Nepal Timeline - 2011
January 1
SJMM has intensified extortion drive in Itahari, Dharan, Hasposa and Sunsari District, causing terror among the business community and Government officials in the District. A trader based in Itahari informed that the outfit has sought anywhere between NNR 10,000 and 10,000 from local traders like him. The business community has expressed dismay at Police’s inability to track down the cadres, though the outfit has written to all entrepreneurs in Itahari and Sunsari District.
January 2
The cadres belonging to the Limbuwan State Council (LSC) assaulted Mina Pun, a CA member from the RJP, and other party activists while they were taking part in her party’s programme at the Damak Chowk of Jhapa District. The CA member Pun said more than 100 Limbuwan cadres chased her and supporters of her party and seized the banner, pamphlets and other materials. Admitting that his cadres had intervened in the programme, Lok Sagar Sanba, a leader of LSC, said they will not allow anyone to organise programmes against federalism.
A meeting of the UCPN-M Standing Committee concluded with few decisions on revision of responsibilities of some top party leaders, reports Nepal News. "The meeting took a few decisions on the party's organisational set-up and work division of some leaders," Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma told reporters after the meeting.
The chairman of UCPN-M Prachanda clarified that the party has not decided to take action disciplinary against Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai. Speaking at a programme in Kathmnadu, Prachanda said, "The reports appearing in the media that our party has decided to take disciplinary action against Bhattarai are false. We have not taken any decision on this regard yet."
January 3
Chief of foreign department of Krishna Bahadur Mahara talked about the possibility of country facing a "constitutional crisis" following the departure of the UNMIN before the completion of its mandate. He said this was so because the UN political mission has become an integral part of the interim constitution.
January 4
The UCPN-M sent a second missive strongly objecting to the Government request for transfer of UNMIN assets along with arms and ammunition of the Maoist combatants cantoned in seven different camps under UN supervision. The second Maoist letter comes after the contents of the Government letter sent on December 31, 2010, to the world body became public.
January 5
The Central Committee meeting of the UCPN-M failed to reconcile Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai. Bhattarai stuck to his stand on the immediate action plan, peace and constitution, organisational reshuffling and other issues, where as Prachanda’s new document stressed on peace and constitution, but Bhattarai termed it unclear and wrote a note of dissent.
Prachanda said that the ruling parties as well as India are trying to scotch the peace and constitution writing processes. Speaking on the last day of the three-day CC meet, Prachanda said, "NC, CPN-UML and foreign forces want to prolong the tenure of the caretaker Government even after May 28."
January 6
The cadres of the MJF Nepal assaulted a team of RJM activists led by senior leader Rashmiraj Nepali in Birgunj area of Parsa District. Issuing a press statement in Kathmandu, RJM Chairman Chitra Bahadur K. C. condemned the ‘violent and undemocratic act’ against its cadres by the MJF cadres. The RJM has been conducting a nationwide campaign "for peace, nationalism and republicanism" and against federalism.
UCPN-M proposed for a different unit of the UN to take over the role of UNMIN after its term expires on January 15 as its efforts to convince the other parties and the UN to extend the UNMIN term failed.
UCPN-M said that it can accept a domestic mechanism to replace UNMIN if other parties give continuity to the monitoring of both the NA and the Maoist PLA. In the three-party talks at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, UCPN-M Chairman Prachanda proposed the mechanism be assigned to replicate UNMIN’s core task — monitoring NA and PLA and their arms.
First-phase withdrawal of 35 UNMIN arms monitors from seven Maoist cantonments started. The withdrawal of the arms monitors comes a day after the UNMIN reduced its monitoring activities to seven main cantonment sites.
January 7
A bomb squad of Nepal Army aided by Nepal Police personnel defused a bomb planted at the Manamaiju VDC office in Kathmandu. A previously unheard militant outfit called ‘United Nations Morcha’ was suspected to have planted the bombs in the building as the leaflets of the outfit were found scattered in the place.
Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal alleged that the UNMIN has become a medium of fund collection for the UCPN-M. He claimed that the report presented by UNMIN Chief Karen Landgren before the UNSC was the outcome of the intention to defame Nepal. Briefing to the UNSC on Nepal’s peace process on January 5, Landgren had said unprecedented gains in Nepal were unlikely to be reversed, but warned of a prospect of extreme measures either by Maoists, the Army or the President.
Chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda and the vice-chairman Mohan Baidhya made a fresh call for a struggle to achieve the party’s mission – national independence and People’s Republic. On the other hand, Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai proposed to tread the middle path between the two extremes — parliamentary system of NC, CPN-UML and other parties and people’s democratic system of UCPN-M.
January 10
Police says that an outfit of former PLA combatants of the UCPN-M calling itself the People's Liberation Army Former Soldiers' Unity Organisation (PLAFSUG) was suspected of running various crime rackets in Jhapa District. Police believe that the outfit is largely comprised of disqualified Maoist combatants and it is involved in crimes like extortion, abduction and robbery in the Dstrict. Mechi Zonal Police Chief Raviraj Shrestha said the authorities have found direct involvement of the outfit in various crimes that took place in Jhapa in the past couple of months. He also claimed that the fighters at the Chulachuli-based camp of the PLA in Ilam District were harbouring the outfit.
UCPN-M is likely to remove its ANTUF President Salikram Jamarkattel for his malpractices and incompetence. The move is part of an internal power struggle that has led to the demand for reshuffling by the party's two Vice Chairmen Mohan Baidya and Babauram Bhattarai to remove powerful individuals close to the party chairman Prachanda from lucrative wings of the party. The Baidya and Bhattarai factions have threatened they will form a parallel trade union if Jamarkattel, who is close to Party Chairman Prachanda, is not removed.
The chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda said that his party is prepared to hand over the command control of cantonments to the Prime Minister-led Special Committee overseeing the Maoist combatants before UNMIN scheduled departure on January 15. The three steps he suggested include organising a special ceremony to formally mark the transfer of the chain of command to the Special Committee, the regrouping of combatants into two different categories (those opting for integration and those opting for rehabilitation), and finalising the norms and modalities for integration.
All Madhesh-based political parties except the MJF decided to vote for NC candidate Ram Chandra Poudel in the Prime Ministerial election scheduled for January 12.
The UCPN-M and CPN-UML forged a consensus to vote against the only Prime Ministerial candidate Ram Chandra Poudel if the latter's candidacy was not withdrawn, informed the UCPN-M vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
January 11
The three major parties –UCPN-M, NC CPN-UML have given a final shape to the taskforce they formed to forge consensus for a political mechanism to complete the task of army integration and advice the Government on various issues related to the peace process after UNMIN scheduled departure on January 15. The taskforce which the three major parties had decided to form last week comprises a total of six members - two representatives each party. From UCPN-M Vice-chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and leader Barsha Man Pun are in the taskforce. Minister for Culture and Parliamentary Affaris Minendra Rijal and Energy Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat will represent NC in the taskforce while Home Minsiter Bhim Rawal and CPN-UML leader Ishwor Pokharel will represent its party.
January 12
The JMMP cadres detonated a bomb at a house of a local, Shiva Puja Sah, at Tegraha Village Development Committee-3 (VDC) of Rautahat District. Soon after the explosion, JMMP ‘Central Chairman’ Bhagat Singh telephoned the Police and owned up the responsibility of the explosion.
Nepali Congress (NC) withdrew its candidacy from the Prime Ministerial poll for what it calls to enhance politics of consensus and unity among the political parties. NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, who had proposed Ram Chandra Poudel’s candidacy, announced that the party decided to withdraw the candidacy for a consensus Government. The House unanimously passed Deuba’s proposal.
January 13
The Parliament endorsed the formation of a five-member committee to make necessary preparations for amendment to the House regulations aimed at starting the new process to elect the prime minister
The Committee for International Relations and Human Rights of the Parliament directed the Government to form a "reliable mechanism" for the effective inspection and monitoring of arms and personnel of both Nepal Army and PLA before the scheduled exit of UNMIN on Jan 15.
The meeting of the Special Committee for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants failed to take a decision on monitoring of the peace process after the departure of the UNMIN.
January 14
The UCPN-M requested UNMIN chief Karin Landgren to decide on providing technical support for the Army Integration Special Committee even after its departure from Nepal.
January 16
The standing committee meeting of the UCPN-M decided to hold parleys with the parties for a Maoist-led consensus Government. President Ram Baran Yadav on January 15 asked the parties to decide on a consensus Government within a week. "The party will stick to its previous decision to present Chairman Prachanda as the new Prime Minister (PM)," said UCPN-M Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma after the meeting. Standing Committee member close to Vice-Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, proposed Bhattarai as the leader of the parliamentary party and new PM.
January 17
Intra-party rivalries deepen within the UCPN-M as the Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai and his supporters boycotted the party cadres' training session held at Bhrikuti Mandap of Kathmandu after the party establishment barred him from airing his views. Seven other leaders, including party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma and Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, who had signed the note of dissent along with Bhattarai, also boycotted the session. Party Secretary C. P. Gajurel later termed the incident 'a mishap'.
The chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda suggested that the party would go for four preparations and four bases for the people's revolt to achieve the party's tactical line of people's federal republic. A cadre of the UCPN-M also claimed that Dahal was for expanding the number of YCL up to 500,000. He also claimed that the bases for revolt were ripe and preparations were a must.
January 18
The Supreme Court stayed the Government's move to arrest and prosecutes 21 cadres of the UCPN-M on murder charges during the insurgency period. A division bench of Justices Top Bahadur Magar and Mohan Prakash Sitaula issued the order. The bench directed, "Not to arrest and detain the defendants and to maintain the status quo till the limitation of time of submitting written explanations from the defendants or till the expiry of limitation of time."
