Nepal: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2014

Chairman of Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) Mohan Baidhya, who represents Nepal's ultra left, while addressing the central committee meeting of his party's student wing, in Kathmandu on January 1 advised UCPN-M Chairman Dahal to quit CA and join his boycott activities, reports Nepal News. He said, "The CA has gone to the hands of pro-western and pro-status-quo parties. I urge the UCPN-M to stop wrangling for CA posts and join us." Similarly, speaking at a public program, CPN-M general secretary, Dev Gurung claimed that there is no possibility of enacting pro-people constitution through the CA. "There is still time to forge national consensus through a round table conference. For this, larger parties have to take the initiatives," he said. Read less...

Four cadres of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) were injured during factional clash in Parsa District, reports Nepal News on January 2 (today). Youths led by UCPN-M cadre, Sujit Giri, assaulted the local leaders of the party interfering with the press conference to protest the 'unilateral' decision of the UCPN-M party leadership in connection to selecting names of candidates for Constituent Assembly (CA) member under the Proportional Representation (PR) system. Read less...

Minister for Information and Communication Madav Poudel on January 1 said that the election Government headed by Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was now ready to handover the responsibility of running the country back to the political parties, reports Nepal News. Read less...

Two senior leaders of the UCPN-M on January 1 lodged a written complaint against party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, asking him to amend the list of PR candidates, reports The Himalayan Times. Former vice-chairmen duo Baburam Bhattarai and Narayankaji Shrestha have been objecting to the PR list that the party submitted to the Election Commission (EC) on December 30. Shrestha said they lodged ‘a disagreement and protest letter’, mentioning that party Chairman Dahal and his team finalised the PR list violating the criteria set by the recently held central committee meeting. The letter has outlined why they are objecting to the PR list approved by Dahal and his team. Bhattarai and Shrestha have also alleged that the party leadership ignored the dissident voices and that their suggestions were ignored when the PR list was being prepared. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 2 submitted the names of winners of Constituent Assembly (CA) elections to President Ram Baran Yadav, when the three-day window period given after the deadline for the submission of the names of Proportional Representation (PR) candidates ended, reports The Himalayan Times. Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety said the names of all 575 candidates were sent to President Ram Baran Yadav. Out of 575, 240 candidates were elected under first–past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system and 335 under the PR system. In the 601-member CA, 26 members are to be nominated by the Council of Ministers. Uprety said a copy of the CA election results will also be sent to the Government and the Parliament Secretariat. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 2 has decreed against any bid to offer blanket amnesty to those alleged of serious human rights violation during the armed conflict (1996-2006), reports Nepal News. Delivering order in regard to a writ petition filed against the Ordinance on forming Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), the apex court said that the offer of amnesty will be against the spirit of justice. The apex court further said that the Ordinance contradicts with the citizens' right to life, right to seek justice, right to information, right against torture and other principles of justice. Read less...

As the question of whether the President or the head of Government should call the first meeting of the new Constituent Assembly remains unresolved, President Ram Baran Yadav has been consulting the chiefs of various political parties to seek their suggestions over the matter, reports Republica. Given the political nature of the issue, some noted leaders including Nepal Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have stood for settling this issue at the High Level Political Committee (HLPC). Settling this matter has become urgent as the first CA meeting needs to be convened within three weeks after the Election Commission makes public the final list of CA members, something which the commission has already done. Read less...

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Navi Pillay issuing a statement from the UNHCHR headquarters in Geneva on January 3 welcomed the decision taken by the Supreme Court (SC) on January 2 against blanket amnesties for crimes committed during the 10-year conflict, reports Nepal News. Pillay said “This is a significant development for the thousands of victims of the conflict. The Supreme Court’s decision to block amnesties is the first step towards ensuring that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will not be used to avoid or delay criminal investigations and prosecutions of conflict-related cases. I now call on the Government of Nepal to urgently implement this important decision, in the spirit of working towards genuine and lasting peace, and to respect the demand of the Nepalese people for justice.” Read less...

General Secretary of the NC, Prakash Man Singh, on January 4 said it would be appropriate to call the CA meeting by the President as per the international standard, reports The Himalayan Times. He said the President would call the CA meeting after the recommendation of the HLPC. "The Government despite accomplishing major responsibility of holding CA election, it can't create dispute at the last moment," he said, reminding that the first meeting of the last CA was called by then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who was also the head of the State at that time. So, it’s the rule that President should call the CA meet, he argued. Read less...

