
coalition has ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance
with the UCPN-M for CA polls while stating that a national consensus
Government-led by opposition parties will also not be acceptable
to them.
Various opposition parties and
their student unions staged demonstrations against the Government
in a number of Districts across the country. The NSU and the ANNFSU
jointly took out a rally in Dhadingbesi of Dhading District, demanding
resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.
President Ram Baran Yadav has
once again resumed consultations with chiefs of major political
parties on ways to end the protracted political deadlock. Yadav
met NC President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath
Khanal at the president´s office.
UDMF, an alliance of five Madhesi
parties, has formed a five-member taskforce to chalk out a program
for people´s mobilization in Districts across the Tarai Region.
Top-brass of Madhes-based political parties said that a taskforce
comprising Senior Vice-chairman of Madhesi People´s Rights Forum-Democratic
(MPRF-D) Rameshwor Raya Yadav, Vice-chairman of Tarai Madhes Democratic
Party (TMDP) Brikhesh Chandra Lal, MPRF-Republican leader BP Yadav,
TMDP-Nepal Vice-chairman Braj Kishor Singh and Sadbhawana Party
General Secretary Manish Kumar Singh is entrusted with formulating
the program.
Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda said election to the CA could be held in the
third week of May if the political parties forged a consensus
on time.
|
| January 27 |
Anti-Government protesters hurled
stones at a vehicle in which Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
was travelling at Dhangadhi in Kailali District. Bhattarai was
on his way to inaugurate the party's District convention. Bhattarai
was unhurt in the incident. Protesters staged demonstrations from
early morning in major thoroughfares in Dhangadhi to disrupt the
PM's visit. They burnt tyres and shouted anti-Government slogans,
demanding Bhattarai's immediate resignation.
Leaders of opposition parties
claimed that the incumbent Government has turned into the most
corrupt one in the history of Nepal. NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat
blaming the incumbent Government of embezzling money from state
coffers, claimed that UCPN-M has transformed corruption into a
respectable act. Similarly, leader of CPN-UML Raghubir Mahaseth
blamed the UCPN-M leaders of benefitting by collapsing the nation's
economy. "Maoist has continued donation threat in the name of
its General Convention. Business entrepreneurs are hit hard by
the donation threats," said Mahaseth.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda while inaugurating the fourth District conference
of the party in Dhangadhi Dhangadhi in Kailali District said that
his party needs new strategy and idea for the upcoming general
convention.
Ganesh Man Pun, coordinator of
the Volunteer Mobilization Committee, who is also the chief of
YCL, the youth wing of the UCPN-M, said that in order to counter
the show of strengthen by the opposition parties on January 30
at Kathmandu, the ruling alliance - FDR - has decided to mobilize
5,000 youths at the same venue the very next day on January 31.
|
| January 28 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda said that reactionary forces have been bent
on 'finishing' off the party, but have not succeeded in doing
so. Dahal said it was a huge mistake on the part of Maoist leaders
to split the party into two. "The reactionary forces tried to
annihilate the party by killing its leaders during the conflict.
Similarly, during the CA Elections, they tried to cut the party
to size. But they never succeeded," said Dahal. Dahal said that
his party was ready to accept any one as Prime Minister of a Government
of national unity, if political parties forge a package deal to
resolve the political crisis.
NC Vice President Ram Chandra
Poudel said the party opted to launch street protest to pressurize
UCPN-M to strike deal on thorny issues. Poudel said the party
opted protest as Prachanda ignored to implement the signed agreements.
He accused Dahal of betraying his party by changing his words
even after signing agreement to let the NC lead the Government
to hold the election. He also claimed that history has proved
that NC is the only party that is pure and can conduct election
without any wrongdoing.
|
| January 29 |
Leaders from the alliance of opposition
parties led by NC and CPN-UML have said they have completed all
the preparatory works for anti-Government demonstrations. Members
from all the agitating nine political parties will gather at Bhrikutimandap
in Kathmandu before initiating a march from the same place. The
demonstrators will subsequently converge into mass gathering at
Sahid Gate [Martrys Gate] where some key leaders including CPN-UML
Vice-Chairman Bamdev Gautam and NC General Secretary Prakash Man
will address the gathering. The opposition parties have planned
to conclude their 20-day-long protests on February 8.
Mohan Baidya's CPN-Maoist-Baidya,
at the central committee meeting, planned to revive the insurgency-era
organizational structure in the party. The leaders discussed to
change the existing bureau system into command system. Under the
system, power will be centralized in the commands, which will
be headed by top leaders. Under the bureau system, the state committees
are more powerful than the bureaus. There are 14 state committees,
including geographical and non-geographical state committees.
Once command system is implemented the bureaus will be dissolved
but state committees will be retained.
At least 12 persons were injured
in Banepa of Kavre District after clashes between anti-Government
protesters and cadres of YCL, the youth wing of the UCPN-M, went
out of hand. The clashes ensued after YCL cadres allegedly threw
stones at cadres of the NC and the CPN-UML who had gathered for
a protest rally. YCL cadres wielding iron rods, batons and stones
attacked the NC and CPN-UML cadres holding black flags for the
rally.
Nine opposition parties including
NC and CPN-UML demonstrated in the heart of Kathmandu demanding
that the Baburam Bhattarai-led Government step down. Holding their
flags, hundreds of cadres of NC, CPN-UML and other fringe parties
and supporters chanted slogans against the Government and urged
it to step down to clear the way for fresh CA polls. Second rung
leaders of opposition parties addressed the protest rally as they
are planning for bigger protest meeting on February 8 in Kathmandu
to be addressed by top opposition leaders.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda addressing the inaugural function of the UCPN-M's
Lalitpur District Convention claimed that fresh polls will take
place by the end of May at any cost. He said, "Nobody can prevent
the country from going to election by then even if the NC and
CPN-UML are not ready for it, claiming that the UCPN-M represents
95 percent of the country's population as far as the political
agendas are concerned." Speaking at the same function, Prime Minister
Baburam Bhattarai accused the main opposition parties of not willing
to face election. "The NC and CPN-UML ruled the country for 20
years. They are restless for having to stay out of power," he
said.
|
| January 30 |
The ruling FDRA organized a mass
meeting at Khula Manch in Kathmandu City in a show of strength.
Senior leaders of all 21 allies in the FDRA were present in the
mass meeting including UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka
Prachanda and Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. The speakers at
the mass meeting, which was held following rallies, spent much
of their time dressing down the opposition especially the NC and
the CPN-UML.
Chairman Mohan Baidya of CPN-Maoist-Baidya
formally announced a 'people's movement' to safeguard national
sovereignty, form a unity Government and guarantee a federal democratic
constitution. The party said they would not work with the NC and
the CPN-UML-led alliance to topple the Government. The party said
four major forces-the UCPN-M, the NC, the CPN-UML and the Samyukta
Loktantrik Morcha-have no vision to end the current political
impasse. The 'people's movement' will begin on February 12, the
18th anniversary of the 'people's war.' The party plans to conduct
sit-in protests, gheraos and mass mobilisation in major cities.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda urged the opposition parties to either forge a political
agreement or miss the opportunity forever. Dahal said "I urge
NC and CPN-UML to be ready for political consensus or else it
would be too late." He also urged the opposition parties not to
further delay consensus.
|
| January 31 |
Supporters of the rival leaders
of UCPN-M clashed during a convention of the party's local committee
at Basantapur in Rautahat District. Dispute over the selection
of the representatives for the upcoming General Convention got
physical, prompting Police intervention to prevent further tension.
The cadres participating in the convention were apparently divided
into two camps - one supporting central leader and former minister
Prabhu Sah and the other backed by Ashok Jaiswal, a leader of
from party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda faction.
UCPN-M Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji
Shrestha said the upcoming General Convention of his party would
reorient its ideological course of achieving "socialism through
new-democracy" (propounded by Chairman Mao in China) to achieving
"socialism through capitalism". Shrestha said‚ "We have concluded
it is not possible to achieve socialism via the model of new-democracy
in the current national and global context." He said as society
was preferred capitalism‚ the party had decided to change its
ideological course.
|
| February 1 |
Chairman of CPN-UML Jhala Nath
Khanal, said that the opposition parties have waged a nation-wide
movement to fight the "totalitarian ambitions" of the ruling UCPN-M.