The chairman of UCPN-M Prachanda agreed to hand over the PLA camps to the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants on January 22. Prachanda set the date for the handover ceremony at Shaktikhor, during his meeting with the Prime Minister.
Prachanda claimed that vice-chairman of UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai misinterpreted the decision of the party's Central Committee (CC) regarding management of dissenting views within the party. The Standing Committee (SC) has decided to convene a meeting of the politburo and the CC both on January 19 and 20 respectively to discuss the tug-of-war between Prachanda and Bhattarai factions.
January 19
The Central Chairman of the MJF, Upendra Yadav, said that the UCPN-M advocating the rights of the proletariats was not willing to make constitution from the Constituent Assembly. He said, "As the Maoist wants to move ahead with people's revolution, it wants the constitution to suit its interest." Once the new constitution is written, the Madheshi, indigenous and marginalized classes will be provided every right, he said, accusing the big three parties of eclipsing the peace process.
January 20
The PLA of the UCPN-M is scheduled to be handed over to the Prime Minister led Special Committee at the Shaktikhor cantonment site on January 22, 2011. "This is a significant event in the peace process," said UCPN-M Standing Committee leader Barsha Man Pun. "The executive head of the country will take ownership of the PLA by attending the ceremony."
MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said that the rotational leadership of Government proposed by the three major parties is harmful to the country. Speaking at a press conference of his party, Yadav said all 28 parties represented in the Constituent Assembly should get to lead the Government if the rotational system is adopted. "In such a situation, how many days a party gets to head the government?'' Yadav said a consensus government is the priority of his party, but hastened to add that a majority dispensation will do if it offers a way out of the political impasse.
January 21
Police arrested two including a cadre of YCL from Swoyambhu in Kathmandu on the charge of abducting Khagendra Phuyal (28) of Jhapa District. The arrested have been identified as Pasang Moktan (33) of Parsa District and Dhan Bahadur Limbu (31) of Morang District. According to the DSP Hridaya Thapa, Dhan Bahadur Limbu is an active cadre of YCL. Limbu in association with Moktan, a central member of so-called National Liberation Movement Nepal, had abducted Phuyal from Thamel of Kathmandu on January 19.
Vice-chairman of the UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai wrote yet another 'note of dissent' at the party Central Committee (CC) meet, expressing reservations over the conclusion that he breached the party discipline. Leaders close to Bhattarai bloc lashed out at the party decision after a majority of Maoist central members said Bhattarai made a mistake and should apologise for that.
January 23
An unknown armed group shot dead a cadre belonging to the UCPN-M Bhojpura State Committee, identified as Rukshana Khatun (35), in Rautahat District.
Police made public four operatives of a newly formed armed outfit, who were recently detained for their involvement in extortion. Of the detainees, Rahish Dhapali alias Abhyan Singh (25) of Nepalgunj-12 is the chairman of the Banke-Bardiya chapter of the Nepal Marxbadi Ganatantrik Yuba Tiger (NMGYT) and Kamalesh Chand alias Bikram Singh (27) is the Banke-Bardiya area secretary of the outfit from Holiya-9.
Chairman of the UCPN-M Prachanda claimed that the country would get a consensus Government under his party leadership within five days. "The chances of the Maoist-led consensus Government within five days are high. There is sufficient ground for this," the Maoist chief told media persons at a conference organised by Revolutionary Journalists' Union in Hetauda.
January 24
The inauguration of the Upper Tamakoshi Hydro Electricity Project got postponed due to the protest threat by Dolakha wing of the UCPN-M. The Dolakha District committee of UCPN-M had demanded that the organiser call off the programme in a press conference in Charikot, Dolakha. They had even threatened to obstruct the programe if the organiser went ahead with the programme. They alleged Government irregularities in organising the inauguration.
After the PLA official handed over to the Special Committee (for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants), the Supreme Court (SC) gave final shape to its monitoring mechanism. A meeting of SC named members of the monitoring mechanism that comprises four representatives each from SC and its Secretariat and one from PLA combatants. Barsha Man Pun of the UCPN-M, Ram Sharan Mahat of Nepali Congress (NC), Ishwor Pokharel of Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) and Jitendra Dev of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum-Democratic (MJF-D) will represent SC in the nine-member monitoring mechanism. Balananda Sharma of NC, Chandra Prakash Khanal of UCPN-M, Gopal Singh Bohara of CPN-UML and Mahesh B Karki of the Nepali Army will join the mechanism from the Secretariat. In addition, PLA commander Nanda Kishor Pun will represent the UCPN-M.
January 25
Cadres belonging to the UCPN-M abducted six activists of both NC and CPN-UML in Udayapur District. According to reports, UCPN-M cadres abducted NC activist Dik Bahadur Thapa (45), CPN-UML Lafa village committee chairman Kamal Rai (28), CPN-UML activists Parsuram Thapa (30), Kesar Rai(16), Karna Bahadur Rai (25) and his father Chunuklal Rai. The abduction followed the beating of Dhan Bahadaur Rai at the wedding ceremony of Ram Bahadur Rai, a local.
A top parliamentary panel in Nepal on January 25 approved key changes in the rules for electing a Prime Minister that would make it mandatory to vote for a new leader in the House poll, amid a deadlock that has left the country without a Government for nearly seven months. Under the recommendations, lawmakers will not be allowed to abstain, attendance will be mandatory, and the Parliamentary speaker will be able to disqualify candidates after three failed rounds of voting.
January 27
Rashtriya Janmorcha Nepal the only political party in the Constituent Assembly standing against federalism, went for a vertical split with the party's Bagmati zone in charge Min Nath Devkota announcing a new party. Devkota announced the new party, named Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) Nationalist (CPN-ML-N) with 31 central committee members amid a press meet organised in Kathmandu- the national capital.
January 28
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army said that it is not against the integration of former PLA into the National Army, adding that the Army has conveyed its willingness to abide by any decision taken by the parties for concluding the peace process.
The Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the UCPN-M will turn into a "civilian party" once the Maoist PLA combatants move out of the cantonments, thereby completing the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants. "Although it took a bit longer time, but we succeeded in creating an environment of trust," said the Prime Minister inaugurating 'Lekhnath Festival' in Kaski District.
January 30
The leader of CPN-UML K. P. Oli remarked that the UCPN-M has no alternative other than mending its ways. Addressing the Parsa District assembly of the party’s youth organisation in Birgunj, he claimed that the Maoists are not in a position to go for a revolt or back to jungle as it says every so often. He further said that the Maoist youth front YCL itself has stopped believing that the party will go for a people's revolt.
Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Chhatra Man Singh Gurung asked leaders to consider the sensitivity of the professionalism and apolitical nature of the Nepal Army while taking political decisions on the modality of Army integration.
The ‘chairman’ of the UCPN-M Prachanda claimed that the new Government would not be formed even by February 6, 2011. He claimed that other parties were hatching conspiracies, despite Maoists’ efforts to form the new Government on time. "Some parties are trying to foil our efforts by convincing their lawmakers to cast invalid votes," he alleged.
Stating that his party would continue its struggle until people’s rights have been ensured, vice-chairman of the UCPN-M, Baburam Bhattarai, warned other political parties not to hope for his party’ surrender. He claimed that parties had been plotting to prevent the single largest party from leading the next Government.
February 1
10 students of Mahendra Higher Secondary School in Gorkha District were injured in an attack by the YCL. UCPN-M Gorkha constituency-1 in-charge Sakar, sub-in-charge Nischal, YCL Gorkha chairman Ramesh Pokhrel were present when the students were assaulted. The attack by the YCL took place after the School decided to remove a teacher of irregularities.
UCPN-M and the CPN-UML declared their candidates for the election to the post of Prime Minister (PM) slated for February 3, 2011. A SC meeting of the UCPN-M decided to forward its chairman Prachanda and a CC meeting of CPN-UML decided to forward its chairman Jhala Nath Khanal for the post. NC, however, is yet to take a decision on the PM election.
February 2
Four nominations for the post of PM from the UCPN-M, CPN-UML, NC and UDMF have been registered at the Parliament secretariat of the legislature-parliament. A SC meeting of the UCPN-M decided to forward its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and a CC meeting of CPN-UML decided to forward its chairman Jhala Nath Khanal for the post. The NC has proposed Ram Chandra Poudel for the PM post where as Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar has nominated representing UDMF.
Seven fringe parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) have decided to lend support to UCPN-M Chairman Prachanda in the PM elections. The seven parties — CPN-ML- Samajbadi, NRP, NJD, Nepal Sadbhawana Party Anandi Devi Faction, CPN-Unified, RJP, and SLRM—took the decision to this effect after the meeting convened with the Maoist top brass.
Prachanda, continuing efforts to garner majority votes, convened a meet with MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav and appealed for support in the PM elections.
February 3
CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal was elected Prime Minister by the Legislature Parliament. Khanal got elected as the 34th Prime Minister through a parliament voting as the largest party in the Parliament. The UCPN-Maoist, which had fielded its chairman Prachanda for the post of the Prime Minister, decided through an emergency standing committee meeting to withdraw Dahal’s candidacy and support Khanal. The UCPN-Maoist and CPN-UML has 237 and 107 Member of Parliaments respectively.
February 4
Police arrested three former cadres of PLA from Bardanda of Syangja District with weapons. According to District Police Office, Syangja, the police recovered a Chinese pistol and three rounds of bullets from them. The arrested PLAs have been identified as Sajan Magar (23) of Sirujha in Rukum District, Ash Bahadur Magar (30) of Shreegandaki and Narayan Aryal (24) of Thumpokhara of Syangja District.
