Nepal: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2017

Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Revolutionary (CPN-Maoist Revolutionary) on January 1 has merged with Communist Nucleus Nepal, reports Republica. CPN-Maoist Revolutionary Chairman Mohan Baidya and Communist Nucleus Nepal Coordinator Bhupendra Neupane announced the merger amid a program in Kathmandu.  Addressing the event, Baidya underscored the need for waging and concluding people's revolution to establish scientific socialism in the country while pitching for a unity among communist parties to save the country and its nationality from foreign interference. Likewise, Neupane stressed the need for saving the country from division and fulfilling aspirations of the people that followed political change.  Read less...

CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel speaking in a program organized by Press Chautari Nepal, Kathmandu on January 1 said that the constitution amendment bill cannot be discussed in the parliament, as it is against the constitution, reports Republica . Pokharel added that the proposal was against the integrity and sovereignty of the nation and even against the public sentiment. He committed not to let the bill be discussed in the parliament. However, parliament business will resume in other agendas if the Government withdraws the bill. Read less...

Sadbhawana Party (SP) Chairperson Rajendra Mahato speaking at a press meet organized by Press Forum in Siraha District on January 1 warned all to beware of secessionist forces that would rise in the country if the statute amendments move and federalism failed, reports The Himalayan Times. “As constitution amendment is a must to address the concerns of Madhesi communities, it must happen at any cost for the welfare of the large community,” said Mahato. He also warned of launching a campaign against the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) in the plains if disruption of House proceedings continued. He called on the main opposition to sit for dialogue instead of prolonging the obstruction.  Read less...

The ruling coalition on January 1 decided to table the constitution amendment bill in parliament despite the obstruction by the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and eight other fringe parties, reports Republica. "We'll make an attempt to table the amendment bill at Monday's House meeting. We'll try to convince the main opposition and develop a consensus with them. However, we cannot wait forever. Obstructing the House and not letting the government to present bills could not be termed a democratic practice. I hope, the speaker will hold a meeting to develop consensus to end the obstruction. If the obstruction goes on for an inordinate period, we'll try to table the bill despite the obstruction," said Chinkaji Shrestha, the chief-whip of the Nepali Congress (NC). Read less...

Supreme Court on January 2 cleared the decks for the Government to endorse the second Constitution amendment bill as it decided that an interim order should not be issued staying the bid, reports The Himalayan Times. A division bench of Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Ishwor Prasad Khatiwada issued the order that the Judiciary could not bar the Legislative from using its wisdom in the formulation of legislation on the basis of the principle of separation of powers. The bench was responding to two writs filed separately by advocate Tikadhwaj Khadka and five others including Bishnu Bahadur Raut. Read less...

Tharuhat Joint Struggle Committee on January 2 announced the second phase of protest programmes demanding a separate Tharuhat state, including Kailali and Kanchanpur through statute amendment, reports The Himalayan Times. Organising a press meet in Dhangadi, the Committee announced fresh protest programmes, including regional meet, awareness campaign, mass meeting and general strikes. Read less...

The meeting of the Legislature-Parliament scheduled for 1 pm on January 3 has been postponed till January 8, reports Republica on January 3. The Parliament Secretariat deferred the meeting till 1 pm on January 8 by pasting a notice. The main opposition, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), has been obstructing the parliament meeting since over a month demanding with the Government to withdraw the constitution amendment bill. Read less...

a meeting of the CPN-UML Standing Committee was held on January 3 to assess the situation following the Supreme Court ruling clearing the decks for the Government to endorse the second Constitution amendment bill, reports Republica. CPN-UML proposed withdrawing the proposal concerning provincial boundary revisions from the constitution amendment bill in order to find a consensus among the major political parties. “We have reservations over the other provisions also. But we are ready to allow the holding of discussions on the other provisions if the proposal concerning provincial boundary revisions is withdrawn,” CPN-UML Standing Committee Member Shanker Pokharel told.  Read less...