Khanal said that the protest movement being organised by the opposition
parties was solely meant to fight the growing Maoist totalitarianism
and establish peace and harmony in the country. He also blamed
the ruling alliance of shutting the doors to a meaningful dialogue
to end the political crisis facing the country.
|
| February 2 |
Top opposition leaders at a mass
meet organized in Dullu village of Dailekh District claimed that
the Government would collapse in just a matter of few days. Dubbing
some recent acts by the Government as characteristics of an autocratic
regime, they claimed that the UCPN-M´s own deeds would lead to
its fall. Addressing the Dullu mass meet, NC President Sushil
Koirala said, "The Maoists think they can seize the state powers
by threatening the people. But, they are daydreaming. They will
ultimately share the fate of the deposed king." He further said
"The countdown has begun and the Government will soon fall". Chairman
of CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said "The people are sick
and tired of the dual attitude of the Maoists."
Various opposition parties organized
a protest rally in Biratnagar of Morang District against Prime
Minister Baburam Bhattarai's Government. Addressing the protest
rally, the leaders of opposition parties argued that their protest
is aimed at thwarting the attempt of UCPN-M to impose totalitarianism
in the country and safeguard the achievements made through the
historic people´s movement in April 2006.
|
| February 3 |
CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal
said, "The Baburam Bhattarai-led Government is hell-bent on imposing
totalitarianism by dissolving the CA. Our protest won't be stopped
until the Government is toppled down." NC senior leader and former
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said the Maoists were concentrating
their efforts to prolong the Government and neglecting consensus
politics.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda presented his political dossier during the closed
door session of the party's ongoing seventh general convention
that kicked off at Hetauda Industrial Estate, Makwanpur District.
In the political document presented by Dahal terms like "protracted
people's war" and "new democratic revolution" that formed the
basis of the party's ideological stand has been formally removed.
It calls for "capitalist revolution to create the foundation of
socialism" and states that the party will focus its attention
on economic growth in the country and fulfill its revolutionary
goals by intervening "from both higher and grass root level".
|
| February 4 |
A joint meeting of nine opposition
parties' taskforce discussed ways to make anti-Government rally‚
schedule to be held on February 8. The meeting was held in Sanepa
of Lalitpur District, NC headquarters.
Senior leader of the CPN-UML Madhav
Kumar Nepal warned that the UCPN-M will face the same fate as
former king Gyanendra Shah if it does not "correct itself at the
earliest." Nepal said the protest programme launched by the opposition
parties will "correct" the Maoist party. "Our protest is not aimed
at finishing off the Maoists. It is just to correct them. If they
fail to correct themselves on time, they will face the same fate
as the 240-year-old monarchy," he said.
|
| February 5 |
As the first phase of protests
launched by the alliance of nine opposition parties led by NC
and CPN-UML opposition alliance is going to conclude on February
8, leaders from the agitating political parties worked out protest
programs in Kathmandu for the second stage of demonstrations across
the country.
NC president Sushil Koirala said
that the opposition's agitations will continue until the Maoist-led
Government steps down. He said that the opposition alliance is
determined to remove the Government through the street protests
and form a national unity Government.
|
| February 6 |
Agitating opposition parties have
stepped up efforts to garner people´s support for their anti-Government
protests. NC General Secretary Prakash Man Singh led a campaign
of publicity and distribution of handbills at Basantapur and New
Road in Kathmandu.
Addressing the closed session
of the ongoing seventh general convention of UCPNM in Hetauda
town in Makwanpur District, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai told
his party´s rank and file that it had become necessary for the
party to stay in Government for the next 20-30 years. Bhattarai
also sought support from the party organization to formulate party
policy and programs accordingly. He said he would not step down
any time soon without finding a suitable alternative.
|
| February 7 |
President of the NC, Sushil Koirala
said in Janakpur of Dhanusa District that the Madhesi Front currently
in the Government under the leadership of Dr Baburam Bhattarai
were also authoritarian like the UCPN-M.
|
| February 8 |
Nine opposition parties including
NC and CPN-UML hold protest assembly as their show of strength
in Kathmandu.
The ruling UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa
Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda floated a new proposal of forming an
election Government under the leadership of incumbent Chief Justice
as a way to end the ongoing political impasse.
Major opposition parties, the
NC and the CPN-UML, have rejected outright the UCPN-M's proposal
to form an election Government under incumbent Chief Justice Khil
Raj Regmi.
The top leaders of the main opposition
parties criticised the UCPN-M and the Government led by it. They,
however, said door for talks was open and they were hopeful that
UCPN-M would come to the negotiating table within a few days.
As the UCPN-M wrapped up its seventh
GC in Hetauda town of Makwanpur District, the party re-elected
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda as its Chairman. At
the seven-day convention that adopted a strategy of peaceful politics
to accomplish a 'new capitalist revolution,' Dahal was once again
able to consolidate his power with support from the rank and file.
The GC also re-elected Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha
as the Vice-chairmen and Posta Bahadur Bogati as the General Secretary.
PM Bhattarai had proposed Dahal continuing as the chairman, while
Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha supported the proposal in the first
meeting of the 98-member Central Committee (CC) elected at the
GC. The appointments of four office bearers and members of the
CC were endorsed through a voice vote in the closed session.
|
| February 10 |
Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya
demonstrated in Kathmandu demanding the release of its cadres
and leaders arrested in accusation of the murder of journalist
Dekendra Thapa. Addressing the gathering, central member of the
party, Dinesh Sharma, warned that if the cases of conflict period
were rediscovered, the country would go back to conflict again.
Similarly, Chairman of Nepal Teachers'' Organisation affiliated
to the CPN-Maoist-Baidya, Guna Raj Lohani, accused the journalist
of disseminating the news about the Dailekh incident in a one-sided
way.
With a view to ensuring elections
by the end of May, major opposition parties, the NC and the CPN-UML,
have decided to remain open to all options, including the formation
of a Chief Justice-led election Government.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
said that he is ready to step down if there is an agreement among
the political parties to form a new Government under the sitting
Chief Justice for holding a fresh election. The Prime minister
made his position clear in the wake of the opposition parties
questioning whether the proposal of UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda to form a new Government under the chief justice
has the present Government's backing.
Chairman of CPN-M Mohan Baidya
said the current UCPN-M Government should be brought down at any
cost because Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai who heads it is
the main reason the country is facing the current political crisis
in the first place. He said there is no alternative left but to
wage a strong movement to bring the Bhattarai-led Government to
its knees in order to end the protracted political deadlock and
make way for the CA polls.
|
| February 11 |
In a positive political development,
the four major political parties reached an understanding to form
new Government to hold the fresh CA elections by the end of May
this year. A meeting of the top leaders of the UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML
and Madhesi Front held at Kathmandu arrived at the conclusion.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
asked his Cabinet colleagues to be 'mentally prepared' to leave
office anytime soon.
Constitutional experts urged President
Dr Ram Baran Yadav not to proceed with the proposal for forming
a new Government led by the sitting Chief Justice, as proposed
by the UCPN-M. Hari Krishna Karki chairman of NBA said the proposal
cannot be acceptable in a country where there is rule of law.
Similarly, NBA General Secretary Sunil Pokhrel said that forming
a Government led by the sitting Chief Justice is against the principle
of separation of powers.
|
| February 12 |
A meeting of the top leaders of
four major parties could not reach any agreement on the formation
of the election Government. The opposition parties, NC and CPN-UML,
argued that making the Chief Justice as the chief of both the
executive and the judiciary will be against the fundamental principles
of separation of powers.
Countering the arguments of opposition
parties, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda claimed
that the Interim Constitution says a Supreme Court justice can
lead an election Government. Addressing a mass gathering at the
Khulamanch in Kathmandu, he said his party proposed a sitting
Chief Justice for Prime Minister as a last resort.
|
| February 13 |
President Ram Baran Yadav held
separate meetings with NC president Sushil Koirala in the morning
and later with UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda,
and CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal. He is also set to hold
discussion with the leaders of the Madhesi Front.
Attorney General Mukti Narayan
Pradhan advised Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai that a sitting
Chief Justice can be appointed as Prime Minister to hold elections
with a clear terms of reference. He said Article 106 had to be
amended with clear provision of handing executive power to the
Chief Justice-led Government to hold elections.
|
| February 14 |
Leaders of four major political
forces reached an informal agreement to appoint Chief Justice
Khilraj Regmi as head of the mechanism. They said that they will
formally recommend the President to remove constitutional hurdles
for Regmi to lead the Government as 'Chief Executive' and not
Prime Minister.