MJF said the party will join the new Government led by CPN-UML if the latter agrees to address Madheshi demands and respect previous pacts between the Government and Madheshi parties. Clarifying his party's decision to boycott PM election, MJF chairman Updendra Yadav set such condition to join the Government led by CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal. "If UML assures us completion of remaining tasks of the ongoing peace process, promulgation of new statute and addressing the Madheshi issues, the MJF will decide to join the Government," Yadav clarified while addressing a programme in Kathmandu.
The vice-chairman of the UCPN-M Baburam Bhattarai panel decided to boycott the new Government. Terming Khanal’s victory as a conspiracy, the panel confirmed that it will not be participating in the new Government. pro-Bhattarai Standing Committee (SC) member said that it is morally wrong to be a part of the new Government as Bhattarai along with three SC members and 54 CA members have written a ‘note of dissent’ after the chairman of UCPN-M Prachanda made a last-moment-decision to support Khanal.
February 5
Four Madhesh-based parties have decided not to join the new Government led by CPN-UML. MJF-L, SP and TMLP, who had voted for Bijaya Kumar Gachhadhar of MJF-L in the Prime Ministerial election, will sit in opposition. TMLP-N, a splinter group of TMLP, has also decided to remain in opposition. TMLP-N Chairman Mahendra Prasad Yadav said his party will not be part of the new Government. "Currently, we have no intention to join this Government. I object to media reports that speculated my admission in the new Cabinet," Yadav said.
Leaders of the UCPN-M threatened not to join the Government if it failed to abide by the agreement made with CPN-UML Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal. "If we don’t get home ministry as agreed upon earlier, why should we join the Government?" questioned UCPN-M Secretary C.P. Gajurel.
A seven-point agreement signed ahead of the Prime Ministerial election on February 3 by UCPN-M Prachanda and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal leading to Prachanda’s withdrawal from the PM race and Khanal’s election has been revealed. The seventh-point of the written agreement dated February 3, 2011 mentions, it has been agreed that the UCPN-M will vote for the CPN-UML candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the ongoing Prime Ministerial election process. CPN-UML leaders, particularly outgoing Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal and K.P. Oli are fumed over the agreement and have accused the party chairman of bypassing the party bodies while taking the decision.
February 6
An unidentified group shot dead, Paltu Mahato (49), a UCPN-M cadre in Yagyabhumi VDC-4, in northern part of Dhanusha District.
February 7
A CPN-UML cadre of Dulari in Morang District was shot dead by an unidentified assailant or a group in the night. The dead body of Bhuwan Bahadur Karki (23) was found near Budhikohola of Itahari in Sunsari District next morning.
Cadres of the NC continued their demonstration in Itahari in Sunsari District for the second straight day demanding action against CPN-UML-aligned Youth Force cadre Rupensh Bajgain for assaulting Itahari Municipality Chairman of NC, Hemkarna Poudel. Bajgain had allegedly manhandled Poudel on February 5.
The Standing Committee (SC) member of the UCPN-M Dev Gurung warned that the alliance between his party and the CPN-UML could falter if the latter fails to commit towards the implementation of the seven-point pact. At a program organized by the Reporter’s Club in Kathmandu, Gurung said that Maoists will only support the Government but will not be a part if that UML does not keep its vows.
The UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda refuted the reports that the Cabinet could not take shape on February 6 owing to differences between CPN-UML and UCPN-M over sharing powerful portfolios. After a meeting between the two parties at the UML parliamentary party office in Kathmandu, Prachanda claimed that his party has not staked claim to any particular ministries, and made it clear that his party is not going to make power-sharing an issue.
February 8
Sikendra Prasad Yadav (40), an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bara District. Meanwhile, a central leader of the JTMM-G, Jitendra Tiwari, telephoned the local media persons in Bara and claimed responsibility for the killing saying ASI Yadav was shot dead "as a warning to State".
Police arrested a cadre belonging JTMM, identified as Dhirendra Kushawaha, along with four others when they were on an extortion drive in Birgunj of Parsa District. According to the Police, five of them were demanding money from a jewellery shop in the name of JTMM.
The UCPN-M and the CPN-UML agreed to offer a "common explanation" of the seven-point deal before the formation of the Cabinet. The two parties reached the conclusion after Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal proposed amendment to some provisions in the agreement in line with the party’s Standing Committee’s decision on February 7. In face of opposition from the NC, the two leaders had claimed the ownership of the deal and announced that it would be implemented by the Government.
February 9
A group of about 10 discharged combatants of the PLA ransacked the Dhagadhi-based office of the UNHCR in Kailali District. The PLA combatants in the act said they attacked the UN office after authorities failed to rehabilitate them as promised. Police arrested seven persons in connection with the incident.
February 10
A bomb went off at Gauri Shanker Enterprises at Aspataalroad in Gulariya, the headquarters of Bardiya District. According to Police, armed underground force in Tarai detonated a bomb at a tractor shop of one Biru Chawdhary partially damaging the shop. However, no casualty was reported.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said concluding the peace process and constitution-drafting will be the top priorities of his Government. Addressing the Parliament in the evening, Khanal said he would take initiatives to forge broad consensus to make sure that the constitution is written within the stipulated time. According to him, the integration of the UCPN-M combatants will start very soon. "Steps will be taken to initiate integration and rehabilitation within a few days," he hoped. He told the Parliament that the Government would abide by the seven-point agreement reached with the UCPN-Maoist. Khanal also asked the NC and other parties to join the Government, adding that utmost flexibility would be maintained for the sake of consensus. "Although late, a majority Government has been formed. But this does not mean the essence of consensus is over," he said, adding, "I call upon Nepali Congress and other parties to join the Government.
Speaking at the Parliament, UCPN-M deputy parliamentary leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha said his party had decided not to join the Government because of confusing position of the CPN-UML towards the seven-point agreement based on which the UCPN-M party had supported Khanal for Prime Minister. Saying that the UCPN-Maoist would continue its support to the Government for now, but long-term support would depend on how the Government implements the seven-point pact.
Top leaders of largest three parties in the Constituent Assembly – the UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML – are going to Cambodia in the last week of February for talks on the ongoing peace process. The International Conference of Asian Political Parties and the Cambodian Government are jointly organizing the talks of Nepali leaders. The talks will be held in the presence of Chinese, Indian and Japanese representatives.
February 11
The UCPN-M reiterated that it won’t join the Government until the CPN-UML expresses its commitment to implement the seven-point agreement signed between the two parties just before February 3 prime ministerial election. A meeting of the Maoist standing committee approved the decision of the party leadership not to join the Government. "The party has decided to ask the UML to clarify its position on the seven-point agreement," Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma told. Meanwhile, the Standing Committee also decided to resume the cadre training programme which had been cancelled following internal dispute. It also decided to mark the ‘people’s war day’ on February 13.
The Maoist General Secretary C. P. Gajurel clarified that his party will not join the CPN-UML Government unless the letter and spirit implementation of the seven-point agreement signed before the Government formation is guaranteed. He added that his party is not in a position to be a part of the Government without the Home Ministry. He revealed that there was a deal to allocate 15 ministries, including the Home, to the Maoists on the basis of proportional representation. However, he made it clear that his party is not in favour of immediately toppling the Government formed with its backing. "We are not in favour of toppling the Government formed after a long effort," said the Maoist leader.
NC member Bhishma Raj Angdembe hinted at lending support to sustain the Government. "The NC will take an appropriate decision for peace and constitution building by playing the role of a responsible party," said the NC leader.
The MJF laid out conditions to join the CPN-UML-led Government. The central committee meeting of the party forwarded a 16-point condition, seeking guarantee of new statute and completion of the ongoing peace process on time, among others. The party also demanded written commitment on "autonomous Madhes state" and integration of Maoist combatants from the CPN-UML. According to MJF chairman Upendra Yadav, a six-member team has been formed under the leadership of the party secretary Ram Raya Yadav to hold discussion on the conditions and power-sharing with the UML. "Based on the outcome of the upcoming talks with the CPN-UML our party will decide whether or not to join the Government," Yadav said.
Chairman of pro-monarchist RPP-N Kamal Thapa alleged foreign meddling in the country’s internal affairs is rapidly increasing, but the three major parties are least concerned about the problem. He said RPP-N has started a nationwide campaign to press for reinstatement of constitutional monarchy and declaration of Nepal as a Hindu State.
February 15
The UCPN-M turned down PM Jhala Nath Khanal’s proposal to expand the cabinet keeping aside the row over Home Ministry for now.
PM and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda clarified that they would stick to the seven-point agreement.
Terming the UCPN-M-CPN-UML seven-point agreement as "unconstitutional and undemocratic", NC central member Sujata Koirala said NC can join the current Government only if the seven-point agreement is discarded to pave the way for a new understanding.
The UNMIN handed over its logistics to the Government. On January 13, the Government had requested the UN body to hand over the logistics to the Special Committee for the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants after its departure. UNMIN formally left Nepal on January 15.
February 16
During a meeting with UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at Baluwatar in the morning, PM Jhala Nath Khanal agreed to appoint 11 ministries from the Maoist party including home, foreign affairs, general administration, physical planning and works and peace and reconstruction. In the meeting, Dahal is known to have proposed Krishna Bahadur Mahara as the leader of the Maoist team in the cabinet. PM Khanal also communicated to chairman Dahal that his party, the CPN-UML, would retain eight ministries including defence and water resources, a source at Prime Minister’s Office revealed. However, the MJF is also learnt to demand the energy ministry in case it decides to join the Government. A Maoist source said the party would make a formal announcement of the party's ministerial candidates by February 17.
CPN-ML (Socialist) decided to join the CPN-UML-led Government. A meeting of the party's central committee held at Singha Durbar agreed to send party chairman Jagat Bahadur Bogati as minister and parliamentary party leader Yadhubansa Jha as state minister.
