KATHMANDU: The government has decided to bestow martyr status on security personnel serving in Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force or National Investigation Bureau, civil servants and government teachers killed during the 10-year armed conflict.

A Cabinet meeting today took a decision to this effect and directed all agencies to submit records of those killed during the conflict, according to Minister for Information and Communications Mohan Bahadur Basnet, who is also the spokesperson for the government.

“The government took the decision amid complaints that the government had been unjust with those killed during the conflict while serving its agencies, while majority of Maoist cadres killed were already declared martyrs,” he said. “The government does not have exact data on the number of its staffers killed during insurgency. It has asked all its agencies to submit records.”

More than 16,000 individuals were killed during the Maoist insurgency that lasted from 1996 to 2006.

The CPN-UML condemned the government decision taken at a time when the National Assembly election code of conduct was in force and the silence period had already begun.

“Staying mum all these months and taking such a decision when the election code of conduct and silence period is in force suggests that the government move is politically motivated and guided by vested interest,” said UML Spokesperson Pradeep Gyawali. “We have been saying that the government does not have any authority to take such illegal and immoral decisions.”

The Cabinet also decided to extend the tenure of High-Level Education Commission by four months.

(UPDATED)

Cabinet meeting ends with three major decisions

KATHMANDU: The Cabinet meeting held on Monday has decided to declare the Nepal Army personnel, Armed Police personnel, Nepal Police, civil servants and teachers who lost their lives during the insurgency period as martyrs, Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa informed.

Moreover, Thapa said that the meeting has also passed a decision to extend the term of Truth and Reconciliation Council and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons by one year.

Likewise, the Centre has also made it mandatory for assembly marshals in the Province 2 to follow the dress code and wear Daura Suruwal and Sari Cholo during assembly saying that they were government officials.

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