Kathmandu, March 7, 2008

The CPN-Maoist today made public its election manifesto. Party chairman Prachanda unveiled the manifesto with the theme entitled “New Ideology and New Leadership for a New Nepal.”

The manifesto proposes a three-tier political structures - centre, autonomous federal states and local bodies — with specific rights and responsibility among them. The party has proposed 11 autonomous federal states and two other sub-states within them keeping in mind the country’s ethnic composition, geographical contiguity, linguistic base and economic viability. Seti-Mahakali and Bheri-Karnali federal states have been proposed based on their geographical appropriateness while the rest-Magarat, Tharuwan, Tamuwan, Newa:, Tamsaling, Kirat, Limbuwan, Kochila and Madhes — have been proposed based on ethnicity (See the map).

Within the Madhes autonomous state, three sub-states — Mithila, Bhojpura and Awadh — have also been proposed on linguistic basis. The party has proposed making the country’s president more powerful than the PM. The party has proposed electing the executive president directly by the people while the PM shall be elected by MPs at the centre.

There shall be a bicameral legislature at the centre and unicameral legislature in federal states. Members of the Lower House of the central legislature shall be elected on the basis of population of the given districts while the Upper House shall have an equal members from all the federal states.

The president shall act as head of the state, commander-in-chief of the national army and the chief executive. The prime minister shall bear the responsibility of the government and its daily administration.

NA takes up security of airports, customs

Kathmandu, March 7, 2008

Nepal Army has taken up the responsibility of providing security to 16 vital installations that include airports, telecommunication towers and customs offices.

Addressing a press briefing today, Brigadier General and spokesperson for the Nepal Army Ramindra Chhetri said as the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police who were earlier providing security to these installations are now mobilised for the Constituent Assembly election, Nepal Army has taken up the task of security at these places.

The army also made public its activities including infrastructure development, predominately road construction, in the rural areas of the country within the next six months. The roads the construction of which began at the beginning of the current fiscal include Surkhet-Jumla, Beni-Jomsom, Besisahar-Chame, Chinchu-Jagarkot, Devsthal-Kainkada and Musikot-Burtiwad roads.

Brigadier General Rudra Bista, in-charge of the infrastructure development section of the army, said Nepal Army’s participation in development activities would help the army to build its positive image among the public even in the far corners of the country.