Top Maoist leaders, including chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, vice chairmen Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai and general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa arrived in Pokhara to give orientation to cadres on party's policies and strategies. Some 450 senior cadres are participating in the training.
February 17
The row over the Home Ministry seemed far from over as the UCPN-M reverted to its earlier decision to support the Government from outside, saying that the CPN-UML was yet to fulfill its commitment to the seven-point agreement. The Maoist standing committee's decision came after PM Khanal could not decide on the expansion of his cabinet following a pressure from within the CPN-UML not to give the Home Ministry to the Maoists.
There was heated dispute in CPN-UML standing committee meeting over the idea of giving the Home Ministry to the Maoists. The CPN-UML faction steered by KP Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal had informed PM Khanal in writing on February 16 that the Home Ministry and Defence Ministry should not be given to the UCPN-M at any cost.
Standing firm against the recent seven-point deal between the CPN-UML and UCPN-M, the TMLP-Nepal said it has decided not to join the CPN-UML-led Government, but instead stay in the opposition.
February 18
Senior leaders of CPN-UML including former PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, KP Oli and Ishwar Pokhrel told UCPN-M not to expect Home Ministry until the peace process concludes.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda suggested PM and UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal to settle internal dispute in his party first and then ask the Maoists to join his Government.
In his first address to the nation since his election, PM Khanal defended the seven-point agreement he signed with Maoist chairman Prachanda.
February 20
PM Jhala Nath Khanal expressed confidence that the current Government will soon get complete shape as there has been some progress in resolving the disputes in cabinet expansion.
‘Middle-path’ leaders of CPN-UML, not in the Khanal camp or the KP Oli-Madhav Kumar Nepal camp, suggested PM Khanal to keep the portfolio of Home Ministry with himself to resolve the ongoing row.
UCPN-M chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda blamed some senior UML leaders of trying to pull down the Khanal Government. However, he didn't mention the names of those leaders.
Maoist vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai made it clear that his party is not going to withdraw its support to the Khanal Government.
February 21
Prime Minister (PM) Jhalanath Khanal along with the leaders of CPN-UML and UCPN-M has agreed to amend the seven-point-deal. The decision was made at the meeting held at the prime minister’s office in Singhadurbar, prior to the UML’s politburo meeting. PM Khanal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and UML senior leader KP Oli were present at the meeting along with other senior members of the two parties.
CPN-UML politburo decided to go for a revision of the seven-point agreement signed between Khanal and Prachanda. After four-hour discussion, the UML politburo concluded that the deal needs to be revised and decided to forward the review proposal to the central committee meeting taking place on February 22.
February 22
Junior officer of District Land Revenue Office, Bara, Madhav Thapa (40), was shot dead by an unidentified assailant. Akhil Terai Mukti Morcha (ATMM) owned up the killing. Bara District in-charge of ATMM called up local journalists and said they shot Thapa as he was involved in financial irregularities in the land revenue office.
CPN-UML Central Committee (CC) approved the seven-point agreement signed by its chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on February 3, but reinterpreted most of the points.
February 23
Top leaders of the major three political parties - UCPN-M, NC, and CPN-UML - and Constitutional Committee (CC) chairman held crucial discussion on forming a sub-committee to sort out the thorny issues seen in statute-making process. However, no concrete decision was reached among the leaders.
A Pakistani national, Sultan Mehboob Ali, who was arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport 3 with fake Indian currency notes worth INR 350,000 told investigators he was supposed to hand over the baggage full of notes to one Aamir at Jawalakhel. Ali had come from Karachi via Bahrain on a Gulf Air flight. Police said the fake Indian currency notes were to be routed to India through the Nepal-India border. Police have seized fake Indian currency with face value of INR 19 million in the past one-and-half year. Eighty per cent of such cases involve Pakistani citizens, said officials.
February 24
UCPN-M Secretary CP Gajurel said his party was forming a new youth organisation, which would be more ‘dangerous’ than the existing YCL. "In the past, everybody was afraid of YCL but not anymore. So we are planning to constitute a new force," he said at a function in Sindhuli.
NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba said that his party will not join the Government. "CPN-UML's seven-point pact seems very doubtful, the party has not clarified the points mentioned in the pact," Deuba said at a press meet.
February 25
The UCPN-M decided not to join the Government saying the party is not convinced with the position of CPN-UML on the seven-point agreement.
The Constitutional Committee (CC) decided to constitute a five member sub-committee to resolve the disputed issues seen in statute drafting.
February 27
The UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda warned that all the factories, industries and hotels across the country will be turned into barracks to ensure the success of the people's revolt the party plans to wage. Prachanda said that Maoists will not tolerate any attempts to halt efforts aimed at ensuring peace and constitution as well as bringing about a radical transformation in the country. He also called upon all the factory workers affiliated to the Maoist party to make "final preparations" for people's revolt with all their power and might. He further said that those who believe that the Maoists will not wage any people's revolt and think that it is just a bluff will soon be getting a rude shock. As reported earlier, in a similar warning he had said that all "the universities would be converted into barracks" if the regressive elements intensified their conspiracies.
The ruling CPN-UML decided to hold "decisive talks" with the main coalition partner UCPN-Maoist to finalize the power-sharing issue and cabinet expansion very soon.
The MJF announced that it has formed a youth wing, Madhes Rakshya Dal, and assured that the new outfit will not carry weapons like UCPN-Maoist's YCL. Making a formal announcement about the formation of the youth wing in Biratnagar, MJF said Kanaiya Lal Sah will lead the group. Sah later told reporters that his group would always work to "safeguard and support" Madhes and Madhesi people. He also claimed that the group would be "fully trained".
February 28
Mohan Vaidya, the Vice-chairman of UCPN-M has warned that his party will be compelled to withdraw its support to the Government if the current political impasse caused by the inability to expand the cabinet and give a full shape to the Government continues. He insisted that the cabinet should be expanded as per the spirit of the seven-point deal. "If we can't move ahead as per the seven-point agreement, then the Maoist party will withdraw its support to the government," he said, clearly hinting that the onus is on CPN-UML to implement the agreement. He blamed the intra-party tussle in the CPN-UML behind the inability of the Government to expand the cabinet.
Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda assured that another "vital decision" will be taken soon to expand the cabinet and give a full shape to the Government. 'We will take another vital decision soon to form a full-size cabinet and prevent the regressive forces from intervening in national politics," Dahal said. He said that the Government will get a full shape within couple of days much to the surprise of regressive and reactionary elements who want the present impasse to continue. He said the decision will be as surprising as the support of his party to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal for the latter's election to the top executive post.
The CPN-UML has failed to convince the UCPN-M on power-sharing. During a meeting, UML leaders informed the Maoist team, based on the UML standing committee's decision on February 27, that it would be better if ministries related to security and defence be kept with the Prime Minister's party. However, the Maoist rejected the UML proposal. "We did not agree to UML's decision to keep the Home Ministry with themselves," said Maoist vice-chairman Narayan Kaji. Shrestha added, "However, we agreed to sit for another round of discussion following internal meetings in both the parties."
Communist leader Dilaram Acharya, who had formed a separate party after splitting from the CPN-Masal led by Mohan Bikram Singh, has joined UCPN-M. Acharya will be made a politburo member of the UCPN-Maoist.
March 1
UCPN-M is preparing to join the Jhala Nath Khanal cabinet even without the home ministry. The Maoist agreed to join the Government even without the home ministry for now. It is learnt that there has been a tentative agreement to keep the home ministry with the Prime Minister himself for now and give the ministry to the Maoist once the segregation of combatants going for integration and rehabilitation is completed.
SC meeting of the party at party headquarters in the morning discussed on joining the Government. However, a decision was not reached due to absence of many SC members. Maoist vice chairman Narayan KajiShrestha told reporters after the meeting that we discussed on the options of joining the Government, but could not reach a decision as many SC members were absent. The Standing Committee will meet again on March 2 to take a formal decision, according to Shrestha.
Maoist Vice Chairman Mohan Vaidya has said that his party will continue to support the CPN-UML led Government from outside even in the absence of an enabling atmosphere for them to join it. He said that his party will not participate in the Khanal's cabinet if the seven-point deal signed with him is not implemented in its entirety. But we will not withdraw our support to the Government, he assured. He, however, conceded that the crucial talks between PM Khanal and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahalaka Prachandato resolve the current deadlock was positive and it has greatly increased the likelihood of Maoists joining the Government.
March 2
The UCPN-M in a meeting of the party Standing Committee decided to join CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal-led Government under the leadership of party foreign department chief Krishna Bahadur Mahara. The Maoists decided to put forth 11 leaders. However, a formal notice regarding the party decision has yet to be made public. According to Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma, the party will give a conclusive decision on portfolio allocation after holding talks with Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal in the morning of March 3.
NC is preparing to announce its ‘comprehensive’ roadmap for concluding the peace process and writing the statute. The party’s Central Working Committee slated to meet on March 3 will also make clear its stand on how it will cooperate with the current coalition. "We will try to at least come up with a uniform view regarding the stand the party will take in the Special Committee for Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist Combatants," said NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha. "The question is should we demonstrate further flexibility and increase the number of combatants to be integrated in Security Forces from between 3000 to 4000 as agreed in the past with late Girija Prasad Koirala to any other number, say between 5000 to 6,000," he added.
The State Affairs Committee of the Parliament has decided to seek the position of the new Government before conducting serious discussions on the action plan for democratisation of the Nepal Army and the national security policy prepared by the previous Government. The committee unanimously agreed to examine whether the new Government approves the documents prepared by the Cabinet committee led by then Defence Minister Bidhya Bhandari in August 2010. The committee will soon invite Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and seek his opinion on the proposed policies, informed Chairman Ram Nath Dhakal.