The meeting of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) on January 4 saw a heated debate and eventually concluded indecisively as top leaders from the constituent parties stood divided over whether or not to discuss the issue of who should summon the first Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting, reports Republica. Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala, who is the current chair of the HLPC, called the political committee’s meeting to decide whether the head of State or head of Government should summon the first CA meeting. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) on January 5 forged a common stance on whether or not to hold fresh election for the post of President and Vice-President, reports Republica. Leaders from the two parties shared similar views during talks held in Kathmandu, saying it would be a natural democratic practice to hold fresh elections for the posts as the entire process has begun afresh following the CA elections on November 19. Read less...

The SC on January 5 issued an order, in which it has instructed the concerned Government authorities to arrange people’s right to ‘no vote’ implying that people can cast ‘negative vote’ during election, reports Nepal News. A division bench of justices Kalyan Shrestha and Prakash Wasti delivered the order responding to a writ petition filed by Bikash Khadka on behalf of Campaign against Crime and Terrorism. As per the apex court order, citizens will have the choice to negatively mark any candidate during election and stamp him/her as ‘unwanted’. Negative voting will not allow the particular candidate to get elected. This provision is expected to reduce crime, corruption and terrorism in politics, as the voters can say ‘no’ to those whom they do not like to see as their representatives. Read less...

A group of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) on January 6 filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court (SC) saying that the party was not fair in deciding the name list of Proportionate Representation (PR) members of the newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA), reports Nepal News. "Party Chairperson Kamal Thapa unilaterally made the decision to select the PR members. Thapa and few other leaders did not even inform the central committee members about the nomination, as they selected individuals who were near and dear to them," said the petition. The petition was filed by nine RPP-N central committee members including Bal Krishna Neupane, Shastra Dutta Panta, Ganesh Sherchan and Indra Acharya. RPP-N has won 24 CA seats under the PR category in the recently concluded CA election. Read less...

NC President Sushil Koirala on January 6 (today) said that the NC cannot even think about forming a Government without CPN-UML in it, reports The Himalayan Times. Koirala said this after a meeting with CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter’s residence in Kathmandu. Koirala and Nepal also discussed the issue of who — the President or the Chairman of Council of Ministers— should call the first meeting of the CA, how to convene the Government at the earliest and how to promulgate the new constitution within one year. Read less...

The Central Committee (CC) meeting of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) has been postponed by one week to January 16 from January 10, owing to ongoing conflict among party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal and senior leaders, reports Nepal News on January 7. Chairperson Dahal has been facing tough task to resolve the internal feuds which emerged in the party after submission of the Proportionate Representation (PR) list to the Election Commission. Senior leaders Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha have warned of bringing and presenting different reports if they are not satisfied with the report of Dahal. It has piled pressure on Dahal to write a convincing report and incorporate feelings of all party members, it is learnt. Bhattarai and Shrestha have mainly alleged Dahal of unilaterally nominating PR members and ignoring their supporters during the selection process. Read less...

Supreme Court (SC) on January 7 asked the Office of the President to furnish a reply by January 13 as to why the head of the Interim Council of Ministers cannot call the first meeting of the newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA), reports The Hindu. A week ago, it had asked the Khil Raj Regmi interim council as to why President Ram Baran Yadav cannot convene the meeting. This dispute is likely to further delay the convening of the first meeting of the new CA-cum-Parliament. Both President Yadav and the head of the interim council of minister, Mr. Regmi are adamant on calling the first meeting. While Mr. Yadav cites parliamentary traditions, Mr. Regmi has pointed to the Interim Constitution. Even the political parties are divided over who should call the meeting. They have decided to wait for the court’s decision on the issue. Read less...

Home Minister Madhav Prasad Ghimire on January 8 called on Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala at the latter's residence in Kathmandu saying that his Interim Election Government is eager to hand over power to the political Government, reports Nepal News. During the meeting, Home Minister Ghimire urged Koirala to form a new Government at the earliest and begin preparation for the same. Koirala, in return, congratulated the Home Minister for successfully conducting the CA elections. Being the chairperson of the largest party, Koirala is likely to lead a coalition Government. Read less...

President Ram Baran Yadav on January 8 (today) said the second CA election brought the political and constitutional process, which was derailed after the unexpected demise of the first CA in May 2012, back on track and that the new CA is but a continuation of the first one, reports The Himalayan Times. President Yadav said “The first CA failed to deliver a new constitution, but it did lay the foundation stone for a republican set up while it accomplished the task of managing former Maoist combatants and their weapons successfully and institutionalised the achievements of the People’s Movement 2006. These all are epoch-making achievements.” Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 8 set a single date for hearing two opposing writ petitions on January 13 to decide whether the President or the Interim Election Council (IEC) Chairmain has the right to call the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA), reports Nepal News. The court issued this order while responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Biswas Acharya. Acharya has claimed that President Ram Baran Yadav has the constitutional authority to convene the first CA meeting. An earlier writ petition filed by advocate Mukunda Adhikari has claimed that IEC Chairmain Khil Raj Regmi has the authority to summon the first CA meeting. The apex court has already sought the help of ‘amicus curie’ (friends of court) to hold debate on the matter, concurrently initiating the process to seek clarification from IEC Chair and President as to why they think that they have the authority to convene the CA meeting. Read less...