Members of civil society have
strongly opposed the proposal for an election Government led by
Chief Justice Khilraj Regmi‚ saying it goes against the independence
of the judiciary and violates the Interim Constitution. Former
Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana‚ former Election Commissioner Birendra
Mishra and human rights activists Charan Prasai‚ Kanak Mani Dixit
and Sushil Pyakurel opposed the proposal.
|
| February 15 |
The leaders of the UCPN-M, NC,
CPN-UML and Madhesi Front ended the meeting at the President's
office, agreeing to resume talks on February 16 as they were still
divided over the nitty-gritty of the new Government, which is
likely to be called a 'mechanism' or 'council'.
The CC meeting of the CPN-UML
remained inconclusive as an overwhelming majority of CC members
strongly objected to the proposal to form an election Government
under the leadership of the sitting Chief Justice even as top
leaders of the party lobbied in favor of the proposal. Of the
total 40 members who aired their views during the deliberations,
some 30 leaders not only vehemently opposed the proposal but also
criticized the top leadership for supporting the idea.
Four parties including the CPN-Maoist-Baidya‚
CPN (Unified)‚ CPN (Maoist) and Revolutionary Communist Party-Nepal
have strongly criticised the Government formula of UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and announced protest programmes
to oppose the sitting Chief Justice from leading the election
Government. They have also pledged to continue their protests
until the anti-national activities by the Government come to an
end. The leaders have also urged all patriotic forces to support
their cause.
|
| February 17 |
The taskforce comprising two members
from each of the four major parties - UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and
UDMF - has finalized a draft "consensus" agreement on the formation
of an 11-member neutral cabinet led by Chief Justice to hold fresh
election to the CA.
Four leftist political parties
including the Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya held protest
rallies in the country´s major cities including the Kathmandu
against the preparations by the major parties to appoint the Chief
Justice as the head of the Government for holding new elections.
Mohan Baidya led CPN-Maoist-Baidya, Ram Singh Shreesha led CPN-Unified,
Mani Thapa-led Revolutionary Communist Party and Matrika Yadav-led
CPN (Maoist) participated in the rallies across the country.
Advocate Bharat Mani Jangam filed
a writ petition at the SC challenging the decision of the four
major parties to form a Government under a sitting Chief Justice.
The petitioner has sought an interim order against the decision
of the four major parties, arguing that such a move would encroach
on the independence of judiciary.
|
| February 18 |
Major political parties finally
endorsed a deal to form an election Government under the leadership
of sitting Chief Justice and to hold CA polls by mid-June. Top
leaders of UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF along with key leaders
from their respective parties reached the agreement to this effect
in Kathmandu. The parties also agreed to hold the elections of
local bodies by mid-April.
The cross-party task force formed
to finalize the details of a package deal on holding fresh CA
election suggested that election be held on June 5, 2013.
|
| February 19 |
Normal life in Kathmandu Valley
and across many parts of the country paralyzed due to the day-long
bandh (general strike) called by CPN-Maoist-Baidya against
the decision of four major political parties to form an 11-member
election Government of 'techocrats' headed by Chief Justice Khil
Raj Regmi.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
said that the Chief Justice was being entrusted with the leadership
of the election Government based on a consensus among the political
parties. He said though the Chief Justice would become the Prime
Minister, there will be an advisory committee of senior leaders
above him.
|
| February 20 |
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
said that the formation of the Government under the Chief Justice
was the last alternative to conduct CA election. He also urged
not to aggravate the situation and lend their support for the
elections.
Top leaders of the four major
political forces have decided to hold a joint meeting with Chief
Justice Khil Raj Regmi after the latter declined to head an election
Government under the ´various conditions´ put forth by the parties.
A meeting of the UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF held on February
19 decided to hold the meeting to allay his concerns after Prime
Minister Baburam Bhattarai briefed the four-party meeting about
the reservations harbored by the Chief Justice.
A meeting between the top leaders
of the four major political parties - UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and
UDMF with Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi to convince the latter
to head the election Government ended inconclusively. The leaders
discussed at length the constitutional and political issues with
Regmi surrounding their proposal for an election Government comprising
of technocrats, but no agreement was reached as the Chief Justice
asked the leaders to guarantee that all the political parties
agreed to accept his leadership and cooperate in holding the election
within the stipulated time.
Six leftist political parties,
including the CPN-Maoist - Baidya, submitted a joint 'objection
letter' to President Ram Baran Yadav. The letter, submitted by
the CPN (Unified), Matrika Yadav-led CPN (Maoist), Revolutionary
Communist Party Nepal, Limbuwan National Council and Socialist
Democratic Party, along with the CPN-Maoist-Baidya, said that
the idea of a Chief Justice-led Government was "planted by foreign
powers" and as such, it is a threat to national sovereignty. The
President, in his capacity as protector of the constitution, should
nullify such declarations, it further said.
Odds are stacking against the
possibility of forming an election Government under Chief Justice
Khil Raj Regmi with 21 fringe parties opposing the move of the
big four parties.
|
| February 21 |
Twenty renowned constitutional
experts and jurists told the Government and the leaders of four
major parties - the UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF - that an election
Government under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was possible.
Legal experts said that the sitting
Chief Justice can be appointed chief of a transitional Government
through an amendment to the constitution. Lawyers and legal scholars
said that the President would have to issue a decree to remove
constitutional hurdles to implement the proposal.
|
| February 22 |
The EC said the Government's plan
to hold elections by June 5 may not materialize if political parties
fail to hammer out a deal on a new election Government within
the next seven days. Only 102 days remain for the June-5 D-day
set by a cross-party taskforce of the four major political parties.
However, key political forces are still divided on the formation
of a Chief Justice-led election Government and on outstanding
issues related to the elections. Parties have serious differences
over the voters' roll, citizenship and constituency delineation.
CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwar
Pokharel said that formation of an election Government under the
sitting Chief Justice is unacceptable to the party. He said "The
person who heads the judiciary can´t be appointed as the executive
head. He must resign as Chief Justice. It is not acceptable to
CPN-UML if he is elevated to the post of Chief Justice without
resignation as the Chief Justice".
Ambassadors of United Kingdom,
Germany, France, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland and Finland met
CPN-Maoist leaders suggesting them not to boycott the proposed
CA elections.
|
| February 23 |
NC President Sushil Koirala said
"Four major political forces agreed to form an election Government
as the President suggested for Chief Justice-led Government to
give a way out to the country. Besides‚ there is immense international
pressure for such a Government."
|
| February 24 |
The major four political parties
- the UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF have decided to finalize the
issue of whether to form a Chief Justice-led election Government
or not by February 25. They have also decided to wait for a final
word from Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi whether he is willing to
lead the election Government.
The SC referred four political
parties' decision to form an election Government led by Chief
Justice Khil Raj Regmi to a special bench and issued a show cause
notice to the office of the President, Prime Minister Baburam
Bhattarai and his office and UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda to furnish written clarification over the decision
by March 5.
|
| February 25 |
SC Assistant Spokesperson Hemanta
Rawal said Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi has finally made an official
statement over the four-party proposition to form an election
Government under the head of the judiciary. He further said that
Chief Justice Regmi has no personal desire to be head of the Government,
but has taken a recent proposal put forward by the major political
parties positively.
After receiving positive indication
from the SC, a meeting of four parties decided to expedite homework
for clearing legal and constitutional hurdles for the formation
of election Government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi.
|
| February 26 |
SFs defused three bombs, allegedly
planted by CPN-M Revolutionary, at three different places in Butwal
city of Rupandehi District, Biratnagar city of Morang District
and Bankatuwa village of Banke District. Police said they found
leaflets of CPN-M Revolutionary from the recovery sites.
A second writ petition challenging
the preparations to form an election Government headed by the
Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was filed at the SC. The writ filed
by Om Prakash Aryal states that the sitting Chief Justice cannot
head the Government, and demands an interim order to stop the
process until SC gives its final decision on the previous writ
filed by Bharat Jangham, which is to be heard by the court on
March 7.
NBA, an umbrella organisation
of lawyers, said that Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi should not
continue dispensing justice as that would be against the code
of conduct given that he has publicly accepted presiding over
the election Government.
|
| February 27 |
A contempt of court case against
Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was filed at the SC administration.