March 3
Police arrested an Indian arms dealer along with two Chinese and American pistols and ammunitions in Kathmandu. A special Police squad deployed by MPCD arrested Hira Mishra (34), a native of Sitamarhi District in Indian State of Bihar, from Sheshnarayan VDC in Kathmandu while he was in search of potential arms customers.
MPCD arrested two suspected arms dealers, Arun Kumar Gupta and Suresh Shah Kanu, of Birgunj city along with two pistols and ammunitions from Koteshwar District. SFs say the latest seizure of arms and ammunitions is a significant achievement in their effort to curb rampant arms trafficking.
UCPN-Maoist, which has strongly backed the Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal-led Government, seems positive about joining the Government even though it does not get the Home Ministry portfolio immediately. Maoist leaders say that the party has been positive about joining the Government after Khanal assured that he would hold the Home Ministry for some period and hand it over to them after "concrete progress" is made on the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants. However, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda is still facing difficulties in convincing his deputy Baburam Bhattarai as to why the party should join the Government. Bhattarai has sought a "written commitment" from the Prime Minister about handover of the Home Ministry to them later.
The meeting of the UCPN-M SC scheduled to take place was deferred. The meeting was to take place was to finalise the names of the 11 ministers from the party and their portfolios. Some Maoist leaders said the Maoist ministers would be sworn in on March 4 itself after the SC announced the final list. The Maoists have finalised the names of only five leaders, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Barsa Man Pun, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, Dev Gurung and Giriraj Mani Pokhrel.
The US Government has publicly asked Nepal Army to come clean on its rights record. US Ambassador to Nepal Scott H. DeLisi called on the Army leadership to cooperate with civilian courts and authorities to hold accountable all its personnel who violated human rights and international law of war in the past. The ambassador urged the Army not to condone individual failings. "If the Army protects these violators, then the perception becomes that it was not an individual who committed the violations, but the institution itself which condoned them. If there are failures or mistakes in judgment that raise questions about the Army’s commitment to human rights, they must be acknowledged and addressed - not hidden or covered-up with the belief that those who exercise power need not be accountable.
March 4
Police foiled a serial bomb attack, directed by a prisoner Ram Prasad Mainali, the chief of NDA, at major places in Kathmandu. The Police arrested six members of the underground armed outfit along with Three bombs, weapons and ammunition from Gongabu in Kathmandu.
During the interrogation, the arrestees, Cham Bahadur Thapa (22) of Damauli; Dilip Adhikari (30); Shiva Narayan Chaudhary (19); Ram Kumar Chaudhary (36); Ram Krishna Pahari (33) and Raj Kumar Nagarkoti (29) confessed that they came to the Capital on March 3 to detonate the bombs on busy thoroughfares. Police records show Mainali had also killed Salesian Priest John Prakash Moyalan in June 2008 in the city of Dharan and detonated over two dozen bombs in several parts of Kathmandu. Mainali, once a former member of the CPN-UML and then the UCPN-M during insurgency, claimed he took up arms to re-establish a Hindu State.
PM Jalanath Khanal inducted four Ministers from the UCPN-M. Maoist Standing Committee member Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who leads the party's team to the Government, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communication, Top Bahadur Rayamajhi as Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Barshaman Pun as Minister for Peace and Reconstruction and Khadaga Bahadur Biswokarma as Minister for Tourism. Khanal now heads a cabinet of seven ministers, three from his party - CPN-UML and four from UCPN-M.
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal that integration of the cantoned Maoist combatants will start soon. With the party's participation in the Government it will now initiate works on integration of the PLA, Dahal said at Bhadrapur airport in Jhapa District.
March 6
Unidentified assailants killed a man, identified as Bir Bahadur Lopchan, with a sharp weapon in Makawanpur District.
A UN mine action team neutralised landmines planted in and around the Khumel based company ‘D’ of Devidatta Battalion during the Maoist insurgency in Rolpa District. The battalion chief urged the people to remain cautious as there might still be some explosives. "We had shouldered the responsibility of disposing mines and bombs in 53 places across the country, of which we have completed our task in 43 places," said Shyamhari Adhikari, a representative of the Mine Action Group.
In Sukhani area of Jhapa District, Dahal said the communist revolution in Nepal had not yet completed and that his party "is ready for a sacrifice bigger than the people's war" if conspiracies were hatched against peace and constitution.
Two days after joining the Government, Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Minstructed ministers from his party on the "new priorities" in the Government. Dahal urged the ministers not to spend much time in public programmes and inaugurations. "You should focus more on ministerial tasks than unnecessarily killing time at public functions that will have a negative impression on the people," said Dahal. The Maoists claimed they have joined the Government to ensure peace and constitution. Minister for Tourism Khadka Bahadur Bishwokarma said their presence in the Government is a tactical move to ensure people's regime. "For us, Constituent Assembly is just a tool to fulfil our goals," he said.
March 14
The major ally of the current CPN-UML led Government, UCPN-M decided on to form a separate mechanism to run the PM Jhala Nath Khanal led Government as per the seven point that was signed between PM Khanal and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal prior to the PM election on February 3, "We have decided to set up a mechanism to run the Government," said Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. The Maoists have also decided to hold talks with the PM in order to give full shape to the cabinet. The Maoist party decided to bring in an advance budget. The UCP decided to mobilise its new youth wing, JSB in development works.
March 15
The Parliamentary SAC served a host of deadlines to the Government and its agencies to submit reports on ways to improve deteriorating security situation. SAC asked the Government to submit a blue print of security policy and status of report on implementation of the reports submitted by different committees and commissions formed in the past by March 29. It also instructed the Government to end the existing dual administration.
The smuggling of contraband firearms and ammunitions is unchecked in Terai Districts, posing a serious security threat to the region. Taking advantage of the open Nepal-India border, various underground outfits, ethnic groups and criminal gangs are involved in gunrunning. Security sources claimed Police seized 35 contraband weapons and held 58 people in the eastern region within the past three months claiming that most of these weapons are brought from India.
The main ruling coalition partner, UCPN-M unveiled its new youth squad, People's Volunteers Mobilisation Bureau which will have members from all sister organisations of the Maoist party and will be actively involved in reconstruction of physical infrastructures destroyed during the insurgency, reported Nepal News. Refuting accusations that the party floated the youth squad as a preparation to stage 'people's revolt', Chand said the organisation would create pressure for timely completion of the constitution-writing and the peace process apart from engaging in "development activities and public security" across the country. Coordinator of the Bureau, Standing Committee member Netra Bikram Chand, formally announced the establishment of the Bureau along with a ten member executive body comprising central leaders.
The Maoists, who were toying with the idea of ending the armed insurgency by 2006, were an enigma for the international community in Nepal, revealed the diplomatic cables generated between 2003 and 2007 from the US mission in Kathmandu. On September 22, 2006 ambassador James F Moriarty suggested that Nepal appeared headed for "crunch time": Nepal Government allowing Maoists into the interim Government. The then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assured Moriarty he would not do so, but the US envoy saw the risk if he didn’t: Maoists would organise public demonstrations in October, setting the stage for urban violence in November to intimidate the Government into handing over the key to power. Moriarty termed the Maoist ploy a bluff and feared that it could actually work in their favour.
March 16
Defence Minister Bishnu Poudel ruled out a "separate force" of Maoist combatants after their integration. It was reported that "integration and adjustment" would be done as per the Interim Constitution. "The integration of Maoist combatants will be carried out as per the provisions in the Interim Constitution, but there will not be a separate force of the combatants," Poudel said.
The MoPR unveiled a three year NPA for the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Children Affected by Armed Conflict. The action plan aims to assist the current peace process in reaching a meaningful conclusion and protecting the rights of children affected by armed conflict and those associated with armed forces and armed groups through the implementation of the integrated plan of rehabilitation and reintegration. The National Human Rights Commission Report for 2005 stated that over 500 children lost their lives, around 40,000 were displaced and more than 8,000 were orphaned or separated from their families during the armed conflict since February 1996.
March 21
MCCN, a previously unheard outfit captured 35 ropanis (a unit of land measure) of land belonging to one Samundra Keshar Pandit in Nayapati village of Kathmandu District, and hoisted party flag. According to Kathmandu Police, an improvised socket bomb was also detonated near Samundra’s house to create panic. Police removed the flag and pamphlets bearing the name of ‘Maoist Communist Centre of Nepal’, signed by its Valley in-charge Bishwas.
March 22
MJF led by Upendra Yadav decided to join the Jhala Nath Khanal led Government after an agreement with present coalition partners UML and UCPN-M.
March 23
Prime Minister Khanal, UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and MJF chairman Yadav signed an agreement about joining the Government at the PM’s residence. MJF agreed to join the Government after UCPN-M and UML expressed commitment in writing to complete the peace process and constitution drafting process on time and address the issues of Madhesh. Khanal agreed to give three ministerial berths to three MJF.
A UCPN-M cadre, Supath Rai, opened fire after a heated verbal altercation with a fellow cadre, Shyam Jarghamagar, at Gauri Puchchhar in Puranojhangajholi area of Sindhuli District .A Maoist cadre said the dispute arose over the "two-line struggle" of party Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai.
March 25
An explosion in a bus left at least 13 passengers injured near Bhediya chowk in Rautahat District. Police said the blast occured inside a moving bus that was headed for Chandranigahapur from the Rautahat District headquarters in Gaur. The TJMP claimed the responsibility for the attack. The outfit's leader Abhay Singh said that the bus was bombed for defying a bandh called by his party on February 23.
Explosion carried out by another underground outfit MMS rocked the WDO in Gaur. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.