The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) on January 8 asked NC and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) to bring a power-sharing proposal for the same, reports Republica. "We have asked NC and the CPN-UML to bring power-sharing proposal of the new Government. But we have not yet decided whether we will join the Government or not,” a senior leader of UCPN-M told while asking not to be named. The leader disclosed that they had asked the largest and the second largest party to come up with a separate power-sharing proposal during a recent inter-party meeting. Read less...

Three top leaders of the NC started discussions on January 8, reports The Himalayan Times. And the discussions were tough, according to party sources. Party President Sushil Koirala, his deputy Ramchandra Paudel and senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba all are eying to become the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader. According to party’s statute, the PP leader is the party’s prime ministerial candidate. Party sources said at a meeting of only top three leaders, each of them staked claim to the plum post. Read less...

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed at the Supreme Court (SC) on January 9, seeking its directive to the yet-to-be formed Constituent Assembly (CA) and the Government to hold the elections for the posts of the President and the Vice-president, reports The Himalayan Times. Arguing that President Ram Baran Yadav and Vice-president Paramananda Jha have already completed more than five years in their posts, Advocate Om Prakash Aryal filed the petition. He has sought SC’s order to ensure their retirement and to begin the process to hold elections for the posts. The apex court has registered the petition and scheduled an initial hearing for January 10 (today). Read less...

The Nepali Congress (NC) Constitution Writing Suggestions Committee on January 9 has given its CA members five days to submit their input for writing the new constitution, reports Nepal News. The Committee had called a meeting of its party central members and CA members at the party's central office in Lalitpur District to discuss issues regarding the constitution writing within a year. The five member committee has been established under coordination of NC leader Narahari Acharya. Read less...

Five times Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa (85) will take the first oath of office of the newly elected CA on January 20, being the oldest person, reports Nepal News on January 12. Thapa will take the oath from President Ram Baran Yadav, while the other CA members will take the oath from Thapa on January 21. Born on March 21, 1928, Thapa’s political career expands over 50 years of period. He held the post of Prime Minister thrice during the partyless Panchayat period (1960-1990) and twice during the multi-party democracy (1990 onward). He current heads Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Read less...

A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC) on January 12 demanding that the first meeting of the CA should be held only after the council of ministers nominates the remaining 26 seats, reports Republica. Advocate Sallu Tiwari filed the petition after the chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi called the first meeting of the CA for January 22 ending a prolonged debate over whether the president or the chairman should summon the first meeting. Petitioner Tiwari has demanded that the apex court issue a mandamus in the name of the defendants in the case -- the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and the chairman of Interim Election Council Regmi. Read less...

Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N), Upendra Yadav, on January 12 said his party would not join the Government, reports Nepal News. Yadav said his party would give priorities to the constitution writing by staying in the opposition. Three Madhes-based political parties, which include MJF-N, Tarai-Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhawana Party (SP) chaired respectively by Upendra Yadav, Mahantha Thakur and Rajendra Mahato, have intensified serious talks for forming a single party. “We three parties are soon going to be united, so as to set up one entity,” said MJF-N Chairperson Yadav. Once united, the new Madhes-based party will have 27 seats, 3 seats more than the fourth largest party RPP-N chaired by Kamal Thapa. Read less...

A day after the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was scheduled for January 22; the CA Secretariat on January 13 (today) went into overdrive to chalk out the business of the first-day meeting, besides making preparations to swear in the Acting Chairman of the CA and 574 other members, reports The Himalayan Times. Chairman of Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi on January 12 scheduled the first meeting of the CA for 3 pm on January 22. The CA Secretariat staff on January 13 (today) dispatched letters to all the 575 CA members calling them to participate the CA meeting. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) on January 13 hardened its position for holding new election for President and Vice President, reports Republica. Leaders from the second-largest party have argued that with the head of Government summoning the first sitting of the new CA, the current President has lost his relevance and recognition as well. CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel said that the task of Presidential election should be one of the initial agenda items for business of the new CA. He said that making amendments to the CA regulations, electing new President, Vice-President, CA chair and vice-chair, and Prime Minister should be done immediately after the new House session is commenced. Read less...

