Kathmandu, July 20, 2007

Today’s meeting between the Special Representative of UN Secretary General Ian Martin, Maoist chairman Prachanda and the members of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee could not decide the dates for resuming the second stage for verification in Sindhuli.

“The meeting was positive but the date to resume verification in Sindhuli is yet to be fixed. JMCC would decide the dates after necessary preparation,” said the Maoist Deputy Commander Nanda Kishor Pun. They could not even decide on discharging the Maoist combatants who would be disqualified during the second stage of verification.

“We’re to discharge them only after the government or the agencies concerned make necessary arrangements for a decent living for those disqualified after they leave the camp,” said Pun. He said the Maoists want a “package” deal and the Special Committee formed by the interim government would arrange for those likely to be discharged from the camp.

Asked if United Nations Mission in Nepal agreed to review the number of those who were rejected in Chula Chuli camp in Ilam, Pun added that they were identifying ways to resolve the issue.

UNMIN, however, has made it clear that any review of a limited number of cases could be based solely on two criteria set in the Agreement on Monitoring the Management of Arms and Armies.

Look beyond seniority to pick CJ: AG

Attorney General Yagya Murti Banjade today said the next Chief Justice should have a capacity to steer clear the judiciary of the controversies dogging it.

Talking to this daily, Banjade said a judge with a clean image should be appointed the next CJ. Debate is on in the legal circles regarding the appointment of the next CJ as incumbent CJ Dilip Kumar Paudel will take compulsory retirement on September 7.

Five Supreme Court Justices — Kedar Prasad Giri, Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Anup Raj Sharma, Ram Prasad Shrestha and Khil Raj Regmi — are in line for the post. Each has more than three years of experience in the SC, a condition set by Article 103 of the Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007 to be the CJ. “I’ll make my recommendation to the PM before the appointment, but I cannot make my choice public,” Banjade added.

“We should not ignore anyone without valid reasons,” he said. According to a source close to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the process to appoint the CJ would begin in the first week of August so that the parliamentary hearing would be over before Justice Paudel retires.

“The Constitutional Council should consider a person who can lead the judiciary through difficult times,” Banjade added.