March 27
Over two dozen persons were injured when an IED went off inside a passenger bus at Butwal in Rupandehi District. One of the injured person succumbed to injuries in the morning of March 28 (today). The IED planted inside the bus, carrying around 40 passengers, went off soon after it arrived at Milanchowk, the main market center, from bordering city of Bhairahawa at 5:45pm, according to Police. Nobody has so far claimed responsibility for the blast. On March 26, seven persons were injured at Nepalgunj in Banke District, in a similar blast, while another blast left six passengers injured in Rautahat on March 25, adds Kantipuronline.
PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the seven-point deal reached between him and UCPN-Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda won’t be scrapped at any cost. He added that another 10-point pact would be forged instead of quashing the seven-point agreement."There could be another 10-point agreement but the seven-point pact would not be trashed at any cost," said Khanal.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has said the new constitution will be promulgated through political consensus. In a meeting with Director of Asia and Pacific Division of UN Department of Political Affairs Samuel Tamrat on March 27, Khanal maintained that the Government is striving to complete the peace process and constitution writing on time.
MJF-N approved four-point deal the party had signed with ruling CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist last week to pave the path for its joining the Government. A parliamentary party meeting of MJF-N approved the deal signed between party chairman Upendra Yadav, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and Maoist Chairman Dahal.
March 28
Two suspects were detained along with arms at Sonapur Village Development Committee of Sunsari District. The arrestees were identified as Sunil Kumar Lamichane Magar of Dubahi-4 and Jogendra Shah of Dubahi-4, Police Inspector at Area Police Office in Dubahi, Netra Bahadur Baruwa, informed.
NC leader Narahari Acharya said that the seven-point agreement forged between Khanal and Prachanda has not only affected the NC but taken toll on the entire CA. Acharya claimed that the processes of peace and statute drafting cannot be accomplished provided that the seveen-point deal is implemented, adding, that all members of the CA are to blame if the constitution is not promulgated within May 28.
At least three members of the rival factions of the UCPN-M labour union, ANTUF, were injured in a violent confrontation in Bhaktapur. Supporters of the rival factions - one led by ANTUF chairman Salikram Jammarkattel and the other group led by Badri Bajgain - clashed during a meeting. ANTUF chairman Jammarkattel is backed by UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda while Bajgain faction is loyal to vice chairman Mohan Baidya.
Unidentified assailants shot at and injured secretary of Balwa (VDC), Shiva Ram Pandey, in Mahottari District. In 2009, an underground armed group had detonated a bomb at Pandey’s residence for his refusal to pay donation.
MHA has urged all concerned parties to restrain from violence. Issuing a press statement spokesperson of the MHA Jaya Mukunda Khanal urged the concerned parties to stop terrifying the people by blasting bombs at public places and public transport. Khanal also said, the ministry has instructed all security agencies to take immediate action against those involved in the blast.
Prachanda had claimed that his party would not split as it is obvious to have minor differences inside a big party, adding, that some minor differences within the party is giving the impression that the party is splitting, but that’s not going to happen. "Minor differences are obvious in a big party," said Dahal, adding, "But the UCPN-M won’t split, rather, the party will become more united and ultimately the reins of nation will come in our hands."
March 29
Nepal Army bomb disposal team neutralised a pressure cooker bomb planted at the Police office in Traffic Chowk in Biratnagar city of Morang District. Brochures of Janatantrik Madhesh Mukti Tigers have been recovered from the incident site.
UCPN-M called Tikapur bazaar (market), in Kailali District, bandh (shut down) on March 30 protesting against the alleged Police atrocities while showing black flag to Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood.
The UCPN-Maoist decided to dissolve all the three factions of its trade unions, plagued by rivalry and fisticuffs among themselves, and set up a National Assembly Organising Committee. The SC meeting decided to disband all three parallel trade unions affiliated to Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Vice Chairman duo Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai. SC took the decision after the three unions led by pro-Dahal Shalikram Jammarkattel, pro-Baidya Laldhwaj Nembang and pro-Bhattarai Badri Bajagain started clashing with each other. According to Maoist spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, the internal conflicts of the party would be discussed in the next meeting slated for March 31.
The Government has invited all "armed political outfits" active in the country to the negotiating table. Addressing the media, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Barshaman Pun said the Government would hold talks only with the armed outfits of political nature and not with those involving in criminal activities. The Government's decision to initiate talks with the armed outfits comes following series of bomb blasts carried out by armed groups operating in Terai.
Minister Pun also unveiled the revised data of the loss in life and property during the 10-year long armed conflict waged by the then CPN-M. According to the report, 115,760 people were victims of the armed conflict among which 17,000 lost their lives 78,675 were displaced and 1600 people disappeared. Similarly, 12,657 persons lost their properties in the insurgency.
A meeting of the sub-committee under the CC, formed to resolve disputes in the key issues to be incorporated in the new constitution, decided to take the proposal for its term extension at the CC. The term of the sub-committee, which was extended for 15 days on March 15, ended on March 29. According to Kalpana Rana, a member of the sub-committee, the proposal for the extension of the term would be tabled at the CC meeting on March 30 (today).
The CC meeting of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum-Nepal decided to join the Government under the leadership of Chairman Upendra Yadav. The meeting also decided to send either CC members or Constituent Assembly members as ministers to the Cabinet, and the meeting authorised Chairman Yadav to choose the candidates based on the criteria passed in the Parliamentary Party meeting on March 26.
NA has proposed to form a separate general directorate under its command comprising of certain number of personnel from NA, Nepal Police, APF and Maoist combatants to complete the peace process.
The UCPN-Maoist has not responded to the NA proposal, the Maoist combatants have said the proposal could become a basis of discussion for the integration process. The commanding level PLA officers at the seventh division camp in Kailali said the integration issue could be resolved if the NA’s proposal is brought under a positive political discussion and some of its points are revised.
UN diplomat Tamrat Samuel has stressed the need for forming a neutral mechanism to monitor the implementation of the agreement on integration and rehabilitation of People’s Liberation Army combatants that will be signed in future.
The government has released the salary for the former Maoist combatants that were due since the exit of UNMIN in mid-January. The Peace and Reconstruction Ministry took the decision to release the salary on March 25, according to Minister Barsha Man Pun. Salary distribution had been on hold for the last four months in the absence of the monitoring body. The ministerial level directives prepared by the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry authorised the government to make payments to the combatants in the presence of UN arms monitors.
March 30
The tenure of the sub-committee under the CC formed to resolve disputes in the issues to be incorporated in the new constitution has been extended for the second time by 15 days. . A CC meeting decided to extend the sub-committee's tenure till April 14. The UCPN-M has proposed to change the coordinator of the sub-committee, but other parties have not agreed to it. The sub-committee formed over a month ago is led by Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda at present. There are over three dozen disputed issues in the draft of new constitution. Although, the sub-committee has resolved many disputed issues during its previous tenures, critical issues like form of governance and state restructuring are yet to be resolved.
With less than two months to go before the extended term of the CA ends, the CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has hinted that CA tenure could be extended. He suggested that with some work yet to be completed, the CA, if it cannot come up with a full-fledged constitution in time, should come up with a framework constitution, and it should calculate the time further needed and seek for an extension accordingly. He suggested that State Restructuring Committee be constituted to delineate issues concerning principle of federalism and power between federation, state and local level, among others.
The UCPN-M secretary C. P. Gajurel said if the two-thirds majority helps in constitution-drafting process, it should be adopted but the aspiration of all the parties in the CA should be reflected in the process. Gajurel said his party is not for CA term extension.
Tarai Madhes Loktantrik party Chairman Mahanta Thakur said the new constitution should have ownership of all the parties in the CA. Stating that CA has been dictated by the Big Three, he questioned what would the remaining people do if the constitution is made by a two-thirds majority. "In the past constitutions have failed because they could not accommodate the aspirations of all", claimed Thakur. He also cautioned the parties not to humiliate the Madhesi parties.
The UCPN-M Vice Chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai said on March 30 that the accomplishments of peace and statute drafting processes are in peril as internal populi. The Maoist ideologue remarked that the party could split if ideological debates are banned in the party, just like a pressure cooker explodes when if its vapour outlet gets blocked. "Those creating hue and cry inside the party while trying to initiate debate over ideologies are spreading the rumour that the party is splitting," said the Maoist vice chairman, during the fourth annual assembly of a community radio, 'Hamro Radio'. "How can a party that lacks democracy within itself can build a democratic constitution?" Bhattarai questioned, hinting at the internal conflicts within his party.
He urged not to doubt the peace and statute-drafting process as it is being led by the Maoists. "The CA is a child gave birth by the Maoists, others are just the nurses," said leader Bhattarai, adding that the anti-constitution elements are trying to derail the constitution on various pretexts. "Now the anti-constitution are trying to slit the baby CA's throat," he claimed.
March 31
Two cadres of JTMMT-R, operating in Tarai, were shot dead by unidentified assailants in Parsa District. The victims were, identified as Raj Guru alias Chhote Lal Patel and Rabindra Patel, of Chikani Village Development Committee (VDC) in the District.
Top leaders of major parties have emphasised on political consensus for drafting the constitution and bringing peace process to a conclusion in time.
The UCPN-M has called for talks between the labour unions and the industrialists to resolve the ongoing conflict in the industrial sector. A meeting of the Maoist standing committee decided to ask the government to take the initiative for talks between the management of the industries and trade unions through the concerned ministry. The Maoist standing committee also noted that the continuous strike and clashes in industries has been a setback for the industrial sector.
With the objective of upholding the spirit of ‘people’s war’, a new intellectual and cultural forum has been formed by the UCPN-M under leadership of Rishiraj Baral.