The application claims that the head of the judiciary violated
the code of conduct by issuing a statement indicating his positive
position on a proposal asking him to head an election Government
at a time when a petition challenging that very proposal remains
subjudice in the SC.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda in Pokhara city of Kaski District said the election
Government headed by the Chief Justice will be formed only after
the SC gives its decision on a writ challenging the idea of such
a Government.
|
| February 28 |
Officials at the EC have ruled
out any possibility of conducting election by mid June in the
given time. “It is very difficult to conduct polls by mid-June
but we are still doing our best to make this possible,” EC Spokesperson
Anil Kumar Thakur told.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda apologized for the tragic Badarmude incident in
Chitwan District which is considered one of the worst attacks
on innocent civilians during the Maoist insurgency. A total of
39 passengers including three NA personnel were killed and 72
injured in an ambush planted by the former rebels of the then
CPN-M on June 6, 2005. He also announced a relief package of Rs
6 million for the victims of the attack, adding that the relief
package was prepared by consulting with different Government bodies.
|
| March 1 |
Leaders of UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML
and UDMF failed to settle contentious issues related to Government
formation, election and peace process as all the sides remained
stuck to their respective stances. The parties also couldn´t settle
differences over a major provision on the proposed TRC, the criteria
related to voters´ list and some conditions related to determining
the rank of former UCPN-M combatants who have joined NA.
The SC rejected a contempt of
court case brought against Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, saying
that the petitioner made a subjective interpretation of the Chief
Justice’s press statement in which the Chief Justice had said
he was positive about accepting four political forces’ offer to
lead an interim council of ministers.
Four major political forces said
they would settle all the disputed issues before March 7, and
claimed that they were close to a deal.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai
said that the country will plunge into a political turmoil if
CA elections are not held by mid-June. He said that the parties
need to arrive at an understanding within a few days to form a
Government headed by the Chief Justice if elections are to be
held by mid-July.
President Ram Baran Yadav told
representatives of the NBA that he will not make any unconstitutional
move while forming a new Chief Justice-led election Government.
|
| March 4 |
Prime Minsiter Baburam Bhattarai
said he is going to quit the Government within the next three
days. The prime minister also claimed that the new CA elections
will be held by mid-June at any cost.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal
Dahal said an election Government under the leadership of Chief
Justice will take shape by March 7. Dahal went on to add, political
parties have reached a deal to hand over the Government leadership
to Chief Justice to conduct elections by mid-June.
CPN-M secretary Netra Bikram
Chand said that his party will boycott elections conducted by
the proposed election Government under the Chief Justice. Chand
said "While the elected Government of Baburam Bhattarai could
not hold the election it is foolish to think that non-political
Government will be able to do it."
|
| March 5 |
Top leaders of the four major
parties met in a bid to forge consensus on a package deal on the
formation of a Chief Justice-led Government. The eight-member
cross party taskforce comprising two representatives each from
four forces met to prepare a consensus proposal on outstanding
issues, including an ordinance on the truth and reconciliation
and disappearance commissions, rank determination, the citizenship
distribution and update of the voters' list.
Four major parties agreed in
principle to resolve their differences over distribution of citizenship
and update of voter roll-the two contentious issues of the proposed
package deal on the formation of a Chief Justice-led Government.
The parties have also prepared a proposal on removal of constitutional
difficulties for forming a new Government and conducting the elections.
|
| March 6 |
The nation-wide bandh enforced
by the FDF, an alliance of four left has affected normal life
across the country. The bandh was enforced by the left parties
opposing the agreement to constitute Chief Justice-led election
Government and demanding to dissolve the incumbent Government.
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's
political adviser Devendra Poudel said that the incumbent Government
will hold fresh elections if parties fail to reach a deal on forming
the election Government led by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi.
CPN-UML senior leader K.P Sharma
Oli said the Chief Justice-led Government is the last option as
it was the only alternative on which the major parties would possibly
agree on. CA elections will be possible in June if the parties
arrive at a consensus within a few days to form new Government,
he said.
|
| March 7 |
The second day of nationwide
strike called by the FDF crippled normal life in the country.
The Front has called the shutdown calling for the election of
CA and formation of election Government at the earliest. Educational
institutions, industries and offices remained shutting, while
vehicles stayed off the roads. Ambulances, vehicles belonging
to hospitals, press, security personnel, and those carrying tourists
were seen plying the roads.
A woman passenger suffered minor
injury when demonstrators pelted stones at the bus she was commuting
while 154 demonstrators, including 16 women, were arrested for
allegedly vandalising vehicles and trying to block traffic from
different parts of Kathmandu during the nationwide shutdown called
by FDF. Four vehicles were also reportedly vandalized during the
shutdown.
Leaders of four major political
parties claimed that formal agreement on Chief Justice Khil Raj
Regmi-led Election Government is around the corner. They said
that they had resolved all sticking points except for the ranks
to be given to the former PLA combatants to be integrated into
the Nepal Army.
|
| March 8 |
Senior CPN-UML leader and former
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said the leadership of the election
Government should not be given to Khil Raj Regmi without his resignation
as the Chief Justice.
|
| March 11 |
Four major political parties
- UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and Madhesi Front - after a meeting have agreed
to do away with amnesty provision in the draft of the proposed TRC.
The NC and the CPN-UML were against the provision in the draft of
the TRC ordinance to pardon those involved in human rights violations
during the conflict. With the agreement, the TRC ordinance presented
by the Government will be revised. |
| March 12 |
Leaders of four major political
parties said they are yet to reach a final agreement on formation
of a TRC and ranks to be accorded to former PLA fighters in the
Nepal Army. The leaders, who met in Kathmandu, said that an inter-party
task force, formed to sort out the details of the much-talked-about
package deal, has sought more time to come up with a concrete
proposal on the issues.
|
| March 13 |
In the bid to nail down differences
of the Chief Justice-led election Government, the big four political
parties - UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and Madhesi Front - hold talks once
again at the International Convention Centre in Kathmandu. The
meeting expected to narrow down the differences of the parties
regarding the rank determination and give a final touch to a package
deal on the same.
Nepal entered an unusual political
course after major political parties signed a deal to form an
election Government headed by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi. The
deal paved the way for resolving the long standing hurdle on the
formation of a new Government and new CA elections.. The non-partisan
Government has been entrusted with the responsibility of conducting
new CA elections by June 21, 2013.
Leaders from the four major political
forces signed an 11-point political agreement at the secretariat
of the Special Committee at the International Convention Center,
Kathmandu. As per the agreement, the proposed head of the Government
will resume his function as Chief Justice after he accomplishes
the task of holding the CA elections, which is described as the
main responsibility of the election Government. The agreement
stated that the new CA will have 491 members. Of these, 240 members
will be elected under the first-past-the-post electoral system
and 240 will be elected under proportional representative quotas
while another 11 members will be nominated by the cabinet on the
basis of political agreement. The agreement further said that
the interim cabinet will not be allowed to take any decision that
may have a long-term impact on the country.
Rejecting outright the proposal
of the four major political parties to form a new Government under
the sitting Chief Justice, 18 various minor parties represented
in the erstwhile CA have demanded the finding of an alternative
Prime Ministerial candidate from within the political parties
for holding fresh polls.
|
| March 14 |
The Baburam Bhattarai-led Cabinet
endorsed a political document signed by four major forces and
recommended President Ram Baran Yadav to remove hurdles of 25
articles of the Interim Constitution by invoking Article 158,
to pave the way for the formation of a new interim election council
under Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi.
Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was
sworn in as the head of the interim election Government at a special
function organised at the President's Office in Shital Niwas,
Kathmandu. While President Ram Baran Yadav administered the oath
of office to Regmi, the new head of Government administered the
same to ministers Madhav Ghimire and Hari Prasad Neupane. Regmi
has been assigned various portfolios, including finance and defence.
The first meeting of Chief Justice
Khil Raj Regmi-led interim election cabinet decided to stop the
distribution of state benefits. As per the decision of the three-member
cabinet, state largesse will not be distributed to anybody without
formulating clear guidelines. The election Government also expressed
commitment to hold the CA elections in a free and fair manner
on time and called upon all the political parties, civil society
and the general public to create an election atmosphere.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
welcomed the appointment of an interim body in Nepal. In a statement
issued by Ban's spokesperson said, "The Secretary-General welcomes
the appointment of an Interim Electoral Council which has ended
the protracted stalemate in Nepal." Further, the statement said
"He urges all actors to create a conducive environment for the
next elections and to maintain the momentum to implement the outstanding
commitments of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement."
