These include National Assembly Members Election Bill-2075, Commission on Investigation of Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIED) and Truth and Reconciliation (First Amendment) Bill -2075 and other bill pertaining to the job descriptions and benefits of the House of Representatives (HoR) Secretary and National Assembly Secretary-2075.

HoR passed the transitional justice bill in a meeting on July 02, 2018.

The bill entitled ‘Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (First Amendment) Bill’ replaces the ordinance formed by the erstwhile Deuba-led Nepal Government and extends the tenure of two transitional justice mechanisms: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and CIEDP.

Prior to the latest move, both the houses have passed the bill and had sent it to President Bhandari for endorsement.

This is not only about the two commissions, it is also about the peace process. The peace process will not end without settling conflict era cases, says Sher Bahadur Tamang, Minister of Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs

So far, CIEDP has received a total of 3,093 complaints, of which, it recommended 2,258 complaints for detailed investigation after completing preliminary investigations, and more than 250 complaints are currently under detailed investigation.

On the other side, there are also 60,000 complaints on TRC table and 7,000 of them are currently under investigation. The commission has set up at least one office in every province for the task.

Landmark Bill Receives Nod

In another major parliamentary update, the long-awaited landmark National Medical Education Bill-2075 also received a nod recently for further approval through ordinary legislative procedure.

The government placed the Bill in the House on July 01, 2018 and has been taken ahead for parliamentary process with all-round support from all political parties including opposition for its endorsement.

As a replacement to the National Medical Education Ordinance issued by the government around eight months ago, the new Bill is being considered as the need of the hour for the nation towards addressing issues in the field of country’s medical education and healthcare sector as a whole.

This update comes as a good news for all the related stakeholders including doctors from reputed medical and healthcare departments of the country who have been relentlessly fighting for reforms in medical education the same led by the country’s renowned surgeon and social activist KC Govinda.

Business Advisory Panel Soon

Nepal Parliament is also ready to approve a new Business Advisory Panel that will be live very soon.

The Parliamentary Secretariat has already received names of lawmakers from the country’s political parties including opposition, which will be presented at the Parliamentary Public Hearing Committee by end of the day of July 03, 2018.

We have asked the parties to submit names of lawmakers in order to form various parliamentary panels as soon as possible, says Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Parliament Speaker 

According to HoR Secretary Gopal Yogi, the committee is most likely to be formed on July 04, 2018, which is also the deadline for all the parties to submit the names of recommended lawmakers to be represented in the committee.

The post Nepal Policy Update: Key Bills Passed, Others On the Way appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Following the Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba’s resignation as the 40^th PM, the CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been announced as the next. i.e. 41^st Prime Minister of Nepal.

Announcing Oli’s appointment, the President Office has issued a statement, wherein, it said Oli’s appointment has been made based on the majority his candidature has won from the parties represented in the House of Representatives.

The Communist Alliance, CPN UML and CPN-MC, has received a comfortable majority in the 275-member House of Representatives in the recently-concluded Nepal General Elections 2017.

Having emerged as the largest political party in the recent elections, Oli-led CPN-UML party has gained all the required support and claimed to form the new Nepali Government in partnership with the CPN-MC party led by Pushpa Kumar Dahal.

This is the second time that Oli is serving as the Nepal PM after October 2015 when he was appointed as the 38^th PM of the country following the promulgation of the new Nepal Constitution in September 2015.

Oli’s appointment, back again to the post, is coming at a time when the country is witnessing a transformation to a Federal form of governance as recommended by the new constitution.

In a move encouraging a healthy political environment in the country, Oli promised to review all the decisions, of national interest, put forth by the earlier government led by Sher Bahadur Deuba.

World Leaders Congratulate Oli

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Oli on his appointment as the new Prime Minister of Nepal and extended government’s possible support for the overall development of Nepal.

Chinese Prime Minister had also congratulated Oli expressing China’s willingness to further strengthening of Sino-Nepal ties.

Congratulating Oli on his appointment as the new Nepal PM, the United States Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz tweeted, “We look forward to continuing our work with the new government to build a more democratic, prosperous, and stable Nepal.”