April 3
Former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal said that the UCPN-M is not serious to write the new constitution on time. He accused the Maoists of lingering and making various pretexts as they do not want to issue a new constitution. The Maoist chairman’s decision to back-out from the sub-committee under the Constitutional Committee shows that the Maoists are not serious in making the constitution, he said, adding, the UCPN-M must be further pressured to ensure peace and timely statute.
President Ram Baran Yadav opined it is not a good idea to endorse the new constitution by a two-third majority without taking the opposition parties - Nepali Congress and the Madhesh based parties - into confidence. He said a consensus among four power groups in the CA – UCPN-M, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and the Madhesh based parties – is must for stability and sustainable peace. Although there is a provision to endorse the statute by two-third majority such statute will not ensure peace and sustainability, said President Yadav, adding, only a statute with consent from the four power groups will be sustainable.
The Maoist (SC) has taken positively the Nepal Army proposal to form a separate directorate comprising a proportional number of Maoist combatants and personnel from other security agencies for the integration of PLA combatant.
UCPN-M launched its People’s Volunteers in the Valley despite internal conflicts. With the party’s decision to launch a concentrated group of youths, the PVMB made public the volunteers in different parts of the country. People’s Volunteers would is to create pressure for peace and constitution, and also serve the people and begin production and construction work besides providing security to people
April 4
PM Jhalanath Khanal said that the UCPN-M has more responsibility than other political parties for integration and rehabilitation of their combatants.
Speaking at the same programme, NC president Sushil Koirala accused the ruling UCPN-M of creating the terror by forming one organisation or the other rather than cooperating to conclude the peace process.
NC (PP) meeting concluded that the UCPN-M has come to be the main stumbling block in the peace and statute drafting processes.
CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal accused the UCPN-M of running a business of sorts in the name of its combatants.
‘Military-in-charge’ of the UCPN-M and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction, Barshaman Pun, said the integration model proposed by NA is positive.
Nepal is going to be declared a mine-free country by mid-June this year. Four platoons of NA with the help of UNMAT have cleared 45 of the 53 mine fields and plan to clear the remaining mines by mid-June 2011.
During the conflict, NA had reportedly planted 53 minefields, while more than 300 IED were planted by NA, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Combined.
April 5
Police arrested four alleged cadres of the SJM, an underground outfit, for their involvement in an extortion racket in the Budhanilakantha area of National Capital Kathmandu.
UCMN-M ‘vice chairman’ Baburam Bhattarai said conspiracies to impose presidential rule by derailing the constitution-making and peace process are being hatched.
NC and CPN-UML have rejected the UCPN-M proposal to change the co-coordinator of sub-committee under the CC formed to resolve the disputed issues in the new constitution. NC and CPN-UML turned down the Maoist proposal at a meeting of the leaders of the three parties in the morning of April 5.
A meeting of the Maoist office-bearers to find a way out of the dispute in the party's trade union, the ANTUF, ended inconclusively. The rival factions of the Maoist trade union have engaged in a series of violent confrontations in different places over the past couple of weeks.
April 6
Police arrested five senior cadres of the Communist Party of Nepal (Rebel) Maoist, an underground armed group, from Baluwatar in the National Capital Kathmandu and Jagati in Bhaktapur District.
The opposition Madheshi parties asked the Election Commission to suspend the ongoing voter's list collection in Terai Districts and warned of a stir if only citizenship is made the criteria of electoral roll collection.
MJF chairman Upendra Yadav has asked all armed groups operating in Terai Districts to cease violence and come to dialogue with the Government and political parties. Talking to reporters, Yadav said detonating explosives in public places and buses cannot be called a revolution and that such activities would never bring about any positive change in the society.
The US Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Robert Blake said that the US is ready to assist Nepal for the timely accomplishment of the processes of peace and statute drafting.
It seems PM Jhala Nath Khanal’s plan to complete the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants within 50 days is in trouble, with the major parties failing to narrow down their differences on the integration modality. In March, PM Khanal had assured foreign diplomats that his Government would come up with a 50-day action plan to complete the integration and rehabilitation process. Since then, there has not been any progress.
The UCPN-M decided to continue with ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda’s current position as the coordinator of the sub-committee formed to resolve the dispute over key aspects of the upcoming constitution.
April 7
PM Jhala Nath Khanal has indicated that the CA term will be further extended if the task of constitution drafting does not get completed by May 28, when the CA’s current term ends.
The SC had issued a verdict few months ago upholding the CA decision to extend its term in 2010 saying the CA term cannot end until a new constitution is promulgated.
UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said his party will fight 'till the last moment' to ensure peace and constitution in the country.
Vice President Paramananda Jha has said the President Ram Baran Yadav should step ahead and give a political outlet to the nation if political parties fail to fulfill their mandate.
UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda publicly welcomed the Nepal Army proposal on integration.
As reported earlier, the Army had submitted a proposal to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal suggesting that a separate directorate be constituted within the Army comprising 50 percent former Maoist combatants and fifty percent personnel of the three security agencies.
NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel remarked that the proposal on the integration of the PLA combatants put forth by the Nepal Army is incomplete.
April 8
DPM and the UCPN-M leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that his party is against the extension of the tenure of the CA.
‘Chairman’ of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has said that his party was fully committed to completing the peace process and the constitution drafting process. He said both the process can be completed on time if all the parties were honest to it.
A meeting of the office bearers of UCPN-M decided to take up four issues, including the Government's "unilateral decision to bring in the full budget" and the "stagnancy in the implementation of seven-point agreement" with the CPN-UML.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has said that the Government will get full shape within two days. He said preparations are underway to give full shape to the Government and urged all to assist the Government to conclude the ongoing peace process and constitution writing.
April 9
Four persons were injured when the cadres of an underground ethnic outfit, KJWP, attacked Pangacha VDC in Bhojpur District that borders with Udaypur District.
NC leader Ram Saran Mahat said that Army integration model as proposed by the UCPN-M would not be acceptable, not only to his party but to other parties also.
April 10
Police arrested Ashakaji Subal, who claims to be a central member of the CPN-RM, an underground armed outfit, while he was planning to plant explosives at 15 different places in the National Capital Kathmandu.
The Metropolitan Police Crime Division arrested three cadres of another armed group, Samyukta Ballo Kirat Koichwan Rastriya Morcha.
UCPN-M Spokesperson Dinanath Sharma accused the NC and the CPN-UML of conspiring to hinder the promulgation of a people's constitution.
NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula said lack of consensus among the political parties has put the constitution drafting process in limbo, adding, that the chances of the new constitution being a democratic one is very slim. He said his party would never accept a ‘dictatorial’ constitution.
The ruling parties CPN-UML and UCPN-M formed eight-member taskforce to decide on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) for running the Government. The taskforce has been given a deadline of maximum two days to come up with the CMP and action plan for running the government, according to one of the members.
April 11
Former Minister for Information and Communications and CPN-UML Secretary Shanker Pokharel said that the Home portfolio should not be handed over to the UCPN-M at any cost. He also said that the new statute will be promulgated within May 28 deadline if the political parties forge consensus in cooperation. "If no consensus is forged, the nation will plunge into another conflict," Pokharel warned.
Newly appointed Minister for Energy of the CPN-UML Gokarna Bista was attacked by unidentified assailants at Samakhushi Town Planning area of Kathmandu in the evening of April 11. Bista received injuries in the attack.
People of Jutpani VDC-3 in Chitwan, blocked the East-West Highway section at Ratnanagar for three hours after UCPN-M combatants from the Dinesh-Ramji Memorial Brigade attacked and injured six locals in course of a dispute,. According to locals, the attackers vented their ire as locals opposed their plans to build a cricket pitch on a football ground.
The sixth division of Maoist PLA in Dasharathpur has not cleared electricity charge to the NEA Chhinchu sub-branch. According to the Division source, the electricity charge will be cleared once the party central office allocated amount for this.
April 12
UCPN-M Standing Committee member Dev Gurung claimed that PM Jhalanath Khanal agreed to grant the Home Ministry to his party.
CPN-UML leader Pradip Gyawali said the UCPN-M will not be allotted with the Ministry of Home Affairs under any circumstances as his party has decided to keep the portfolio.
The Prime Minister claimed that his party has no dispute with the UCPN-M over power sharing in the process of Cabinet extension. Khanal said that the UCPN-M and CPN-UML have no dispute over the Home Ministry.
April 13
Police made public three persons arrested on charge of exploding a bomb in a passenger bus in Butwal in Rupandehi District on March 27.
PM Jhala Nath Khanal told the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda that the Home Ministry cannot be given to the Maoist party unless it comes up with a time-bound action plan on integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants and constitution writing.
President Ram Baran Yadav has said the ongoing economic, administrative and social cloud of confusion and uncertainty will clear only after a meaningful completion of the peace process and writing of a democratic constitution.
April 14
An employee of Pakistani Embassy, identified as Mehboob Asim, was injured as unidentified assailants opened fire at him in the Basundara area of National Capital Kathmandu in the morning.
'Co-chairman' of Sadbhawana Party, Laxman Lal Karna, said that the CA term would be extended only if progress is made in constitution writing, or else it should not be extended just for the sake of it. Karna added that it is the deprived Madheshi, Janajati (schedule tribe), Dalit (backward class) and women sections who need the constitution the most.
MJF 'chairman' Upendra Yadav has said that the term of the CA could be extended, but the parties must convince the people beforehand. Yadav said the CA's deadline should not be extended without getting full support from the citizens, saying the ground behind it should be tacit and rational. He also urged all Madhesh-based parties to come under a single platform to defend the rights of Madheshi people.