Secretary of CPN-Maoist Netra Bikram Chand while speaking at a press meet in Dhankuta District on January 13 warned that his party will be forced to wage another revolt if there are attempts to write the new constitution by sidelining the party, reports Nepal News. He said “We would institute an alternative power and wage a revolt if we feel that the achievements of the decade-long people’s war are at risk.” He further said that the agenda of CPN-Maoist party, which boycotted the November 19 election, is to draft the much awaited new constitution for the country through an all-party round table conference. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed two writ petitions on January 13, saying that it is now irrelevant to discuss whether the Interim Election Council (IEC) Chairperson or the President should convene the first Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting, reports Nepal News. Since IEC Chair Khil Raj Regmi has already convened the first CA sitting on January 22, it is unnecessary to hear the petitions, said the apex court. The petitions had separately claimed that IEC Chair Regmi and President Ram Baran Yadav have the constitutional authority to summon the first CA meeting. Ending a month long speculation, President Yadav reached an understanding with IEC Chair Regmi allowing the latter to convene the first CA meeting. Read less...

Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) affiliated All Nepal Farmers’ Association (ANFA) on January 14 captured five Bigha land belonging to one Devilal Dhakal in Nawalparasi District, reports The Himalayan Times. A team led by CPN-Maoist District Secretary Chhabilal Kharel hoisted party flag on Dhakal’s land. Secretary Kharel said the land was captured as per the ANFA’s central policy. He alleged land owner Dhakal of planning to plot the arable land and sell it to make easy money. According to him, the party would distribute the land to the landless farmers. Read less...

Senior leader of Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal on January 14 said that the country should focus on economic development along with ensuring a timely constitution as per the aspiration of the people, reports Nepal News. He said “After drafting the constitution, all concerned stakeholders should suggest an appropriate economic agenda and policies the nation should adopt to ensure an economically prosperous country.” Read less...

Top Nepali Congress (NC) leaders on January 14 (today) dismissed the call for fresh Presidential election until a new constitution is promulgated during intra-party consultations held at NC President Sushil Koirala’s residence in Maharajgunj village in Kapilvastu District, reports The Himalayan Times. Citing Article 36 (C) of the Interim Constitution, central member Arjun Narsingh KC, said the party should not go for fresh election of President now. “Abiding by the constitutional provision, Chairman of Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi has called the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. In a similar vein we will abide by the constitutional provision, according to which fresh presidential election is possible only after a new constitution is promulgated,” he said. The Article states: The term of office of the President shall be until the commencement of the constitution to be promulgated by the CA. Read less...

Top three leaders of Nepali Congres (NC) - Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel - speaking at a program in Kathmandu on January 14 said that there is no such dispute and a new Government will be formed soon after building consensus among them, reports Nepal News. "The ongoing internal debate will not affect Government formation," said NC President Koirala, adding that NC will be leading the Government. "We are committed to enact a new democratic constitution in one year," said NC Vice President, Poudel. Former Prime Minister and NC senior leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba said that a solution to every problem can be sought only through consensus. "We don't have any dispute as publicized outside," Deuba said. Read less...

Rashtriya Prajantra Party (RPP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa on January 15 said that it would be better, if the top three parties, NC, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M), form a new Government, reports Nepal News. “Constitution making process would be easier if NC and CPN-UML can also bring the Maoists in the new Government,” Thapa said. Read less...

UCPN-M on January 15 decided to adopt democratic exercise both in it internal affairs and external party relations, in tune with the changed context of the 21st century, reports Republica. In the political paper distributed among politburo members of the party, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda proposed multiparty exercise as the party´s future political line. The party is to deliberate on the political paper prepared by Chairman Dahal, during its Central Committee (CC) meeting scheduled to begin from January 16 (today). Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on January 16 (today) said that the much-awaited new constitution will be promulgated within a year under any circumstances, adding that a referendum could be held to sort out contentious issues to ensure the same, reports Nepal News. He said that the political parties would do their best to forge consensus on contentious issues such as forms of governance and federalism, but if those attempts fail then the political parties will fulfill their commitment to draft the new constitution within a year by holding a referendum on the disputed topics. Read less...

The Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist)-led 33-party alliance, which has been questioning the purpose of the second CA, on January 16 decided to demonstrate against the CA on the day of its first meeting, reports The Himalayan Times. The agitating alliance held a meeting at CPN-Maoist headquarters in Kathmandu and decided to show black flags and banners from 2 to 3:30 pm on January 22 outside the CA Building. The first meeting of the CA has been called for January 22 at 3 pm. The alliance has been demanding that an all-party round table conference should be held and the CA should be dissolved to solve current political problems. Read less...