CPN-M-Baidya called a bandh in
Kathmandu to protest the appointment of Chief Justice Khil Raj
Regmi as the head of the Interim Election Council. Vehicles plying
the capital´s streets came to a standstill and people had to rush
to their destinations on foot. 21 other fringe parties have also
protested the Chief Justice-led government, arguing that it was
against the principle of separation of powers.
NBA said that a sheer attack on
independent judiciary by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi by heading
an election government has left a black spot in Nepal's six decade-long
judicial history. The NBA has also urged the legal practitioners
and other professional organizations to condemn such antidemocratic
move.
Supreme Court Bar Association
also condemned the appointment of the Chief Justice to the post
of the Prime Minister.
|
| March 15 |
Five persons were injured as the
agitating CPN-M-Baidya and 21 other smaller parties burnt copies
of the 11-point agreement in Kathmandu signed by the four major
political parties. There was a clash between the agitators and
the Police during the protest.
ICJ urged newly appointed head
of the interim election Government Khil Raj Regmi to step down
as Chief Justice "so as to preserve the independence of the judiciary
and the rule of law". In a statement issued by Ben Schonveld,
ICJ's South Asia Director in Kathmandu said "The Supreme Court
under the leadership of Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, has demonstrated
a strong commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting
human rights in Nepal."
In a meeting in Kathmandu 34 parties
decided to boycott the public functions in which President Ram
Baran Yadav‚ Chief Justice‚ chairman of the election Government
Khil Raj Regmi and Cabinet members will take part. The meeting
also decided to organise a mass meeting on March 17 to expose
the leaders of the four major parties‚ hold interactions with
members of the civil society on March 18 and interact with former
lawmakers on March 19.
|
| March 17 |
President Ram Baran Yadav promulgated
an ordinance, clearing constitutional and legal hurdles for the
Government to appoint members to various constitutional bodies,
including the EC. Following the endorsement of the ordinance by
the President's office, the Government has intensified preparations
to appoint commissioners to long vacant posts at the EC, the CIAA,
the OAG and the PSC.
Interim Election Council chief
Khil Raj Regmi urged all political parties, civil society and
the general public to prepare for fresh elections. Regmi said
that political parties, who may be divided on many issues, are
one on holding the belief that the people's mandate is most important
in a democracy. He added that the only objective of the Government
is to hold elections and it will use all its resources to do so.
The HLPM headed by UCPN-M Chairman
Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda recommended the Government to
hold fresh CA polls on June 18. HLPM Coordinator Dahal met Chairman
of Interim Election Government Khil Raj Regmi and made the recommendation
after a decision to that effect was taken in an HLPM meeting.
Dahal also learnt to have asked Regmi to fill the vacancies of
EC and announce the date of polls at the earliest.
|
| March 18 |
Interim Election Council Chairman
Khil Raj Regmi expanded his Cabinet for the first time inducting
eight new ministers - all of them former bureaucrats to the Cabinet.
Regmi administered them the oath of office and secrecy at the
office of the President in Kathmandu. With the expansion, the
number of ministers in the Cabinet has reached 11.
Addressing a party programme in
Kavre town of Kavrepalanchok District CPN-M-Baidya Chairman Mohan
Baidhya claimed that election to a new CA is not possible. Baidhya
said, "The upcoming so-called election is meaningless. This is
nothing except four big forces' bid to push the nation towards
authoritarianism. Therefore our party will not let the election
happen."
SC ordered Chief Justice Khil
Raj Regmi to limit his role to chairman of the Interim Election
Council for the time being and he will not have any role in the
capacity of Chief Justice at the same time.
|
| March 19 |
A group of people affiliated with
the CPN-M-Baidya vandalised the head office of Ncell, the biggest
private sector telecommunication company in Nepal, located at
Naya Baneshwor in Kathmandu. Five persons were arrested from the
scene.
United Nations Under-Secretary
General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman in Kathmandu said
that the United Nations supports the Nepal's electoral process
and constitutional roadmap.
A Cabinet meeting of the interim
election government said it would announce the election date only
after appointing the chief election commissioner and election
commissioners. Once that's done, the Government will form the
election commission. The poll date will be fixed only after holding
consultations on the technical issues of the elections with the
commission.
|
| March 20 |
The ongoing meeting of the UCPN-M
Central Committee has formed two panels in preparation for the
upcoming elections. A panel, headed by General Secretary Posta
Bahadur Bogati will decide on the name list of leaders who will
contest the elections. Similarly, the party also formed a nine-member
panel under Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai to prepare the party's
manifesto.
UN Under-secretary General for
Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said that Nepal needs credible
and inclusive elections that reflect the political ambitions of
the Nepali people. Feltmen said "I found that Chairman Regmi is
committed to holding elections at the earliest. The UN will continue
its support to the electoral process in Nepal."
UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay urged the Government to rectify truth and
reconciliation ordinance that authorizes TRC to grant amnesty,
contravening international standards.
|
| March 21 |
CC forwarded the names of five
commissioners, including the Chief of the Election Commission,
to President Ram Baran Yadav for approval. The first CC meeting
recommended former Acting Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha
Uprety as the head of the body, and former members Dolakh Bahadur
Gurung and Ayodhee Prasad Yadav to their previous positions. The
new entrants include Ila Sharma and Rambhakta PV Thakur.
CPN-M-Baidya has set three preconditions
that it says will have to be fulfilled for the party to contest
elections. The party has demanded that four major political parties
scrap the 11-point agreement to form an election Government under
Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi, dissolve the current Government
and organise a round table conference to form a Government of
national unity. If the preconditions are not met, we will boycott
the elections, said party General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa
at press conference organised by the party.
|
| March 22 |
President Ram Baran Yadav urged
the chairman of the interim electoral Government, Khil Raj Regmi,
who is ex-officio head of the CC to clarify legality of the recommendations
to re-appoint three former Election Commissioners.
Dr. Alexander Spachis, Head of
the Delegation of the EU to Nepal, said "The interim electoral
Government has the main responsibility to hold the elections and
it should concentrate on holding the elections successfully and
that the EU is ready to support this task."
|
| March 24 |
President Yadav appointed Nil
Kantha Upreti as CEC and Dolakh Bahadur Gurung and Ayodi Prasad
Yadav as Commissioners. Along with them, Ila Sharma and Ram Bhakta
Thakur have been appointed commissioners. All the five names were
selected by the high-level mechanism of four parties, which is
headed by UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.
Newly appointed CEC, Nil Kantha
Upreti said that the EC will call on the Government to announce
a date for fresh CA elections, at the earliest.
33 political parties, including
the CPN-M-Baidya announced a stir against the 11-point agreement
and the Khil Raj Regmi led Government. CPN-M-Baidya leader Hitman
Shakya said the parties will organise protest programmes on April
1 and stage a sit-in at Singha Durbar and District Administration
Offices across the country.
|
| March 25 |
CPN-Maoist Baidya cadres obstructed
the ongoing voters' registration process at Jyamirgadhi and Dharampur
VDCs in Jhapa District. The cadres said that they would not allow
EC to hold elections under the present Government.
CPN-Maoist Secretary Dev Prasad
Gurung said his party will carry on with its struggle and sabotage
any initiative taken by the Government till the March 14 declaration
of elections is scrapped. He said "The parties' declaration breached
the constitution and has pushed the country deeper into crisis,
so we have to counter it."
A writ petition was filed at the
Supreme Court challenging the re-appointment of Nil Kantha Upreti
as CEC and Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and Dolakh Bahadur Gurung as commissioners
of the EC. Prabin Kumar Labh and Hare Ram Sah in their writ argued
that appointment of the three EC office-bearers breached Clause
3 and 7 of Article 128 of the Interim Constitution, demanding
that the court scrap the appointment.
|
| March 26 |
Cadres of CPN-Maoist-Baidya disrupted
the collection of the voters' list with photographs and looted
related documents at Dulegauda VDC in Tanahun District. The cadres
also looted record file of voters´ list of Ward No. 7 of the VDC.
|
| March 28 |
Election Commissioner Dr. Ayodhi
Prasad Yadav said that the EC is capable of holding elections
to the CA within third week of June. The Election Commissioner
said that the collection of voters´ list with photographs has
been completed up to 80 per cent and the remaining works would
be completed by April 28.
