Kathmandu, May 18, 2006

The House of Representatives today unanimously passed a historic declaration announcing itself as the sovereign body of the nation, substituting ‘His Majesty’s Government’ with ‘Nepal Government’ and declaring the country a secular state.

The nine-point declaration of the HoR, 2006, also curtailed the King’s powers. Now onwards, the House will promulgate, amend and annul laws related to the heir to the throne.

The king’s private property and income would be taxed and the palace budget, allowances and facilities would be decided by the House. The declaration, proposed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, stated that the King’s actions can be questioned in the House as well as in a court of law.

It announced the transformation of the Rajprasad Sewa (Royal Palace Service) to a civil service body, while security arrangements for the palace would be made by the Cabinet.

All executive powers earlier exercised by the King and the Cabinet in accordance with Article 35 (2) of the Constitution, will now be vested solely in the Cabinet, the declaration sated.

The House rechristened the ‘Royal Nepalese Army’ as ‘Nepalese Army’ and scrapped the existing provisions regarding the National Security Council and the title of the Supreme Commander in-Chief.The King was earlier, the Supreme Commander in-Chief of the RNA.

The Cabinet has been given the authority to appoint the army chief.

A National Security Council headed by the Prime Minister would control and mobilse the Army, which would be an inclusive and national institution.

SAARC to set up Point of National Inquiry

The meeting of SAARC nations organised by the SAARC Secretariat Kathmandu from May 16 and 17, has decided to set up a Point of National Inquiry (PNI) to document information related to non-tariff barriers facing the export sector in their respective countries.

Regarding non-tariff issues, SAARC countries’ representatives at the sub-group meeting have finalised ‘terms of reference’ to work on the same, said a source at the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies while talking to The Himalayan Times.

In Nepal, the ministry of industry, commerce and supplies has identified Nepal Bureau of Standard and Metrology (NBSM) as the PNI to collect information on non-tariff barriers and act accordingly.

The meeting in the capital was held as per the decision of a meeting of committee of experts (CoE) and ministerial level meet held in Dhaka from April 18 to 19.

The meeting had given a mandate to hold subcommittee meeting on non-tariff barriers as SAARC nations had already faced difficulties in the export sector.

The same meeting had also decided to identify non-tariff barriers by finalising a term of reference between member countries.