claiming that the CPN-UML’s repeated obstruction in the House meetings has threatened the Madhes’ rights, Sadbhawana Party (SP) Chairman Rajendra Mahato while speaking at a press meet organized in Rajbiraj on January 3  stated that the time has come to bid the CPN-UML a farewell from the Madhes region, reports The Himalayan Times. “The delineation of the provinces as it is in the Constitution works against the will of the Madhesi and indigenous people here. The UML has been a prime hindrance in our attempt to correct it through an amendment. It is only fair to kick the UML out from the Madhes, since it has been restricting the Madhesis in their own ground,” Mahato added. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on January 3 said that the country would move ahead with polls after forging unity among the mountain, hills and plains, reports The Himalayan Times. Dahal said “It’s high time that we forge consensus among political parties, otherwise, we will face existential crisis. I urge you all not to doubt that House proceedings will resume after consensus among party leaders.” Read less...

Federal Alliance at a meeting held in Kathmandu on January 4 decided to seek amendment to Article 274 that ‘prohibits revision of provincial boundaries without the consent of the provincial assembly concerned’ today said it would accept polls only after the constitution was amended, reports The Himalayan Times. The alliance termed Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)’s obstruction of the House proceedings an undemocratic move. The alliance also stated that it would not accept the constitution amendment bill if it was not revised. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) on January 5 said that the House obstruction will continue until the Government withdraws the constitution amendment bill from the Parliament, reports The Himalayan Times. CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli said “What will the UML do if the government pushes the bill forcefully? Its answer will be tough. We will retaliate accordingly.” Read less...

Top leaders of Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) and United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) at a tripartite meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Kathmandu on January 5 have decided to table the constitution amendment bill at the parliament meeting scheduled for January 8, reports Republica. They decided to table the bill concluding that the Supreme Court’s ruling has cleared path to take the bill forward into the House. The parties also agreed that the Government would receive the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) s report at the earliest and move ahead for local, provincial and federal elections. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli while addressing a mass rally of nine opposition political parties at Exhibition Road in Kathmandu on January 6 has threatened not to let Parliament endorse the constitution amendment bill at any cost, reports Republica. Oli affirmed “The UML will not allow through Parliament any proposal which is against the national interest. Rest assured that the national interest will not be let down as long as the UML is there.” Read less...

Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) on January 6 submitted its report to the Government recommending creation of 719 local bodies across the country, reports The Himalayan Times. The LBRC submitted a 1,718-page report to Minister of Local Development Hitraj Pandey in the presence of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at Singha Durbar. Of the 719 local bodies, 256 (35 per cent) are in 20 Districts of Madhes. As per the report, there will be four metropolitan cities, 12 sub-metropolitan cities, 241 municipalities and 462 village councils. The local bodies will be divided into 6,553 wards. Read less...

Government on January 8 tabled the Constitution Amendment Bill amid protests from opposition party lawmakers, reports The Himalayan Times. The Bill was registered at the Parliament Secretariat on November 29, 2016; but the Government was unable to table it owing to the continuous House obstruction imposed by the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) among other opposition forces. The opposition parties had claimed that the Bill was against national interests and should be withdrawn. Read less...

nine opposition parties including the main opposition CPN-UML on January 8 vowed to thwart the Amendment Bill, reports Republica. “We will allow Parliament to move forward with the election-related bills. But we will protest against the constitution amendment bill. We will not allow this to be endorsed by Parliament. We will stand firmly against it,” said CPN-UML Deputy Parliamentary leader Subas Chandra Nembang.  Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that the constitution amendment bill was tabled in Parliament with the consent of the main opposition, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), reports Republica on January 9. Dahal shared that the bill was forwarded forging a kind of consensus with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in this connection.  Read less...

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli on January 9 claimed that the Constitution amendment bill tabled in the Parliament would not be passed, reports The Himalayan Times. He accused the Government of ignoring the order of the Supreme Court, which had observed that the boundaries of provinces could not be reviewed without any approval from the Province Assembly, by tabling the Constitution amendment bill. Read less...

