Nepal

Cadres of political parties clashing with security personnel during a protest in Baneshwor, on Monday, April 29, 2019. Photo: Naresh Krishna Shrestha/THT

Kathmandu, April 29

Dozens of cadres of various fringe parties and organisations today demonstrated at Baneshwor against the recent circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairto district administration offices ordering them to issue citizenship by descent to children of those who had acquired citizenship by birth.

The protest turned violent as the agitating participants tried to breach the prohibited zone at Baneshwor towards the federal Parliament hall.

Leaders of Rastriya Janamorcha, Communist Party of Nepal (Masal), CPN (ML), Jana Samajbadi Party and members of organisations such as Save Upper Karnali Campaign participated in the protest programme.

They had marched to Baneshwor from Maitighar. The agitating group also burned a copy of the circular that asked the authorities to issue citizenship of descent to children of citizenship by birth.

The Home Ministry had issued the circular on April 2.

The circular was then vacated by a single bench of Justice Purushottam Bhandari on April 8, acting on a writ petition filed by Senior Advocate Bal Krishna Neupane of the Supreme Court.

The interim order issued by Justice Bhandari, however, was again vacated on April 16 by a division bench of Justice Hari Krishna Karki and Bam Kumar Shrestha.

It is estimated that there are around 170,042 citizens by birth.

Kathmandu, April 29

A secretariat meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) held here today discussed the land grab allegation levelled against the partyGeneral Secretary Bishnu Paudel.

Former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal told THT that party leaders discussed the issue and agreed that the party should study the case before clarifying its stance on the issue.

Media reports had stated that Paudel illegally purchased eight ana land in his sonname in Baluwatar area. Paudel has, however, said that he and his family had done nothing wrong in the land purchase deal.

Khanal also said party leaders suggested that the government bring its policies and programmes in a way that would win peoplehearts and minds and support the cause of socialism as envisioned by the constitution.

NCP Spokesperson Narayan Kaji Shrestha said party leaders discussed Paudelissue in an informal meeting and told Paudel to present his side of the story with data to back his arguments.

Shrestha said party leaders also decided to the tell the government to bring the governmentpolicies and programmes in line with the partymanifesto and also incorporate new policies that could give people the feel of an epochal political change.

Party leaders also told Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to include policies that could help the government effectively check corruption and increase the governmentefficiency in spending the capital allocated for development work.

&We want the governmentpolicies to match the spirit of the constitution that envisions socialism,& he said.

Kathmandu, April 29

Acting General Secretary of Nepal Student Union Kundan Raj Kafle today filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court demanding that education up to Grade XII should be fully free as per the spirit of the constitution.

The petitioner argued that as per Article 31 of the constitution, students had the right to attain education up to Grade XII free of cost but local levels across the country were imposing fees on students in violation of the constitutional provision. &At least 50 local levels, including metropolis and sub-metropolis have passed laws and regulations fixing fee structures for different levels,& Kafle told THT.

He said that Kathmandu metropolis also recently imposing fee structures for private schools which was also a violation of the constitutional provision.

&Education Rules state that private schools can run classes, but that does not mean private schools should collect fees from pupils,& Kafle said.

Kathmandu, April 29

Conflict victims and civil society members today staged a demonstration at Maitighar Mandala, demanding amendment to the Transitional Justice Act.

The agitating conflict victims have demanded that the act be amended in line with the verdicts issued by the Supreme Court at different times. They have also urged the government to equip the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons with necessary resources — human and financial.

The Supreme Court has ruled that there should not be amnesty for grave human rights violations such as extra-judicial killing, enforced disappearance, torture, rape and other acts of sexual violence; the statute of limitations for grave offences must be removed; cases recommended by the TRC and the CIEDP must be prosecuted; torture and enforced disappearance must be criminalised through enactment of laws; cases before the court cannot be transferred to the TRC or the CIEDP; dignified and respectable reparation for victims; and no reconciliation without the consent of victims.

The conflict victims also demanded that the members and chairpersons of both transitional justice bodies be appointed only after amending the act.

The government has formed a five-member committee led by former chief justice Om Prakash Mishra to recommend members and chairpersons of both the transitional justice body.

Moreover, the victims have demanded their meaningful representation in both the transitional justice bodies.

Lamenting the prolonged transitional justice process in Nepal, civil society members and other participants said this would promote impunity in the country. The conflict victims further informed that they would continue the protest until their demands were met.