Cadres of the CPN-Maoist-Baidya
vandalised the District election office in Baglung District. A
group of masked cadres of the CPN-Maoist-Baidya pretending to
come to the election office to register their names in the voter
list smashed the windowpanes, computers, telephone sets and printer.
Following the incident, Police 'apprehended' some of the District
leaders of the party, who owned "moral responsibility" for the
attack. They, however, denied that they had given orders to vandalise
the election office. The leaders were released afterwards.
The EC told members of a cross-party
taskforce that it will suggest a date for the elections only after
it is confident of updating the voter rolls and formulating electoral
laws. Top officials from the Home Ministry, Law Ministry and the
Prime Minister's Office were invited to the meeting that dwelt
on ways to update the electoral acts and intensify preparations
to hold the polls in June.
|
| March 29 |
In Lalitpur District, a group
of around 20 CPN-Maoist-Baidya cadres misbehaved with EC officials
and smashed a laptop computer used for maintaining records of
voters and taking their photographs to be affixed on voters' ID
cards in Chaughare VDC.
In Bhaktapur District, four CPN-Maoist-Baidya
cadres vandalised Bhaktapur District Election Office. The masked
men broke into EC office and damaged one laptop, a photocopy machine
and a printer. They also tore apart 68 forms meant for registering
voters' details.
The Government formed a three-member
committee headed by Home Minister Madhav Ghimire to negotiate
with political parties that are opposed the elections including
the CPN-Maoist-Baidya and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum to come to
the negotiating table. Health minister Bidhyadhar Mallik and communication
minister Madhav Poudel are members of the talks committee.
Joint Secretary Anil Kumar Thakur,
who is also the EC spokesperson, requested the Ministry of Home
Affairs to begin distribution of citizenship certificates by deploying
mobile teams across the country. Thakur said, "We have suggested
to the Ministry of Home Affairs to distribute citizenship cards
by deploying 305 mobile teams initially and increase the number
of the teams to 561 if needed."
|
| March 30 |
FICNs in the denomination of INR
1,000 and 500 with a total face value of INR 514,500 were recovered
from an abandoned bag from Balkhu area in Kathmandu District.
|
| March 31 |
33-party alliance led by CPN-Maoist-Baidya
declared that they will hold decisive talks only with the President.
The 33-party alliance also demanded that the Government immediately
stop collecting voters' lists across the country refrain from
ratifying the convention against organized crime and the Police
crackdown on their cadres across the country.
Top leaders from the three major
political parties have indicated that they have reached a tacit
understanding for holding new election in November or December
but not in June. UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal conceded that
the chances of holding election in mid-June are almost nil. CPN-UML
Chairman Jhalanath Khanal said that his party is not rigid on
the date for holding new election but his party´s priority is
to see the election held by mid-June and if that is not possible
then it could be held in the winter. NC leader Bimalendra Nidi
said "Frankly, I don´t think election is possible in June. This
was one of the reasons why the taskforce recommended November-December
as the alternative date."
|
| April 1 |
Cadres of CPN-Maoist-Baidya chased
away the EC officials at Pokhari Chauri VDC in Kavre District
after one of its cadre Deep Lama was arrested while obstructing
the voters' registration process in the District and did not release
him.
EC issued letter to all District
election offices across the country to halt the process of collecting
and updating voters' registration with photographs. The decision
was taken after 53 parties including CPN-Maoist-Baidya submitted
a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Upreti
urging the EC to halt all the activities related to election.
The memorandum warns of dire consequences if the EC continues
with the voters' registration and other activities to facilitate
polls.
MoHA made preparations to deploy
around 800 mobile teams across the country in order to accommodate
in the new electoral rolls those who have attained the voting
age but do not yet have such certificates. MoHA will deploy mobile
teams across all 75 Districts immediately after the Finance Ministry
and the MoPR release the necessary budget.
|
| April 2 |
33 fringe parties, including CPN-Maoist-Baidya
staged sit-ins and chanted anti-Government slogans in front of
Singha Durbar in Kathmandu to protest against the slated CA polls,
Khil Raj Regmi-led election Government and the agreements forged
by the four major political parties without consulting other parties
and stakeholders.
Cadres of CPN-Maoist-Baidya captured
some 35 acres of private land belonging to Interim Election Council
Chairman Khil Raj Regmi in Bardiya District. They also captured
over 100 acres of land of local Laxmi Prasad Upadhyay and late
Yubaraj Upadhyay in the District. They said that land capture
was one of the programmes as per their campaign and threatened
to take action if anybody tries to release the captured land.
|
| April 3 |
Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda called on Interim Election Council chief Khil
Raj Regmi at the latter's official residence in Kathmandu and
requested Regmi to announce the date of the CA elections at the
earliest so as to carry out the election in June at any cost.
|
| April 4 |
A meeting of the HLPC took place
at the secretariat of the Army Integration Special Committee in
Kathmandu. The meeting dwells on issues related to hold talks
with the agitating 33-fringe parties including the CPN-Maoist-Baidya
to convince them to take part in the elections and fixing new
election date.
UCPN-M cadres demonstrating in
front of the forest office of Rautahat District demanding action
against DFO Nanda Lal Yadav for corruption went on to vandalize
the forest office and then set it ablaze. The Maoists accused
DFO Yadav of massive corruption while awarding contracts to purchase
timber from the forest office.
The Government issued mid-May
deadline to submit the remaining 32 arms given earlier for personal
security to the top UCPN-M and CPN-Maoist-Baidya leaders after
they joined the mainstream politics. The Government has warned
of taking action as per the existing legal provision if the arms
are not submitted to the Government within the stipulated deadline.
UCPN-M objected to the EC's proposal
of requiring one per cent threshold to secure at least one seat
in the CA through proportional representation system. On the other
hand, the NC and CPN-UML backed the EC's proposal, stating that
the proposed threshold would encourage the fringe parties to unite
to champion their cause in the CA.
|
| April 5 |
Chairman of Interim Election Council
Khil Raj Regmi said that the Government is willing to make necessary
changes in the proposed election law including the disqualification
criteria for contesting the elections and the mandatory one percent
threshold for the parties to get represented in the would-be CA
under the proportional system to ensure that smaller parties get
represented in the CA.
CPN-Maoist-Baidya dismissed the
call from the HLPC of the four major parties for talks on the
elections. The HLPC was led by Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal to convince the smaller parties including CPN-Maoist-Baidya
to join the upcoming elections.
|
| April 6 |
Minister for Home and Foreign
Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire urged all parties to cooperate in
the CA elections stating that the election was the important responsibility
of the Government.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
while inaugurating a month-long cadre mobilisation campaign organised
by the party's Special Bureau in Dhading District accused the
interim election council of conspiring against the elections in
spite of its commitment to hold them in June. Dahal also said
there is no guarantee of elections in November.
|
| April 7 |
The nationwide general strike
called by the 33 political parties, including the CPN-Maoist-Baidya,
crippled normal life across the country. The parties called for
the strike demanding the formation of a partisan Government instead
of the current Chief Justice-led Government.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
at a mass gathering in Dhading District said that he will wait
until mid-December to allow the Government to hold new CA elections
as it was as per his own proposal that the interim election Government
under the leadership of sitting Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was
formed.
|
| April 8 |
Head of the Election Government
Khil Raj Regmi said that the Government is constitutionally bound
to hold new elections by mid-December 2013. He emphasized the
need for the political parties to take initiatives toward ensuring
involvement of more and more political parties and public participation
in the elections.
CPN-Maoist-Baidya Chairman Mohan
Baidya accused the four leaders of the big four political parties
of becoming 'new kings' thereby creating problems in the national
politics. He further said the four major parties had no legitimate
stand so his party would not talk to them. However, separate meetings
could be held with the individual party, he added.
CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal claimed
that the UCPN-M leaders won't allow the slated CA election to
happen until they are certain of their victory in it. He said
this is why the election cannot take place in June as the Government
and the political parties are planning.
|
| April 9 |
A cabinet meeting endorsed five
ordinances related to election and citizenship distribution and
forwarded them to the president. The Government endorsed the Nepali
Citizenship Act-2063 with a view to allowing distribution of citizenship
certificates by descent to the children of citizens by birth.
The cabinet also endorsed another ordinance related to the voter
registration process.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda criticised the Government for not announcing the
election date. Addressing a mass meeting organized by the party
in Baglung Bazaar of Baglung District, Dahal said that the interim
election council should have announced the election date a day
after it came into existence and that it should not waste any
more time in fixing the date.
