Free Suu Kyi: GPK

KATHMANDU: Girija Prasad Koirala, President of the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister, issuing a statement in the Capital on Monday, appealed for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, a democratic leader of Myanmar. In the statement, Koirala expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar engaged in the democratic struggle and asked the government of Myanmar to restore human rights as well as democratic rights. Aung San Suu Kyi's extended house arrest is affecting her health, Koirala said. — HNS

ICJ's plea to govt

Kathmandu: Justice Zakeria Mohammed Yacoob, South African Constitutional Court Judge, on Monday urged the Nepali government to ensure economic, social and cultural rights to the people in the new constitution. Addressing a press conference organised by the International Commission of Jurists in the Capital, he urged the government to ensure fundamental rights such as rights to health, food and housing. He said the provision of fundamental rights in the South African Constitution guaranteed rights to the marginalised people. He emphasised the need for provisions such as housing to homeless people and medical treatment for those suffering from HIV/AIDS. ICJ will host a workshop on Tuesday in Kathmandu for Constituent Assembly members to highlight the importance of economic, social and cultural rights for the people in the new constitution. — HNS

Maoists held

KATHMANDU: Police on Monday arrested two persons on the charge of their involvement in assaulting outgoing GM of Industrial Estate Management Limited Giriraj Bhandari in Balaju on Sunday. Those arrested are Bikash Rai and Khadga Bahadur Tamang, police said. A public offence case has been lodged against the duo. Runwar said the mastermind of the attack, Rajaram Thakuri, was still at large. The union activists affiliated to the UCPN-Maoist had barged into a press conference and manhandled the outgoing captains of the state-owned industries, leaving four persons injured. —HNS