News from Nepal

Holding timely CA polls top priority in govt's CMP

Kantipur Report

KATHMANDU, April 10 - The newly formed interim government Tuesday said that holding the elections to the Constituent Assembly by the stipulated time was its primary policy. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel made the remarks while presenting the government's Common Minimum Program (CMP) including the annual programmes and policies at today's sitting of the Interim Legislature-Parliament. Minister Poudel presented the government's policies in the absence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala owing to the latter's ill health. The CMP, which was finalised by a meeting of top eight parties, has primarily laid great stress on holding independent and free elections to the constitutional assembly. The programme has also given top priority to the promotion of national interest, loktantra and progression; improvement of security situation; change and reforms in all state systems and immediate relief for conflict-hit people. The major points in the CMP include, promotion of competitive politics, human rights and press freedom, strict implementation of the peace accord and formation of peace and rehabilitation, truth and reconciliation, and state restructuring commissions. Similarly, the CMP has also suggested an action plan to democratize the Nepali Army, a special cabinet committee to oversee, integrate and rehabilitate Maoist combatants in addition to stressing on a proper management of Maoist cantonments. The program plans to end all sorts of red-tapism, strikes, bandas, corruption and implement the eight party decision to nationalize royal property. Similarly, the government's annual plan also includes reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure, declaration of education and health institutions as peace zones, creation of an investment-friendly environment, and initiate strong action against willful defaulters in addition to tying up the loose ends in acting against those found guilty of suppressing the April uprising by the Rayamajhi Commission.