Kathmandu, April 27, 2006

Senior leaders of the seven-party alliance today vowed to meet people’s  aspirations on the issue of election to the constituent assembly and to  begin the process in the very first session of the reinstated House of  Representatives beginning tomorrow. Addressing a huge gathering at Khula  Manch, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress  (NC) vice president Sushil Koirala, president of Janamorcha Nepal Amik  Sherchan, president of NC (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal  Workers’ and Peasants’ Party president Narayan Man Bijukchhe and Bharat  Bimal Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandi) pledged to hold election  to unconditional constituent assembly. Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala was conspicuous by his absence as he did not turn up at the venue to address the masses because of “health reasons”. Piqued by his absence some people even pelted stones and hooted when Sushil  Koirala came to address the gathering. Nepal said CPN-UML would take to the streets again if the issue of constituent assembly was side-stepped.  The UML chief also suggested that the new all-party government must change the name of the Royal Nepal Army to Nepal Army and that it should purely remain under the purview of the Parliament. He urged the Maoists to join the mainstream. Sherchan acknowledged the role of the Maoists in the success of mass movement.

Peers want ‘brutal’ chief secy punished

Kathmandu,April 27, 2006

Various civil servants’ organisations and senior government officials today urged the upcoming government to punish chief secretary Lok Man Singh  Karki for his role in suppressing the people’s movement. Addressing a programme at the Reporters’ Club, chairman of the Civil Servant’s Union Bhawani Prasad Thani said Karki should resign from his post as he was not fit to serve the people’s government. “If he refuses to resign, the new government should sack him,” Thani said. He also added that the union has detailed information about those persons who played a role in suppressing the people’s movement. He added that good governance would be achieved only if the new government dares to punish those who misuse their posts and powers. Chairman of the Civil Servants’ Organisation Murari Bhattarai also asked Karki to resign, saying that otherwise the organisation would launch protests to demand action against him. He also demanded action against those pro palace civil servants, who had used their bureaucratic power to curb the people’s right to participate in the peaceful democraticmovement. Chairman of the Centre for Administration and Management Development Dilli Shivakoti said,“When the  movement was on, Karki had told us that he could not work with us.