In another message, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina also said, “The citizens’ trust placed in you for the second time demonstrates the high evaluation of your efforts for their welfare. I look forward to closely cooperating with your government for assuring peace and prosperity for the peoples of our region.”

Major Task Ahead

The major tasks ahead for Oli include ensuring stable governance while also maintaining balance in the international relations as Nepal shares borders with the two Asian giants India and China.

Besides, the implementation of new Nepal Constitution is another issue on priority for the new Nepali Government.

Though the Left parties were often referred to as pro-China, Oli’s stance towards governance and policy-making appears balanced with a similar level of cordial relationship with India as well.

This was evident in the recent high-profile visits of Indian officials such as Indian Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat, among others to Nepal and Indian Prime Minister Narendra’s conversation with Oli over his candidature to the PM post.

“Oli is going to be pragmatic as prime minister to balance India and China,” Editor of a Nepal-based media house reportedly said in a statement.

Dealing with Foreign Policy

Oli-led new Nepali Government has a special focus on strengthening of bilateral ties and diplomatic relations with the neighboring nations based on the independent foreign policy.

“As per the directions made by the Nepali Constitution, we will develop the relation with friendly nations, especially the neighboring countries, international unions and organizations, on the basis of independent foreign policy,” the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) said in a statement on December 17, 2017.

“The Indo-Nepal ties are not just about government-to-government relations, but about people-to-people ties. India will work with any party that comes to power in Kathmandu. Similarly, the Nepal of PM will work with Delhi irrespective of his ideology. India remains a key factor in Nepali politics, society and religion and this fact cannot be ignored,” a Nepal-focused political expert said in a statement earlier this month.

With regard to Indo-Nepal ties, Oli said, “As one of the recently elected people’s representatives and leader of the largest party in the federal parliament, I’m eager to work together with Excellency and your government for the betterment of our two countries.” 

“The election of representatives at all levels of government should set the stage for responsive governance based on the principles of transparency, inclusivity, and rule of law,” the US Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert had said in a statement expressing US’ willingness to work in collaboration with the new Government of Nepal.

Constitution, Industrialization and More

Implementation of new Constitution is another matter on priority, on which, Oli said, “Everyone has participated in the elections under the structure envisioned by the constitution and the results are accepted. Its shows, there is no confusion remaining over constitution.”

Industrial development has also been on top of Oli’s developmental agenda under the new governance.

“We should accelerate our pace to the road of political and economic aspects of the country. Our aspirations, needs and plans should base development and prosperity,” Oli had stated earlier at the 37^th Annual General Assembly of the Management Association of Nepal in Kathmandu, earlier this week.

Oli looks at industrialization as the means to boost country’s productivity and job creation.

Legalization of underground money is another item in Oli’s priority list which he feels is utmost important for the country’s overall development.

“Its legalization should be allowed. It should be allowed to be laundered. A way for laundering should be provided. I wish the hidden money could be invested. It could help idle people get employed. Maybe we can think about it?” Oli had said in a statement earlier this month.

Oli was also keen on protection of child and human rights as part of successful governance.

The post Oli is Back Again As 41st Nepal PM appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Interview by Sai Nikesh D

Nepal has come a long way in development. As a nation sharing borders with the world’s two major economies, Nepal has been striving to become a developing country and grow further to achieve the developed country status.  As a process, the Government of Nepal has been actively participating in various global and local level platforms promoting country’s strengths and potential to development, and is sincerely aiming to see the benefits as part of its UN 2030 Agenda.

Continuing with a wide coverage on Nepal and its developments over a period, Nepali Sansar, as a Nepal-focused media house, got a chance to get in touch with Dr.Ek Raj Ojha, Senior Sustainable Development Consultant from Nepal, for a better understanding of the country’s progress towards its set goals.

Dr. Ojha, with his sound expertise in working with national and international level organizations like ADB, UN and government departments in sustainable development and planning, policy framework, among other key aspects of development and planning, shared a valuable information in this regard, helping us portray a complete picture of Nepal and its developmental path over a period and towards future.

Following are a few excerpts of Nepali Sansar Bureau’s detailed interaction with Dr. Ojha:

The post Dr Ek Raj Ojha appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

This app, first such one by any Nepali Civil Society Organization (CSO), is coming at a time when the country is witnessing a major political and developmental shifts towards protection of citizen’s rights and Nepali society.

