Kalikot, May 21, 2008

A civilian who was killed on Saturday by a group of 22 persons in Kalikot has been identified as an activist of the Nepali Congress while the group that killed him has been identified as the cadres of the CPN-Maoist.

The group led by local Maoist cadre Anga Bahadur BK killed Jaya Lal Bam, a resident of Khin VDC-3, on Saturday. Bam’s family has filed a case in the district police office against the 22 Maoist cadres, including BK. In the case, the kin have said the Maoists killed Bam after a minor dispute over land.

Issuing a press statement today, NC district unit confirmed that the deceased was an active cadre of the party. The party alleged Maoist cadres Kashiram BK and Nanda BK were among the 22 involved in the murder. Bam was hit with an axe on the forehead when his family attempted to cultivate a land seized by the Maoists in the past, said his brother Jashe Bahadur. Bam had returned to the village to utilise the land after Maoists agreed to return seized property as per the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the NC statement added.

A police team from Thirpu Area Police Office brought Bam’s body at Manma, the district headquarters, on Monday, for post-mortem. Though police had arrested Anga Bahadur who had sustained minor injury, he fled from the district hospital on Monday evening, a police source said.

“BK fled from the hospital when we went to the Karnali River for my brother’s funeral,” Jashe Bahadur said. He suspected police hand in BK’s escape.

NC, UML, MJF one on statute amendment

Kathmandu, May 21, 2008

The Nepali, Congress, CPNUML and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum held tripartite talks at Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on contemporary political issues. Prior to the meeting, the NC and the UML also held a bilateral meeting here today.

NC leaders Amod Upadhyay, Ram Chandra Poudel, UML leaders Jhalanath Khanal, Bharat Mohan Adhikari and MJF leaders Upendra Yadav, Bijay Kumar Gachhadar and Renu Yadav represented their respective parties in the trilateral dialogue.

According to Adhikari all three parties agreed to celebrate the execution of republican agenda with great fanfare, advocate for a ceremonial president and vice president, remove ‘seven- party’ from the interim constitution and replace the provision requiring two-third majority in the Constituent Assembly to form a government with simple majority.

MJF coordinator Upendra Yadav confirmed that they agreed on aforesaid issues. “We (NC, UML and MJF) are nearing consensus. It seems we can break the stalemate if the Maoists are ready for the compromise,” he said.

UML leader Adhikari said that all the leaders agreed to make the declaration of republic a big event. “We want to declare the country a republic amidst a function,” he said.