Kathmandu, January 30:

Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara said today that the government was going to introduce essential ordinances as per the constitution.

Talking to mediapersons after addressing a function held to mark the 25th anniversary of the state-owned Nepal Television, Mahara, who is also the government spokesperson, said the government was coming up with some crucial ordinances.

“The government is doing its job within the constitutional limitation,” he said. Mahara also said the government was all set to introduce ordinances on the cases of disappearances, investment board, special economic zone and inclusive and proportional recruitment of people in all government institutions. He said that nobody should get panicked, as those ordinances would be presented to the next session of parliament for approval.

Addressing the function, Mahara urged the NTV staffers to use the freedom of expression for the national interest and people.

“We fought against all forms of feudalism and for the protection of national interests. So, the media — state-owned or privately-run — should promote national interests and act as voices of the people,” he said. The media should not be misused to serve foreign interests, he said. He said the government was of the view that the state should not run any media. “But the media should not act merely as a commercial tool in the name of free press,” he said, urging the media to play a positive role for drafting constitution on time and for bringing the peace process to a logical conclusion.

GPK smells a totalitarian plot

Kathmandu: Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala on Friday flayed the government for issuing ordinances immediately after the end of parliamentary session by, what he called, trampling the parliamentary process. Issuing a statement, Koirala cautioned the government to stop anarchic and autocratic activities. “Issuing the ordinance to form the commission on disappearance without making any consensus and consultations exposes the government’s bad intention,” Koirala said.

Koirala issued the statement after an informal meeting of NC office-bearers and leaders at his residence, Maharajgunj, this morning.

“The government’s move shows its totalitarian motives,” he said.

Koirala also appealed the political parties, civil society and the people to save the country from such erroneous activities against sustainable peace and democratic values and system. He also said the country was being pushed towards wider crisis and conflict contrary to people’s expectation for peace and harmony after the CA elections. — HNS

Undemocratic move: ICJ

KATHMANDU: The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) on Friday urged the government to ensure democratic process to promulgate laws in the country.

Opposing the issuance of ordinances, the international jurists’ body called on the government not to issue the bills on Commission on Disappearance and Truth and Reconciliation through ordinances.

“Such legislations should be promulgated through regular democratic process and not through the executive ordinances,” the ICJ stated in a press release. It also urged the government to follow the process of broad national consultation and fulfil Nepal’s human rights obligation.

The ICJ also expressed serious concerns about the state of impunity and the situation of transitional justice. — HNS