CPN-Maoist-Baidya Secretary Netra
Bikram Chand warned that his party would retaliate if the much
awaited elections to the CA are held sans high level political
consensus. He said that his party is ready to take any kind of
steps if the Government tried to hold elections without consensus.
|
| April 10 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
told media persons in Baglung District that the poll date would
be fixed for mid-November. He also said that the election date
will be announced within the next two days by taking consent of
the dissident political groups, including CPN-Maoist-Baidya.
|
| April 11 |
Chairman of UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal aka Prachanda addressing a press meet in Kaski District
said that the election to the CA would not be halted only because
the CPN-Maoist-Baidya obstructing the election process. He also
said anyone hampering the election process and all the activities
towards holding the election in a free, fair and fear-free manner
would be considered as an affront on the sovereign rights of the
Nepali people.
President Ram Baran Yadav certified
four ordinances including those related to the elections and distribution
of citizenship cards. The ordinances issued as per the Article
88 (1) of the Interim Constitution are related to Nepal Citizenship
Act (1st amendment), Election Act, Civil Service Act (3rd amendment)
and Nepal Health Service Act (4th amendment).
Chairman of the interim election
Government Khil Raj Regmi called on the youth to take part in
elections. He added the upcoming CA election was vital to establish
good governance and political stability in the country and appealed
the youth to support the CA poll regardless of their beliefs and
practices.
|
| April 12 |
HLPC comprising top leaders of
major parties asked the interim Government to formally announce
the date for the CA election scheduled to be held this year. The
committee also decided to take the initiative to bring the fringe
parties that are against the Government's plan to hold the election
to the talks table and bring them into understanding.
HLPC decided to dissolve the Special
Committee by sorting out all the remaining issues. The meeting
decided to provide Rs 2.55 lakhs each to the 47 former Maoist
combatants who requested to leave the Nepali Army even after joining
the National Army.
|
| April 13 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda met Chairman of interim election council
Khil Raj Regmi, asking him to fix the CA election date immediately.
In response, Regmi mentioned that the Government could not announce
the date because a lot is to be done to create election atmosphere
and asked the four-party mechanism to take initiation to bring
the agitating parties on board.
|
| April 14 |
CPN-Maoist-Baidya Chairman Mohan
Baidya said that the four major parties have pushed the nation
towards fascism by electing Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi as the
head of the executive. Baidya further said that his party would
not take part in the CA election unless the issues raised by the
party are addressed. He also said that the Government should be
led by a political party.
|
| April 15 |
Four major political parties agreed
in principle to hold fresh CA elections in mid-November citing
the time constraint, the delay in clearing legal hurdles and differences
on some provisions of electoral laws.
Nepal Police busted a FICN racket
arresting two Pakistani nationals and seizing FICN worth INR 4.7
million at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. The arrested
were identified as Julekha Banu and her son Essa Danish. They
arrived in Kathmandu from Karachi along with the FICN by Pakistani
Airlines.
UCPN-M Vice-chairman and former
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said the Government should immediately
announce the election date so as to build public confidence on
the polls. Bhattarai said that the distrust between the parties
might grow to the extent of jeopardizing the election if the Government
does not announce the date right away.
Vice-chairman of UCPN-M Narayan
Kaji Shrestha talking to media emphasised on the need of including
the CPN-Maoist-Baidya and other parties in the HLPC if they commit
themselves to the upcoming CA elections. He said the four parties
need to be liberal enough to include Chairmen of CPN-Maoist-Baidya,
Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and others into the HLPC.
|
| April 16 |
The Government sent invitations
for talks to Upendra Yadav-led FDF and Mohan Baidya-led CPN-Maoist-Baidya-led
alliance of various 33 fringe political parties.
SC ordered the Interim Election
Council and the EC to form a Constituency Delimitation Commission
to delineate the election constituencies afresh. The apex court's
order comes at a time when Madhesi political parties are threatening
to boycott the upcoming election if the Government tries to hold
it without first delineating the election constituencies anew.
|
| April 17 |
Chairman of Interim Election Council
Khil Raj Regmi said he is determined to conduct the CA elections
within Mansir (mid-December). Speaking to a delegation of RPP-Nepal
after receiving a memorandum submitted by the party, Regmi said
he is "committed to hold free and fair elections within mid-December".
During a meeting with Chairman
of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi held in Kathmandu,
top EC officials urged Regmi to approve the ordinance on amending
the Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly Act, 2013,
at the earliest. In response, Regmi told EC top officials that
the Interim Election Council will approve the ordinance and forward
it to the President at the earliest.
|
| April 18 |
The Government decided to implement
Citizenship Distribution Directive to ease the distribution of
citizenship keeping in mind the proposed CA elections. A Cabinet
meeting made a decision to that effect. The ruling would facilitate
the distribution of citizenship across the country by joint teams
comprising officials from the EC and the MoHA.
RPP-Nepal handed over a 7-point
memorandum to President Ram Baran Yadav which demands for immediate
announcement of the CA election date and formation of Election
Constituency Delineation Commission. A delegation led by RPP-Nepal
chairman Kamal Thapa met President Yadav and submitted the memorandum.
The party had presented the same set of demands to chairman of
the interim election council Khil Raj Regmi.
|
| April 20 |
EC advised the Government to plan
the CA elections preferably in the second week of November. While
the EC did not categorically disclose the dates, an official said
the commission is for holding polls on November 14-15.
|
| April 21 |
HLPC comprising four major political
forces - UCPN-M, NC, CPN-UML and UDMF - advised the Government
to announce a date of the CA election by the last week of April.
The meeting also decided to hold serious talks with the agitating
political parties that have threatened to boycott the election
process.
FDF led by MJF Chairman Upendra
Yadav demanded that Khil Raj Regmi should quit the post of chief
justice or chairman of council of ministers to maintain democratic
norms and values, principle of separation of powers and independence
of judiciary. They also demanded that the HLPC comprising the
four major political forces should be scrapped, as it controlled
and could influence the independence of polls. The front demanded
to hold an all-party meeting to determine the basic principles
of the new constitution before the polls.
|
| April 22 |
President Ram Baran Yadav asserted
that CA elections will certainly take place in November. President
Yadav said that there is no other alternative to elections to
write the new constitution and that the polls will certainly take
place in November. Referring to the demand of agitating 33 parties
for direct talks with him, he said that the parties should sit
for talks with the Government itself.
The President said, "It is the
Government´s duty to talk to the dissident parties and bring them
into the mainstream. It is the Government´s duty to talk to them
and convince them.". The President told, "The only solution to
the current political stalemate is to hold the CA elections. Therefore,
all the political parties must join hands to make the coming elections
a success."
|
| April 23 |
Chairman of Council of Ministers
Khil Raj Regmi urged all the sections of the society, including
political parties and their sister wings, to focus on election.
Regmi stated this in a greeting issued by him on the eve of Loktantra
Diwas.
|
| April 24 |
Chairman of Interim Election Council
Khil Raj Regmisaid that the slated CA elections will take place
at any cost and there is no reason to doubt that. He said, "There
is no reason to doubt Government's commitment to hold timely polls
and we are engaged in necessary homework for the same." Though
he did not announce tentative date for the election, he informed
that the drive to collect voter's namelist is already underway
and will soon finish.
CPN-Maoist-Baidya leaders said
their party must 'take up all measures' to foil CA elections if
the Government tries to go ahead with the plan without first forging
consensus. In the ongoing CC meeting of the party, speakers said
the formation of the Khil Raj Regmi-led Interim Election Government
is 'unconstitutional' and, therefore, the party should disrupt
the elections.
|
| April 25 |
CPN-Maoist-Baidya reiterated that
it would not participate in the election to the CA but disrupt
the electoral process. The speakers at the extended meeting of
the CC of the party said formation of present Government was unconstitutional
and it was not judicious in the election to be held by this Government.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda addressing a function in Salyan District claimed
that his party is going to reach alliance with Madhesi and Janajati
groups in the upcoming elections. However, he did not explain
which of the Madhesi and Janajati groups his party would join
hands with.
|
| April 26 |
President Ram Baran Yadav expressing
hope that the election to CA would be held on time said 85 percent
of all the active political forces have already ready for elections.
He further said as head of the state he was taking initiatives
to persuade some dissident political parties, including CPN-Maoist-Baidya,
to come on board the election process.