UCPN-M at the ongoing Central Committee (CC) on January 16 proposed holding local body elections only after the promulgation of the new constitution through the newly-elected CA, reports Republica. Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated that holding local body elections before the promulgation of the new statute may interrupt the constitution-drafting process. The CC meeting started on January 16 in a bid to reform the party and discuss its future political strategy. The UCPN-M had so far remained conspicuously silent in public about the local elections even as other parties, including NC and CPN-UML are insisting on holding local-level polls at the earliest. Read less...

An early morning meeting between leaders of Nepali Congress (NC) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) in Kathmandu on January 17 (today) stated that all contentious issues will be decided upon with discussions between the top three parties this week, reports Nepal News. The two parties held talks on Government formation and other processes of the Constituent Assembly (CA). The meeting ended with a decision to hold talks with leaders of the top parties within few days to iron out all contentious issues so that the constitution writing process is not delayed. A date has not been fixed yet. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) leader Bhim Rawal speaking at an interaction at the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu said holding a fresh election of the President and Vice-President is not what his party has been demanding, reports The Himalayan Times. Rawal’s expression comes in sharp contradiction with the version of senior CPN-UML leaders including party’s Chairman that the Constituent Assembly (CA) should first elect the head of the state and his deputy before moving forth with constitution drafting process. Read less...

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal on January 17 told the Nepali Congress (NC) leaders that his party was not rigid on the issue of re-election of the President and was ready to hold discussion on it, reports The Himalayan Times. NC President Sushil Koirala, Vice-president Ramchandra Paudel and general secretaries Prakash Man Singh and Sitaula met Dahal at his residence in Kathmandu to woo him in their bid to forge consensus on Government formation. Read less...

Two persons were injured when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire on them at Dhapakhel Village Development Committee (VDC) in Lalitpur District on January 18 (today), reports Republica. The injured have been identified as Minkrishna Maharjan (42) and Milan Silwal (25). Read less...

A Council of Ministers’ meeting on January 19 recommended to the President to convene the meeting of Legislative Parliament on January 26, reports Nepal News. In the meeting it was decided that the meeting would be called four days after the first Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting on January 22. Read less...

A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court (SC) on January 19 to prevent Lalendra Kumar Mandal, who has been nominated as a CA member by UCPN-M under Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system, from taking oath of office, reports Republica. Mandal´s nomination as a CA member has drawn flak from all quarters as he has been accused of the murder of one Ram Bilas Mandal. Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala at the party’s Central Office in Lalitpur District on January 19 said that agreeing on directly elected executive President as the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) are demanding would only give rise to dictatorship in the country, reports Nepal News. Koirala further said that his party remains adamant on its stance on parliamentary system when it comes to the issue of forms of governance suitable for the country. Saying that Congress will never forego parliamentary system of governance under any circumstance, Koirala claimed that only this system will maintain a crucial balance between the executive and legislative. Read less...

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav on January 19 summoned the first meeting of newly-elected Legislature Parliament on January 26, reports Republica. President Yadav summoned the meeting as per the Article 51 (1) of the Interim Constitution 2007. The first meeting of the Legislature Parliament will take place at International Convention Center, Kathmandu. Read less...

Security Forces (SFs) are preparing to step up security in and around the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Katmandu in view of the first meeting of the second CA, which will begin on January 22, reports The Himalayan Times on January 20. Nepal Police will put in place necessary security measures around the CA complex on the day, taking into account possible threats resulting from rallies and protests. The Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist)-led 33-party alliance has said it will disrupt the first meeting of the constitution-making body. Police have divided security arrangements of the CA complex into two components: Internal and external. They will bolster security at the CA meeting hall, main access points, and around the complex. Marshals deployed at the meeting hall will mobilise as per the orders of the CA Speaker. Arms will not be allowed inside the hall. For external security, a taskforce comprising 12-13 Police personnel will deploy at the main access point at the western gate together with a communication team from the Police headquarters. Armed Police Force personnel will deploy at the main gate of the ICC building and its vicinity. Four intersections leading to the CA building will also be under the surveillance of security forces. Nine CCTV cameras have been installed on the southern and western flanks of the CA building. Read less...

Major political parties are planning to amend the existing CA regulation aiming at promulgating a new constitution within one year, reports The Himalayan Times on January 21. Through the amendment, the parties want to have 15 committees downsized to tentatively three and specify timeframe for consensus, voting process and referendum if it is required on any issue. Nepali Congress (NC) has formed a five-member committee headed by Narahari Acharya, which is preparing to submit its report to the party by January 23. The Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) too have begun internal consultations. Read less...

