Kathmandu, January 8, 2007

Top leaders of the seven-party alliance and the CPNMaoist today decided to promulgate the “Interim Constitution of Nepal, 2063 B.S” on January 15 and also to ratify it by the interim legislature-parliament on the same day.

The leaders took this decision at a high-level meeting of the eight political parties held at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar.

According to the November 8 agreement, the interim constitution was scheduled to come into force on November 26. But the leaders could manage to ink the interim constitution only on December 16.

A joint press statement issued by the alliance and the Maoist leaders has also appealed to all the political parties, civil society and the people to contribute their level best to hold the constituent assembly election in June in a free, fair and peaceful manner.

The leaders have also called for moving ahead and reaching an all-party consensus at the district level for the purpose of collecting voters’ list, distributing citizenship certificates and maintaining law and order in society.

“For this purpose, we express our commitment to extend necessary co-operation to send VDC secretaries to villages and re-establish police outposts,” said the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.

The leaders have also called upon the people to put up demands and complaints in a peaceful way and find solution to problems through dialogue and consensus.

Telecentres set up in 10 districts

The National Information Technology Centre (NITC) and Forum for Information and Technology (FIT) have established 10 school telecenters in 10 districts with assistance of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

KOICA representatives today handed over the equipment for the telecentres established in Kavre, Bhaktapur, Dhading, Lalitpur, Palpa, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Siraha, Morang and Nuwakot were today handed over to Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Man Bahadur Biswokarma. Speaking at the handover ceremony Minister Biswokarma said: “This endeavour will help empower people by providing the access to information technology (IT) to people.”

He said the government is ready to provide any sort of help for the promotion of IT. PH Kim from the KOICA said the Korean government will always support the development of information, communication and technology (ICT) in Nepal, if this project becomes successful.

“General people and students from rural areas will be integrated to the circle of IT users to reduce the digital divide between the city dwellers and rural people,” said Allen Bailochan Tuladhar, president of the FIT.

The telecentres will help make Internet accessible to the people who do not have electricity in their areas,” Tuladhar told this daily.