The Government and the EC have
agreed to hold fresh polls to elect a new CA with 601 members.
The Government reached a conclusion to retain the old strength
of 601 when the big four parties decided to reduce the CA's strength
from 601 to 491.
Chairman of the IEC Khil Raj Regmi
held a meeting with the office-bearers of the EC and took stock
of progress made in regard to holding the election within November
this year. During the meeting Regmi directed the EC officials
to intensify the election-related works and activities so as to
ensure timely polls.
CEC Neelkantha Upreti, said the
EC has decided to publish a notice inviting registration of political
parties. He said parties already in the EC's register need to
be re-registered and new parties will have to produce signatures
of at least 10,000 supporters in order to be eligible for the
registration.
|
| April 28 |
CEC Neel Kantha Uprety said preparations
are underway to hold the CA election by the third week of November.
Speaking at a programme Tanahun District, Upreti said that the
election date will be fixed in about two weeks' time.
EC Spokesperson Madhu Prasad Regmi
said the EC is all set to register political parties for the upcoming
CA election from April 30. He said "The EC has issued a call to
political parties for registration. We will start registering
new parties from April 30 for a month."
|
| April 29 |
Nepal Army said the former Maoist
combatants integrated into the National Army would be eligible
to participate in UN peacekeeping missions only after serving
in the institution at least for six years. The Army Service Regulation
introduced earlier this year by the Ministry of Defence has it
that the soldiers must complete six years of service in the Army
to qualify for UN peacekeeping.
CEC Nil Kantha Upreti said that
the Government will announce election date within the next 10
days. Upreti said that elections were the backbone of a democratic
system, and the commission was committed to holding free and fair
election.
|
| April 30 |
EC has started the process of
registration and renewal of political parties for the upcoming
polls to the CA from today.
Eleven political parties - CPN-UML,
UCPN-M, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal, Nepali Congress, CPN-ML,
Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, Sadbhawana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra
Party, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), Sanghiya Loktantrik
Rastriya Party and Nepal Pariwar Dal - have applied for party
renewal at the EC on the first day of the party registration process.
|
| May 1 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
aka Prachanda addressing a programme organized by the party in
Itahari city of Sunsari District said his party will forge electoral
alliance with Madhesi and Janajati groups in the upcoming elections.
CPN-Maoist-Baidya Secretary Dev
Gurung said the party is not going to register with the EC until
the ordinance issued by the President to pave the way for formation
of the Chief Justice-led Government is withdrawn. Gurung said
there should be an all-party Government in place of the Government
of bureaucrats to conduct the elections.
|
| May 2 |
As many as 1,606 illegal weapons
have been collected from different Districts in the far-west after
a second notice was issued calling for submission of illegal weapons
to the Police by April 30. 1,045 arms were collected from nine
Districts - Bajura Kailali, Doti, Achham, Bajhang, Kanchanpur,
Dadeldhura, Darchula, and Baitadi Districts collecting 609, 27,
69, 214, 77, nine, eight, 30, and two respectively. Separately,
503 illegal weapons collected from Dailkeh District and 58 weapons
from Kapilvastu District.
CEC Nil Kantha Upreti said that
the Government should announce the election date without further
delay. Upreti claimed that the EC has completed the necessary
preparations and that there is no reason why the Government should
take time in fixing the poll date.
|
| May 3 |
The alliance of 33 political parties
led by CPN-Maoist-Baidya staged protestin front of the EC at Kantipath
in Kathmandu City against the ongoing election process including
the registration of parties. They also blocked vehicular movement
in and around Kantipath during the protest.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal
and NC President Sushil Koirala met at the latter's residence
in Kathmandu. NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, who was present
during the meeting, said, "We will hold talks with the agitating
parties, including CPN-Maoist-Baidya, Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal,
Sanghiya Samajbadi Party and other fringe parties. We will also
intensify inter-party meetings from tomorrow to discuss poll related
issues."
|
| May 4 |
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal talking to
mediapersons at Simara Airport in Bara District said that his
party was ready to enter into an electoral alliance with the CPN-Maoist-Baidya.
|
| May 6 |
Normal life in the Eastern Districts have been
affected for the third consecutive day due to bandh called by
Sanghiya Limbuwan Rajya Parishad demanding that the citizenship
distribution, and voters list collection process be stopped until
the agitating fringe parties' demands regarding the CA elections
were addressed.
NC President Sushil Koirala refused to hold talks
with UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on contemporary contentious
issues, saying his fellow leaders, including Vice-president Ramchandra
Paudel, were not available in Kathmandu. The NC chief also postponed
his meeting with the leaders of the CPN-UML.
|
| May 7 |
A Pakistani national and his Nepali associate
were arrested at the Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu.
Sheikh Mohammed Fukran (48), a resident of Azizabad in Karachi,
was arrested by a team of Nepali Police after he landed on a Qatar
Airways flight from Doha. FICNs worth Rs. 1 crore in denominations
of 500 and 1000 were recovered from the false bottom of the suitcase
carried by the accused.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal initiated efforts
to improve ties with the CPN-Maoist-Baidya. Dahal is wooing the
Baidya party after the Madhesi and Janajati parties rejected a
possible election alliance with the UCPN-M.
District Police Office in Rolpa District said
that they have collected 227 illegal weapons since the nationwide
arms collection drive began. 164 weapons were collected till March
28 and 63 more were collected after the Ministry of Home Affairs
extended the deadline till April 28.
Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil
Raj Regmi called on President Ram Baran Yadav at his residence
in Kathmandu and told Regmi that all vacant posts in key state
bodies need to be filled, as per prevailing laws, to ensure good
governance. Regmi conveyed to the President that the Government
was doing the needful to make appointments to constitutional bodies.
|
| May 8 |
Top leaders from NC and UCPN-M decided to intensify
talks with other political parties to help the Government conduct
elections. The leaders who met at NC President Sushil Koirala''s
residence in Maharajgunj of Kapilvastu District also agreed to
urge the Government to approve election ordinances soon.
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| May 9 |
Two bombs were recovered at Mainaghat-based Saraswati
School in the Nawalparasi District. The bombs were planted by
an unidentified group targeting a mobile camp of District Administration
Office for citizenship distribution and voters' list collection.
Tikaram Wagle, coordinator of the mobile camp, informed slogans
demanding dismissal of the Government among others has been written
at three muds filled sacks kept few metres away.
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| May 10 |
The Government held a discussion with the leaders
of the political parties including the four major political parties
on election-related issues. In the meeting chaired by the Interim
Election Council Chairman Khil Raj Regmi, the Government side
informed that it is in the final stage of introducing the election-related
laws and declare the election date.
Putting forth three preconditions for talks, CPN-Maoist-Baidya
rejected the interim Government's call for an all-party meeting
to narrow down the differences on issues related to electoral
ordinances. In a press statement, the party Chairman Mohan Baidhya
has repeated the party's demands to scrap the 25-point presidential
decree, revoke the citizenship bill and void the recent appointment
at CIAA as three preconditions for talks to end the political
crisis.
As the 33 agitating parties boycotted the meeting
called by Chairman Regmi, Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal
Dahal said "We will try our best to address the concerns of the
agitating parties. However, we have concluded that the elections
can be held even if one or two parties refuse to join the election
process." Dahal added that the polls will be held between November
15 and 22.
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| May 12 |
Normal life in Terai region was paralysed due
to the day-long bandh enforced by Sadbhavana Party. The party
enforced the shutdown putting forth 10-point demands that includes
immediate announcement of date for fresh CA election. Police arrested
six leaders and cadres of the party including Sunsari District
Member Parameswor Mandal who were in Itahari to close the markets
and stop vehicles along with party flags. Those arrested are Madan
Mandal, Raman Khan, Bhupen Kumar Thakur, Naresh Mahato and Pramod
Chaudhary. Similarly, in Chitwan District, five leaders and cadres
of the party were arrested from Ratnanagar of Chitwan this morning
while trying to stop vehicles. The arrested cadres of the Party
led by Rajendra Mahato were Central Member Arjun Upreti, Kushal
Subedi, Indra Subedi, Sandesh Tamang and Jiwan Chaudhary.
Coordination committee member and Federal Affairs
and Local Development Minister Bidhyadhar Mallik said the Government
is preparing to forward the three poll related ordinances to the
President within four days even if the parties fail to iron out
their differences.
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