The eldest Constituent Assembly (CA) member, Surya Bahadur Thapa (86) took the oath of office and secrecy from President Dr Ram Baran Yadav at a program held in Kathmandu on January 20, reports Republica. Thapa, five-time Prime Minister and Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), was elected as CA member under Proportional Representation (PR) election system. As per the provision of the Interim Constitution, the eldest member of the CA chairs the House until the election of its chairperson and vice-chairperson. Read less...

Newly elected members of the Constituent Assembly (CA) that will draft a Constitution aimed at ending years of political turmoil in Nepal were sworn in at the Parliament Building in Kathmandu on January 21, reports The Hindu. The eldest member of the CA, Surya Bahadur Thapa, administered oath of office and secrecy to 570 members elected through direct voting and proportionate voting system. Read less...

As the newly-elected CA sits for the first meeting on January 22 (toady) with a promise to deliver a new constitution within a year there is more doubt than hope among the people that it would eventually fulfill the promise, reports Republica. The doubt mainly comes from the fact that the positions each major political party in the new CA hold on thorny constitutional issues including federalism remain more or less the same. The sizeable presence of Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) that is opposed to all major changes brought about by the April 2006 movement and the Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) that stayed out of the entire process have added to the apprehensions over the success of the new CA in achieving its goal. Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) on January 22 published that the party will hold an election to choose its Parliamentary Party (PP) leader, who will be party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, reports The Himalayan Times. The election schedule as per which aspiring candidates will file their nominations on January 25 and anyone wishing to withdraw can do so by 5pm the same day. The voting will be held on January 26. The first meeting of the new Parliament is scheduled for the same day at 3pm. “The party leaders are trying their best to forge consensus. And efforts to that effect will continue. Even if we have to go for the second round of election, we will hold it immediately, as we are planning to use voting machine,” said election committee coordinator Dilendra Prasad Badu. Read less...

The first meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) was convened at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Kathmandu on January 22 to formally begin drafting the new constitution, reports Nepal News. Surya Bahadur Thapa, the senior-most member of CA, chaired the meeting at the ICC hall that unanimously endorsed the proposal of CA regulations 2065 to conduct CA and house business until a new regulation is formulated. Welcoming all the CA members participating in the inaugural meeting of the constitution drafting body after observing a two minute silence in memory of martyrs, Thapa stressed on the need to draft the constitution on time to give a new lease of life to a country suffering from political turmoil and ineffectiveness. Read less...

The poll boycott group of 33 smaller parties led by Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) demonstrated on the first day of the CA meeting on January 22 in Kathmandu, reports Nepal News. The Police did not allow the protest group to enter the prohibited area near the ICC, which is hosting the CA meeting. The protesters urged people to "refuse" the newly elected CA saying that it would not provide a political outlet. "Let's organize an all party conference for a political solution," read the banner displayed during the protest. Black flags were shown and anti-incumbency slogans were chanted during the protest. Read less...

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) on January 22 started to mull an alternative to party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as its PP leader in the new Parliament, reports Republica. The first meeting of the Maoist PP after the November CA election has discussed the name of Krishna Bahadur Mahara as PP leader. But the party has not arrived at any conclusion in this regard. “We would probably not nominate the party Chairman as PP leader. We are thinking about picking another leader this time,” said a party leader attending the meeting. Dahal held both the posts of PP leader and party Chairman at the time of the previous Parliament. But he has been criticized in the party for centralizing all power in him. Read less...

Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) Chairman Mohan Baidya speaking at a program organized by Revolutionary Journalists Federation (RJF) in Chitwan District on January 23 threatened to launch protest programs if the major political parties keep on turning a deaf ear to his party’s demand for the dissolution of the CA, reports Republica. Baidya renewed his call to the parties to forge national consensus through an all-party roundtable conference. He, however, informed that the agitating party would not launch strong protest as of now. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) Vice-chairman Bamdev Gautam said on January 23 that his party wouldn´t backtrack on its stance for fresh election for the President and the Vice-President although the largest party Nepali Congress (NC) is opposed to the idea of electing a new President, reports Republica. "As per the spirit of the interim constitution, the President has already become a caretaker one. So, the Parliament session should first elect a new President and then initiate the procedures to elect a new Prime Minister," Gautam said. He argued that NC´s attempt to give continuity to the present President without fresh election was unacceptable since Ram Baran Yadav was elected by the body that is no longer in existence. Read less...