Parliament on January 9 held uninterrupted meeting after 1 one and half months, reports The Himalayan Times. The opposition parties were protesting the Constitution amendment bill that the Government registered at the House on November 29. However, Minister for Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajaya Shankar Nayak tabled the bill amid the protests on January 8. The opposition lawmakers decided to let the House move with its business as the Speaker Onsari Gharti had not included the amendment bill discussion in the meeting agenda. Read less...

Federal Alliance at meeting in Kathmandu urged all the political parties to pass a revised Constitution Amendment Bill, reports The Himalayan Times on January 11. After the meeting, Federal Alliance Coordinator Upendra Yadav said the Government’s dilly-dallying in moving the process ahead in the House   and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)’s continued obstruction in the House had adversely impacted the implementation of the Constitution and hence the Federal Alliance was holding a national integration campaign to prepare for the next movement. Read less...

Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) member Sunil Ranjan Singh said that complaints are pouring in against LBRC report, reports The Himalayan Times.  “We have been receiving at least a dozen complaints seeking revision of names and boundaries of local bodies,” said Sunil Ranjan Singh. According to Singh, locals have urged LBRC to keep in mind historical and cultural aspects as well as the aspirations of the people while taking decision on the names and boundaries of special, protected and autonomous regions. He said most of the complaints received on phone were from Tarai/Madhes. He said people residing in Tarai-Madhes had been lodging complaints after LBRC furnished its report to the Government. Read less...

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has extended offices in seven federal provinces, reports The Himalayan Times on January 12. All five TRC members, including Chairman Surya Kiran Gurung, visited the sites of the proposed extended offices of TRC and held discussions with relevant stakeholders as how to set up local offices, form investigation team and arrange necessary logistics and resources. These field offices will be set up in Biratnagar for Province No 1; Janakpur for Province 2; Hetauda for Province 3; Pokhara for Province 4; Tulsipur for Province 5; Surkhet for Province 6; and Dipayal for Province 7. Read less...

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said Nepal failed to ensure accountability for human rights abuses during the decade-long Maoist war, reports The Himalayan Times on January 13. “Nepal made little concrete progress on justice for serious abuses committed by both sides during its civil war that ended in 2006,” the report said, adding that efforts to ensure prosecutions in civilian courts for serious human rights and humanitarian law violations during the conflict remain stalled. It further claimed that efforts to enforce rights or provide justice for wartime abuses were stalled due to violent protests in the Tarai in the wake of promulgation of the new constitution in September 2015. Read less...

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) on January 12 informed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal that the indigenous communities would support the Constitution amendment bill recently tabled at the Parliament, reports The Himalayan Times. NEFIN also demanded that various agreements signed with various communities in the past should be implemented. In response, the Prime Minister said concerns of indigenous communities would be addressed considering the political power balance. Read less...

Ruling and the opposition Member of Parliaments (MPs) opposed Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) report for restructuring the local bodies, reports The Himalayan Times on January 13. They also warned that mass protests would break out if the Government failed to correct the boundaries of the local bodies on time. Nepali Congress (NC) lawmaker Deepak Kuinkel said the LBRC report was not in sync with the ground reality. Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party-Nepal (TMSP-N) lawmaker Mahendra Ray Yadav said the LBRC office bearers had restructured local bodies sitting in the capital after they failed to do field work in Province 2. Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) lawmaker Panch Karna Rai said the LBRC recommended some places as local units even though local people had not resorted to such a demand.  Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expedited preparations to induct more Ministers in his cabinet in an apparent bid to garner support of more parties in favor of the Constitution amendment bill, reports Republica on January 14. Highly-placed sources said Prime Minister has already held talks with the top leaders of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MPRF-D) and various fringe parties including the Janashakti Party Loktantrik, Nepal Family Party, Bahujan Shakti Party and Nepa Party to bring them on board the amendment bill. The Government is optimistic that it would be able to secure the required two-thirds majority votes in favor of the bill once the top leaders of these parties currently in the opposition rank are brought on board the Government.  Read less...

