MP’s call to draft national security policy

Kathmandu, July 27:

Members of Parliament (MPs) today asked the government to clarify the reason behind the delay in publicising the Rayamajhi report even after the ruling of the Speaker.

Speaker Subas Chandra Nembang had, on July 24, issued a ruling to the government to publicise the Rayamajhi report immediately.

MPs, including Leela Mani Pokhrel of the Janamorcha Nepal, reiterated in the Parliament to issue directive to the government to publicise the Rayamajhi report, which had indicted 202 people, including members of the Council of Ministers-led by king Gyanendra, for suppressing the Jana Andolan II. Krishna Jung Rayamajhi, chairman of the High Level Investigation Commission, had submitted the report to the government some seven months ago.

MP Sabitri Dura of the CPN-Maoist asked Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel to clarify the government’s views on disappearances. She called Poudel to resign if he cannot publicise the actual data on disappearances.

MP Leela Nychain of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party asked the major parties to stop resorting to “cheap slogans” in the name of “Mukti Morchas” (liberation fronts). She warned that such cheap slogans to garner “cheap popularity” will only fuel the disintegration of the country. CPN-UML MP Raghuji Pant suggested the government to work out a national security policy to improve what he called the “deteriorating” security and law and order situation.

“The morale and confidence of the security

forces has declined and the security situation is complicated,” Pant said. He asked the government and the eight parties to stop political intervention to boost up the morale of the security forces.

“If political intervention is not stopped, they (the security forces) cannot perform well.”

Pant also asked the government to make clear its policy and strategy on talks with the agitating factions. “What is the government’s policy and strategy to deal with the factions who are trying to disintegrate the country?” he asked.

MP Pant earlier said he will not speak unless Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula comes to the Parliament. He started speaking only after Sitaula was called to the session. MPs asked the government to provide relief materials and compensation to the victims of landslides and floods.

They also asked the government to initiate talks with the Indian side regarding the Laxmanpur barrage, which they claim is one of the major reasons for the inundation in some parts of the bordering districts of the Tarai.