The Election Commission (EC) on January 23 said that the local body elections was "imperative and customary" after the Constituent Assembly (CA) election adding that the Commission was ready to hold the local election if the soon-to-be-formed Government formulates necessary laws and also stipulates a date for it, reports Nepal News. “If the dates (for local elections) are announced by the second week of February, we will easily conduct the election within May this year,” Chief Election Commissoner (CEC) Nil Kantha Upreti. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 23 scrapped a writ demanding an election for the appointment of new President and Vice President, reports The Himalayan Times. A single bench of justice Girish Chandra Lal released a verdict to this effect stating that the tenure of President and Vice President would not end unless the promulgation of a new constitution or an amendment to the Article 36(c) of the interim constitution, maintaining it. A writ demanding polls to elect new President and Vice President was filed by advocate Om Prakash Aryal. Read less...

Unified Communist Party of Nepal’s (UCPN-M’s) central committee meeting, which was ongoing since eight days, has been postponed until January 27, as the party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has come under sharp criticism for his political report and family involvement in the party, reports Nepal News on January 24. In the political report presented by Dahal, 98 central committee members have already expressed their opinions suggesting various reforms. Most of the central committee members asked Dahal to bring meaningful proposal on strengthening party code of conduct, leadership transformation and party organization. The central committee members further echoed concern over "too much family involvement" of Dahal in the party's affairs and the headquarters. They asked Dahal to remove his son, Prakash, from the party's headquarters. Read less...

In the latest overture to settle the row over Parliamentary Party (PP) leader, NC President Sushil Koirala on January 24 asked senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba to support him until the new statute is promulgated, reports Republica. NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula made the proposal on behalf of Koirala during a meeting with Deuba at the latter´s residence in Kathmandu. General Secretary Sitaula asked Deuba to support Koirala since the party President becomes the first and natural contender for the post of Prime Minister. He conveyed the message that Koirala is ready to extend him all support for his own Prime Ministerial bid should Deuba extended him support for a year. Read less...

Nepali Congress's (NC’s) top three leaders, President Sushil Koirala, Senior Leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Vice President Ram Chandra Poudel on January 24 stressed on the need to settle the internal disputes first so as to attain a national consensus, reports Nepal News. Speaking at an interaction program in Kathmandu, President Koirala said that until the NC engulfs in internal disputes, it cannot bring other political parties to a consensus. Similarly, Senior Leader Deuba said that it is imperative is to move ahead by bringing all sides into confidence. Vice President Poudel said a "meeting point" would be forged among the top three leaders of NC soon. "We will soon reach a consensus resolving all disputes," Poudel said. Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sushil Koirala on January 26 became the favourite to be Nepal's new Prime Minister after he was elected the leader of the NC Parliamentary Party (PP) defeating his competitor Sher Bahadur Deuba, a three-time former Prime Minister, reports Times of India. Read less...

President Ram Baran Yadav on January 26 issued a seven-day deadline for the parties to form a new Government through consensus, reports Republica. Issuing a statement, the President urged the political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) to elect a new Prime Minister through “political understanding”. He also asked the parties to form the cabinet by February 2 in line with Article 38(1) of the Interim Constitution. Read less...

Speaking at the first meeting of the Parliament on January 26, leaders of political parties committed to drafting the Constitution within a year and reiterated their party positions on a number of issues, reports The Hindu. NC President Sushil Koirala called on parties to work together to draft the constitution within a year and to form the new Government at the earliest. Koirala also suggested adopting the agreements reached during the first CA. The suggestion was supported by chiefs of the second and third largest parties – Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML)’s Jhala Nath Khanal and Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M)’s Pushpa Kamal Dahal – as well as other smaller parties, including Upendra Yadav of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Nepal. Read less...

A day after President Ram Baran Yadav urged the major political parties to form a consensus Government within a week, Nepali Congress (NC), as the largest party, on January 27 initiated talks with other political forces to form a coalition under its leadership, reports Republica. NC top brasses held first round of talks with leaders of the second-largest party, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) in Kathmandu. NC President Sushil Koirala said that his party was trying its best for forming a consensus Government and negotiation with the CPN-UML was a step toward that. Read less...

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) leaders, after holding discussions for long in Kathmandu, have finally reached a decision to send party’s top leadership to the Constituent Assembly (CA), reports The Himalayan Times. Party leaders during recent discussions were exploring options whether second-rung leaders should be sent to the CA to lead the party. However, the leaders have decided to pick Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the Parliamentary Party (PP) leader. Read less...