the Parliament on January 13 forwarded the Local Level Election Bill to the State Affairs Committee (SAC) prolonging its endorsement process from the House, reports Republica. The Government has been dilly-dallying the announcement of the polls date, stating that it could be announced only after the endorsement of the bills related to election. The SAC has already been delaying finalizing three other election-related bills. Bills related to political parties, voters list and duties, responsibilities of the Election Commission were forwarded to the committee on October 16. However the committee hasn't submitted the bills to the House so far.  Read less...

the ruling coalition and the Madhes-based parties have agreed to work together on further amendment on constitution amendment bill tabled in Parliament, reports Republica on January 14. According to Sadbhavana Party (SP) Chairman Rajendra Mahato, the Madhes-based parties asked the Government for further amendment to the bill in Parliament during their meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other leaders of the ruling coalition. "Responding to our demand for further amendment to the bill, the leaders of the ruling coalition, including the Prime Minister, have agreed to form a taskforce to work on it. The taskforce would finalize what issues should be addressed through further amendment by registering amendment proposals on the bill during the parliamentary process," said Mahato. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Vice-Chairman Bhim Rawal addressing the people’s mobilization campaign for Constitution implementation in Syangja District on January 14 has claimed that the opposition parties would fail the Constitution amendment proposal tabled by the Government in the Legislature-Parliament at any cost, reportsThe Himalayan Times. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal while interacting with Nepalis working in Abu Dhabi, the UAE Capital on January 14 promised Constitution implementation, infrastructure development and prosperity, reports The Himalayan Times. The Prime Minister said, “The government under my leadership has focused Constitution implementation for national unity, infrastructure development and prosperity. The government has prioritized Nepalese living abroad. Experiences and capitals that you acquire here are foundations for Nepal’s development. The government is conscious enough to properly utilize your hard work.” Read less...

a Standing Committee meeting of the CPN-UML held on January 15 announced it is to organize mass rallies in all Tarai Districts beginning March 4, reports Republica. They decided to launch a 15-day campaign from Mechi to Mahakali in order to put an end to allegations that it was against Madhes and the Madhesi people. The decision of the party comes amid warnings from the agitating Madhes-based political parties that they will bar the CPN-UML from entering the southern plains Districts. The UML has stood in opposition to the constitution amendment bill that is currently in Parliament and that the ruling parties have described as their response to the demands of the Madhes-based parties. Read less...

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Federal Alliance and Naya Shakti Nepal in their first meeting in Kathmandu on January 15 to discuss in detail about their working alliance have agreed in principle to forge an alliance to press for the Constitution amendment as per the demands of the Madhesbased parties, reports Republica. "We have agreed in principle to move ahead by forging a working alliance with the Naya Shakti Nepal. Our next meeting scheduled for Thursday will decide in detail on how to move ahead," said General Secretary of National Madhes Socialist Party (NMSP) Keshav Jha. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal addressing a programme organized by the Nepali community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 15 said the existence of Kathmandu (meaning the center) is unimaginable without the presence of the Madhes, reports Republica. "The responsibility of maintaining unity among the mountain, hill and Terai falls upon the shoulders of us all," he said, adding that Kathmandu and Madhes were the indispensable parts. He went to say that the constitution amendment proposal presented to the House was for protecting national unity and integrity. Read less...

city of Parsa District on January 17 (today) said that local elections would be announced after forging an agreement with the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), reports The Himalayan Times. He claimed that none can prevent the proposed amendment of the Constitution as the UDMF would support it. Read less...

Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Democratic (MJFD) Chairman Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar addressing a party cadres’ meet at Madhyaharshahi in Sunsari District on January 17 said that elections were not possible until constitution’s amendment with revision, reports The Himalayan Times. Gachhadar said that elections would not be held without fulfilling people’s demands and ensuring rights adding that constitution’s amendment with revision was needed for this to happen. He was of the view that one more province should be added by amending the Constitution. Currently, there are seven provinces in principle. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal talking to media persons at Tribhuvan International Airport after his arrival home from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 17 said the Government would announce the election date soon based on political agreement, reports The Himalayan Times. Preparations are underway to announce the dates soon, he said, reminding that he had talked to the Election Commission officials before his departure. According to him, they urged the government for bringing in electedrelated laws. Dahal reiterated that all parties’ consensus was essential to the announcement of election dates. Read less...