“The android app is an integrated package on several dimensions of RTI- from principles to practice aimed at making public and media aware of RTI usage and its benefits for a good governance endeavor in the country,” said Freedom Forum in its release.

At a time when the government is looking at strengthening local bodies and empowering citizens, this app comes to assure the transparency and accountability in public affairs.

The app covers the basics of RTI Act, guide to implementation of RTI, ensures the facility of downloading and sharing of common templates of RTI requests and also helps in reaching out to the chief of public agencies and the National Information Commission (NIC).

Through this app, all the Nepali RTI activists and campaigners can access all rules, laws, publications, updates, success stories/case-studies and discussion forums related to the RTI Act.

The app assists all Nepali human rights defenders, RTI activists, journalists and CSOs to learn and share ideas as an extended forum.

The app offers public assistance on the ways to exercise the RTI Act and also provides a special forum to share and discuss issues related to human rights.

The post RTI Nepal Mobile App to Address Human Rights Issues appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

“We urge everyone to respect the freedoms of peaceful expression and assembly, and individual voters’ rights as laid out in Nepal’s laws and constitution,” read a statement by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

In its release, the US Diplomatic Mission to Nepal raised concerns and condemned the recent attacks on political candidates contesting in the upcoming elections.

The Embassy informed that US is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure an inclusive, peaceful and credible election process.

PM Deuba Calls for Tight Security

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba directed the security officials to ensure full security to the public in the light of the upcoming general elections.

“The constitution has been promulgated after a long struggle. Election is must for constitution implementation. People should get peaceful environment to cast their votes. Do not leave any stone unturned in security system to save the people’s voting rights,” said Deuba in his address at a security seminar for the upcoming elections in Kathmandu today.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Mohan Krishna Sapkota said, “Security challenges in elections have already been identified. Problems will be resolved after moving ahead with the effective security plans.”

On the occasion, security chiefs of all districts briefed about their strategies and also highlighted security conditions, challenges and measures to be implemented to ensure safe electoral process.

Special Observation Missions on the Other Side

Meanwhile, the European Union and the renowned NGO Carter Center have already launched their international Election Observation Missions (EBO) for the Nepal’s upcoming provincial and parliamentary elections.

“Every election has their own challenges and the authorities that are preparing the elections have been facing lots of challenges and Nepal is not exempted from that. Especially considering the fact that the local elections were held recently in September, I don’t see any problem in the government’s efforts,” says Zeljana Zovko, Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission.

The EU mission is making an estimated spending of EUR 3.5 million for the process and has deployed around 38 Long Term Observers (LTOs) across different parts of Nepal to monitor the ongoing preparations and related logistic issues.

Whereas, Carter Center has deployed 14 LTOs and a core team of five experts led by Field Office Director Carlos Valenzuela. Altogether, Carter Center’s team has observers representing 13 countries.

“The Carter Center has a long history in Nepal and we are honored to be present for the first national-level elections since the adoption of the constitution. We trust the elections will be peaceful and will help consolidate Nepal’s democracy,” says Mary Ann Peters, CEO of Carter Center and the Ambassador (ret.).

The post Nepal General Elections 2017: Call for Peaceful and Efficient Electoral Process appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

An international workshop on ‘Right to Food’, being participated by human rights activists from more than 50 countries, is currently underway in Kathmandu.

The five-day workshop that began on October 31, 2017 is being organized by a member-based human rights organization called Food-first Information and Action Network Nepal (FIAN Nepal).

With this, FIAN International has brought in the human rights activists belonging to its associated countries.

“The workshop discussed on food deprivation among people in national and international communities and ways to resolve the issue,” informed Ashok Singh, Director of FIAN Nepal, speaking in this regard.

On the occasion, the FIAN International council meeting was also held in Kathmandu.

The organization is actively into promoting and advocating for the realization of human rights related to in Nepal.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mohana Ansari, FIAN Nepal Chairperson Mr. Ammar Bahadur Air and General Secretary of FIAN Nepal Satya Twayna were among other key personalities who attended the event.

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