As the largest party in the new CA, the NC on January 28 called an all party meeting to formally propose a consensus government under its leadership, reports Nepal News. Although all 30 parties had been invited, RPP-Nepal and Madhesh-based parties did not attend the meeting. “All parties appreciate that our party has taken an initiative to call the meeting for government formation,” said senior NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba. “They were positive about a consensus government under our leadership.” NC had held consultations with the second largest part, CPN-UML on January 27 as well on the issue. “We support a government led by NC,” said CPN-UML chairman Jhal Nath Khanal, adding, “But we need a certain environment to join the government.” However, UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said, “We are positive on a NC-led government but we have no intention to join it. We look forward to NC’s proposal to write the constitution within a year.” NC has intensified talks on Government formation after President Ram Baran Yadav called on the parties to form a consensus government within February 2. Read less...

The government on January 28 tabled six different ordinances, including one related to investigation into the forced disappearance and formation of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, during meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, Nepal News reports. The government had on January 27 tabled five ordinances related to the Constituent Assembly election and anti-money laundering. Read less...

The three major political parties – the Nepali Congress (NC), the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) – on January 28 reached an agreement to take full ownership of the agreements (on various issues of constitution drafting) reached during the first Constitution Assembly (CA) in order to draft and promulgate a new constitution within a year, reports Nepal News. They have also agreed to form a taskforce for that purpose. Although it has not been formally decided who will be in the aforesaid taskforce, but it is learnt that NC’s Krishna Prasad Sitaula, CPN-UML’s Bam Dev Gautam and UCPN-M’s Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Narayan Kaji Shrestha will be part of the cross-party mechanism. Read less...

Nepali Congress (NC) leader Ram Sharan Mahat said that NC will not yield to the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)’s demand for fresh Presidential election, reports The Himalayan Times on January 30. Mahat ruled out Presidential election until a new constitution is promulgated. Article 36(C) of the Interim Constitution stipulates that the term of the office of the President shall be until the commencement of the constitution to be promulgated by the Constituent Assembly (CA). Mahat said apparently the CPN-UML’s desire for fresh Presidential election stemmed from a fear that the NC might cling to both the posts of the President and the Prime Minister after the promulgation of the constitution. “If this is their fear, then we are ready to discuss it with the CPN-UML. But until a new constitution is promulgated, the existing President should not be replaced,” he added. Read less...

The Central Committee (CC) meeting of the UCPN-M on January 29 decided to organize a national organizational conference in coming April/ May, reports Nepal News. The party has decided to hold a special national conference to downsize the CC committee and make the organizational structure more manageable, said spokesperson of the party, Agni Prasad Sapkota. Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda had presented a proposal to this effect in the meeting. He urged the party leaders to give suggestions in different level. With the announcement of the special national conference, the current CC has been dissolved. The ongoing CC would declare the special national conference organizing committee. Read less...

The Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxists Leninist (CPN-UML) and the UCPN-M on January 29 postponed their plan to table a proposal to express commitment to promulgate a new constitution within one year by owning up the achievements of the first Constituent Assembly (CA), reports The Himalayan Times. They decided to postpone the plan after Madhes-based parties said they also wanted to be part of the proposal and Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N), Rastriya Janamorcha and a few parties objected to the whole idea, saying that the new CA ‘as a sovereign body cannot endorse the issues from the previous CA without even bringing them on the table for discussion’. Read less...

The Supreme Court (SC) on January 29 issued summons to Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) lawmaker Lalendra Kumar Mandal for his alleged involvement in a murder, reports Republica. A single bench of Justice Prakash Wasti issued the summons responding to a writ petition filed by advocate Dinesh Tripathi seeking Mandal’s arrest. The charge-sheet filed at the District court states that Lalendra Kumar Mandal, Upendra Mandal Dhanuk, Ganaur Mandal and Chandeshwar Mandal killed Ram Bilas Mandal using sharp weapons on September 1, 2012, at Tikuli Bazaar of Mahottari District. Read less...

The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (UCPN-M) central office comprising top four leaders met in Kathmandu on January 30 along with the in-charges of different bureaus and decided to propose to the ongoing central committee meeting that all the lower committees be dissolved, reports The Himalayan Times. According to senior leaders, the meeting also decided to organize a national conference in April to restructure the central committee by downsizing the existing 268-strong apex body of the party to two-digits. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) on January 31 asked NC to come up with a “suitable proposal” that will facilitate a “package deal” for the formation of a consensus Government, reports Nepal News. A standing committee meeting of CPN-UML held in Lalitpur District decided to make such a request to NC, the largest party in the CA, in order to ensure a “respectable position” for the party in a possibly NC-led consensus Government. Read less...

Sushil Koirala on January 31 said if a consensus Government could not be formed then the majority Government would have support from most of the parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA), reports The Himalayan Times. Koirala stated that the parties in the CA are unanimously saying the NC should form the new Government in its leadership. Read less...