Election Commission (EC) has said that the local elections will not happen in May-June if issues related to the elections are not settled within the next 10 days, reports Republica on January 19. "If the electoral laws and other technical issues are not settled within the next 10 days, we will not be able to hold any type of election during this summer window. Going by the working style that obtains, we are not so hopeful that the long-standing issues will be sorted out within a short time," said Election Commissioner Ila Sharma. Read less...

Tarai Madhes Sadbhawana Party (TMSP) Chairman Mahendra Raya Yadav speaking at a programme in Lahan of Siraha District on January 18 ruled out chances of statute implementation without ensuring rights to the Madhes, reports The Himalayan Times. “Back then, the major parties issued the statute without addressing the concerns of Madhes. They are still not serious about rectifying the past mistake,” he said, adding there was no option but a stern agitation if the Madhes is not granted its rights through statute amendment. Read less...

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) Politburo member Ved Ram Bhusal speaking at a press conference organized by Press Chautar in Dang District on January 19 said that the Government is not eager to hold election, reports Republica. He accused the Government of trying to circumvent the election by bringing the constitution amendment bill. Read less...

A protestor Binod Pathak was injured in Police firing to take the situation under control that went tense after the locals clashed with Police over the report of the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) in Nuwakot District on January 20, reports Republica. Over 500 cadres from Nepali Congress (NC), Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-Maoist Center) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) demonstrated in front of district headquarters Bidur, demanding that Likhu Village Development Committee (VDC) be created as a separate village council. Read less...

Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) planted a grenade at the main entrance of the residential building of local businessperson Phusraj Dugad in Saptari District in the wee hours January 20, reports The Himalayan Times. Dugad informed Police after he witnessed a black polythene bag at the gate which had an iron piece and some leaflets. Upon investigation, Police had concluded that it was a grenade. Police also recovered the leaflets issued in the name of JTMM led by Jayakrishna Goit. Read less...

Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation, Prem Bahadur Singh speaking at an interaction organized by Reporters Club Nepal in Kathmandu on January 20 said that Constitution will be amended in course of implementation, reports Republica. “Constitution implementation is today’s necessity, it can be amended if any complexity arises in the process of implementation,’’ he said. Read less...

Major three political parties on January 21 agreed in principle on holding local level elections in the fourth week of April, reports Republica. The agreement was reached at a meeting of top leaders of Communist Party of NepalMaoist Centre (CPNMaoist Center), Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist Leninist (CPNUML) called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in a bid to create a favorable environment politically, legally and in terms of security to organize the local level elections at the earliest. The parties also agreed to take initiative to pass the bill related to local bodies, which is under consideration at the Parliamentary Committee, through short process. Read less...

Sanghiya Limbuwan Manch (SLM) Chairman Kumar Lingden speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 3rd District Convention in Panchthar District on January 21 said that they will keep fighting until Limbuwan State is ensured in the Constitution, reports Republica. “Even though we have been demanding Limbuwan State for a long time, Singha Durbar did not pay heed to our demand.  We keep fighting until the Limbuwan State is ensured in the Constitution,” said Lingden. As many as 207 representatives and 11 observers took part in the convention. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on January 22 said that Government will announce the date of local polls within a week and will be conducted by mid-May, reports Republica. “If we fail to conduct the three sets of elections by the end of this year the elected body will lose its authenticity and legitimacy resulting a constitutional vacuum,” he said. Stating that Government has been mulling to bring agitating political parties on board the local election, Dahal further informed that the Government will conclude local, provincial and parliamentary election by the end of this year. Read less...

Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) on January 23 staged a rally demanding the restructuring of local bodies on the basis of population in Birgunj city of Parsa District, reports The Himalayan Times. UDMF said that it had staged the demonstration demanding that the report submitted by the Local Bodies’ Restructuring Commission (LBRC) to the Prime Minister on January 6 be scrapped as it was not based on population and anti-Madhesi. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhi Prasad Yadav and discussed the issues related to fresh elections in local bodies on January 23, reports The Himalayan Times. On the occasion, the Prime Minister asked the CEC to make necessary preparations for the elections, saying he was taking an initiative for the endorsement of election-related bills from the Parliament. Read less...

State Affairs Committee (SAC) of the Parliament on January 23 endorsed two poll related bills – bill relating to powers and functions of the ElecCommission (EC) and the one on voter list, reports The Himalayan Times. The SAC endorsed the bill’s provision that states the EC will communicate with the Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs. The EC had wanted to communicate through the Prime Minister’s Office. Read less...

After the UDMF warning, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on January 24 assured the UDMF that the Government would hold the locallevel election only after amending the constitution, reports Republica. “Prime Minister Dahal has suggested either revising the existing amendment bill or bringing a supplementary amendment, to address our concerns,” said chief whip of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Shivaji Yadav. Read less...

Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) in a meeting held at the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s official residence in Baluwatar, Kathmandu on January 24 warned the Government not to announce election dates unilaterally, reports The Himalayan Times. UDMF leaders demanded that their concerns be addressed first before announcing election dates. “We have told PM Dahal that we will cut-off all relations with the government if election date is announced without our consent,” Sadbhawana Party (SP) Co-chairman Laxman Lal Karna told. Read less...

Inaugurating the Fifth Parbat Mahotsav in Kushma on January 26 the Prime Minister said that no election would be announced without first taking the Madhesi and Tharu communities on board, reports Republica. Dahal said “What could be the point of announcing the election date unless an environment is prepared for holding the elections?” Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurating the Parbat Festival being held at Kushma Bazaar, the District headquarters of Parbat on January 26 issued instructions to the heads of Government offices to start preparations for holding the three-tier elections by January 21, 2018, reports Republica.  He shared that the Government was taking steps to hold local level elections by the last week of the Nepali month of Baisakh, provincial elections in Kartik and the Legislature – Parliament election by the first week of Magh. Read less...

Commissioners at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) are voicing over the TRC’s original tenure of twoyears and held a meeting to discuss extension of its tenure by one year as per the existing law, reports My Republica on January 28. Commissioner Madhavi Bhatta claimed before media that another commissioner, Sri Krishna Subedi, came up with an idea of not extending the tenure and instead preparing a report covering only the work done so far. However, Subedi said his only argument at the meeting was that the TRC should do a review of its tenure of two years before seeking any extension. The TRC was formed on February 11, 2015 with tenure of two years and the law has a provision for extending the tenure by one year. The commission is tasked with investigating cases of human rights violation during the decadelong Maoist insurgency. It was noted that 57,753 complaints from conflict victims are still pending with it. Read less...

Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist Leninist (CPNUML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli speaking with the journalists at Biratnagar airport in Morang District on January 28 underscored the need to hold long overdue local body's election at any cost, reports Republica. Read less...

Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) at a meeting on January 28 decided to launch another round of agitation from February 12 if the constitution amendment bill registered in Parliament is not revised and endorsed by the House by then, reports Republica. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has invited the Madhesi parties for fresh talks, reports The Himalayan Times on January 29. The meeting has been scheduled for 9 am on January 30 at Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Read less...

The United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), on January 28, decided to hold rallies in Tarai Districts on February 5 demanding passage of a revised constitution amendment bill, reports The Himalayan Times. The front will also burn copies of the Local Bodies Restructuring Commission’s report on the same day. General Secretary of Sadbhawana Party (SP) Manish Kumar Suman said a meeting of the front decided to organize protest rallies on February 5 in 22 Tarai Districts to mount pressure on the Government to ensure passage of a revised constitution amendment bill. Read less...

Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) Chairman Upendra Yadav addressing a programme on January 29 said that the constitution must be rewritten, reports The Himalayan Times. He said the need to rewrite Nepal’s constitution as it was full of faults and shortcomings. He further said rewriting the statute was the only way to resolve the ongoing problems. Read less...

Local Bodies Restructuring Commission (LBRC) member Sunil Ranjan Singh said changing LBRC report without its implementation would be unconstitutional, reports The Himalayan Times on January 30. Singh said the commission itself could not revise the document and the Government needed to form a separate task force to make necessary changes in the report, which could make holding of local polls by May impossible. He said that the LBRC has no time and additional capacity to revise the report.On January 6, the LBRC had submitted its report on the number and boundaries of local bodies to the Government. But, the cabinet meeting held on January 27 refused to endorse the report saying that further consultation was needed on the report among political parties. Read less...

SemThe Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP) on January 29 stated that it had also recommended to the Government to extend its term by one year, reports The Himalayan Times. CIEDP spokesperson Bishnu Pathak said the commission had been preparing to start data collection from midFebruary. Read less...

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) at a meeting held in Kathmandu on January 29 sought extension of its tenure by one year, reports The Himalayan Times. TRC member Madhabi Bhatta said “We have decided to recommend to the government to extend the TRC’s term. As per the constitution, the Cabinet can extend TRC’s tenure by one year. Only the Parliament can take a decision on further extension of the TRC’s tenure.” TRC’s two-year term expires on February 9. The commission has to investigate more than 58,052 complaints of rights violation that allegedly took place during the decade-long Maoist insurgency. Read less...

Prime Minister (PM) Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a meeting with the leaders of the Madhesbased parties on January 30 asked four questions with regard to ending the ongoing political deadlock and urged them to come up with clear answers, reports Republica. The PM asked them what would be their reaction if the Government made preparations for election and announced election date after completing the process for constitution amendment. Likewise, Dahal asked the Madhesbased parties if they would participate in the elections even if the parliament rejected the amendment bill. The PM also asked them whether or not the agitating parties would be ready for local polls if some reasonable changes are made to the report of the local level restructuring commission in line with their demands. Similarly, the PM informed the Madhesbased leaders that the ruling coalition is ready to address their demand for making further changes to the amendment bill only on the issues of language of official business and removing village council chairperson, vice chairperson, municipality mayor and deputymayor from the Electoral College, which elects members of the National Assembly. PM Dahal also made it clear that the ruling coalition was not able to make any changes to the provincial delineation more than what has been proposed in the amendment bill but that he was ready to settle other delineation disputes through the Federal Delineation Commission. However, Madhesbased leaders insisted that the PM must ensure passage of the amendment bill before declaring the election date. Read less...

Foreign Affairs Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat while appraising the Kathmandu-based foreign envoys on January 31 said that Nepal is holding all three-tier of elections — local, provincial and parliamentary — within the next one year in order to meet the constitutional deadline, reports The Himalayan Times. Mahat also said the Government was also trying to bring Madhesi and opposition parties on board to pass the constitution amendment bill. Ambassadors and heads of missions of all bilateral and multilateral missions — including ambassadors of India, China, USA, Germany, Japan and EU as well as UN resident coordinator, were present at the briefing. Read less...

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhi Prasad Yadav on January 31 directed the officials concerned to start making necessary preparations for the local elections, reports The Himalayan Times. Yadav claimed that the Election Commission (EC) of Nepal was capable of holding all elections in local, provincial and federal level. Being a responsible body, he said, the EC would do everything possible to build a conducive environment needed for the elections. Read less...

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal while meeting a delegation from the National Dalit Liberation Front (NDLF) at his official residence in Kathmandu on January 31 stated that he is committed to resolve the issues that the Dalit communities in Nepal have faced, reports The Himalayan Times. After receiving a memorandum on the alleged murders of Laxmi Pariyar and Ajit Mijar, Prime Minister Dahal assured that the culprits behind their deaths would be booked soon. He said the bereaved families would be provided with relief package also. Read less...