The fringe political parties have blamed the major political parties for paying less attention toward constitution writing, Leaders of the fringe parties complained that their demands were not heard in the CA by the major political parties' leaders adding that constitution will not be promulgated within the slated timeframe of May 28.
The six-hour long SC meeting of the UCPN-M failed to decide the names of leaders who would join the Cabinet due to the dispute among three factions, respectively of 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, Vice Chairmen Baburam Bhattarai and Mohan Baidya.
April 15
The UCPN-M 'vice chairman' Mohan Baidya ruled out the possibility of promulgating the new constitution within May 28. Baidya claimed that it would be impossible to meet the deadline for the new constitution as the Army integration is still pending, and very limited time has been left for finalising the issues related to the new statute.
NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel claimed that the NC would take the leadership to conclude the peace and statute drafting process even if the Maoists did not want it.
The Nepal Congress has decided to organise a nationwide campaign to create pressure for concluding the peace process and constitution-drafting on time, Nepal News reports. As part of the pressure campaign, the party will hold mass meetings in all five regions and a few district headquarters from April 24 to May 20.
April 16
Two UCPN-M cadres were injured in a clash at Marinkhola in Kalpabrishykha Village Development Committee area of Sindhuli District.
UCPN-M activists in Kailali District have been accused of selling off land seized by them by taking "commission".
PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the Home Ministry will not be allocated to the UCPN-M without the assent of other political parties.
Senior CPN-UML leader K. P. Oli had said that the party should strip Khanal of his posts of both Prime Minister and the CPN-UML chair if he dares hand the home ministry to the Maoists without consulting other leaders of the party.
April 17
A bomb went off at the Sagarmatha Transport Zonal Office in the Siraha District. No casualties were reported.
Police arrested two persons on charge of extortion from Dobhan VDC of the Tansen District. The arrestees, Dhan Bahadur Thapa and Karun Thapa, claimed that they are affiliated with SJM.
April 18
A group of MJF-N cadres attacked 'Chairman' Upendra Yadav's vehicle in Birgunj in Parsa District after the Parsa District Committee of the party was dissolved. Senior leaders of the party Renu Yadav and Hari Narayan Yadav were injured in the attack.
Minister for Irrigation Raghubir Mahaseth claimed that the Madhesh-based parties would join the Government within a week.
A member of the UCPN-M Nuwakot District Committee Secretariat has been found involved in the murder of three members of a family that took place on March 2 at Newarpani of Bhadrutar-3 of the Nuwakot District.
Meanwhile, the major three parties - Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) - have failed to settle the dispute in the Constitutional Committee (CC) as a meeting held in the morning of April 18 ended inconclusively.
April 19
Citing threats from Bikas Kirati of Shree Jung Force of the Kirat Janabadi Workers, 36 VDC secretaries of Bhojpur District resigned en masse. The secretaries lamented they were compelled to resort to such a move due to threats from Bikas Kirati.
UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kyung-Wha Kang called on Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and urged him to "gradually implement" the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review held in January.
Kyung-Hwa Kang also discussed possible term extension of OHCHR-Nepal with the PM. "Regarding the term extension, discussions will be held at appropriate level," PM's Foreign Affairs Adviser, Milan Tuladhar, said in a statement following the meeting.
April 20
PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the Government is fully committed to concluding peace process and drafting the constitution on time.
Government spokesperson and culture minister Gangalal Tuladhar has said seeking an alternative to current CPN-UML-led Government is "natural", adding further he won't find that surprising if it is unable to ensure peace and constitution.
NC central member Balkrishna Khand has said it would not be appropriate to go for general elections before the integration of the Maoist combatants is completed.
The ruling UCPN-M has registered its amendment to key clauses in the Bill on Truth and Reconciliation including proposed provision on action against human rights violators during the decade long insurgency.
In the party's Politburo meeting, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda suggested that the party put peace and constitution at centre stage until May 28, the extended deadline for the Constituent Assembly to promulgate a new constitution.
April 21
The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on said consensus on all contentious issues surrounding the peace process and constitution drafting can be forged within a week .
NC Central Member Narayan Khadka has said that a Government under the leadership of Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal would be acceptable to his party if the party UCPN-M quit the "people's revolt" and express commitment on the peace and constitution writing processes. Khadka remarked that Dahal's report that proposes putting aside the 'people's revolt' strategy for now was a positive step.
Terai Madhesh Democratic Party Chairman Mahanta Thakur said the country should go for fresh polls if the CA fails to deliver the constitution by May 28.
April 22
The MMT 'district in-charge' Mahesh Chaurasia and Anupam Dev were arrested by the Police in Morang District.
Police arrested two persons along with arms in Tulsipur area of Dang District. According to Inspector of Area Police Office (Tulsipur), Jivan Budhathoki, Police arrested Jagat Chaudhary (26) and Deepak K. C. (34) along with a revolver, hand-made pistol and two bullets. The two are said to be the cadres of Nepal Marxist Republican Youth Tiger.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that the Government will soon take a firm step to pilot the peace process to a logical end. Prime Minister Khanal also said that a preliminary draft of a new constitution will be prepared by May 28, the deadline to promulgate a new full-fledged statute. He claimed the seven-point deal penetrated month-long political deadlock.
April 23
Three Policemen were injured when over 200 cadres of KMM attacked a Police post in the Belbari area of Morang District demanding release of their fellow cadres.
Minister for Peace and UCPN-M leader Barshaman Pun 'Ananta' warned that his party will launch another movement if the CA fails to promulgate the constitution within the May 28 deadline.
Another Maoist leader and Physical Planning Minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said promulgation of new constitution by 28 May is not possible. He said extension of the CA's term is inevitable as there is no possibility of writing the constitution by 28 May and that dissolution of the CA before promulgating the statute would invite conflict in the country.
CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said that only after completion of the peace process can the constitution be promulgated. "It's time all political parties zeroed in on peace and statute-drafting processes, but the Unified CPN-M is all set to seize the state power," he said. He also stressed the need to bring the Nepali Congress (NC) on board the Government, and urged all political parties to concentrate on statute-drafting.
April 24
A Nepal Army squad from Butwal disposed of a socket bomb planted in the house compound of Santaram Yadav, a local resident of Hakui VDC-3 of the Rupandehi District. Pamphlets bearing the name of Janatantrik Madhesh Mukti Tigers, an armed outfit, were recovered from the site.
The VDC Secretaries' Rights Protection Centre has accused the Government of not bothering to provide security to VDC secretaries despite mounting threats from various underground outfits. Speaking at a press meet, vice-chairman of the Centre, Ram Kumar Yadav said, "The Government has done nothing for our security, though at least 27 of our friends have been killed since 1996."
NC leader Arjun Narsingh K. C. said that his party will not accept a constitution endorsed by a two-thirds majority in the Constituent Assembly CA. He said if the leftists issue a constitution based on majority in the CA, NC will tear it the same day.
A study by DFHRI demonstrates various instances of extra-judicial killings that took place there between 2008-2010. "The state and various armed groups are competing in perpetrating extra-judicial killings in Terai. The State was involved in 133 extra-judicial killings while armed groups were guilty in 129 cases during the 2008-2010 periods," read the report. It has inputs from National Human Rights Commission and OHCHR-Nepal.
April 25
NC activists attacked and injured six UCPN-M supporters in a dispute over construction work at a school in Dhyangphedi Village Development Committee (VDC)-6 in Nuwakot District. The Maoist District Committee claimed that a group of about 20 NC activists led by Sun Bahadur Tamang had attacked its party men. The NC village committee, however, denied involvement of its activists in the attack.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Sitaula said it is futile to give the CA another extension unless the UCPN-M sticks to agreements, including the November 22, 2005 12-point accord.
Senior CPN-UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli has said the term of the CA "cannot at all be extended" as it has failed to deliver on the mandate of drafting the constitution.
April 26
At least 14 RPP activists were injured in a clash with the UCPN-M cadres at Madi in Chitwan District. According to eye witnesses, the clash ensued after the Maoist cadres suddenly attacked the RPP activists while they were attending a party workers' meeting at Madi.
PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that the peace and statute drafting processes would be completed soon as they were common agendas of all political parties. The PM argued the seven-point deal between his party CPN-UML and UCPN-M provided the country with a Government.
Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha said promulgation of a new constitution has no meaning unless the peace process is taken to its logical conclusion. The Morcha argued that there is no alternative to launching a protest as the Government is non-serious over the Madheshi issues. Senior leaders of the three Madhesh based parties - MJFN-L, TMLP and Nepal Sadbhavana Party - were present in the press meet. They said if a constitution was promulgated sidelining the Madheshi issues, such a statute will not be acceptable to them.
April 27
The NC General Secretary Krishna Sitaula said that the CA term should not be extended until a concrete basis for PLA combatants' integration was prepared,. Sitaula said the present political deadlock will not end due to the Unified UCPN-M double standard.
CPN-UML leader K. P. Oli remarked that the statute-drafting process can be completed within a month and the peace process within four days if the UCPN-M really.
April 28
UCPN-M Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha said that integration of the PLA fighters is one of the topmost priorities his party. Shrestha remarked that without the PLA integration, the peace process will not complete. "Concluding the peace process by integrating the combatants is the first priority. Promulgation of a new constitution comes second," he said, adding, the Maoists were for an honourable integration of the PLA. Saying that his party is not standing in the way of integration, he argued, "These status quoists don't want to see the combatants that fought for the people's right and republic turned into the state army."
During his meeting with French Ambassador to Nepal Jean-Charles Demarquis, Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said the integration model for former Maoist combatants was being discussed at an advanced stage. "There are encouraging signs from the UCPN-M regarding the peace and constitution writing processes. This will help in building consensus even as the May 28 constitution deadline is fast approaching."
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal has invited political outfits, which have launched armed struggle in the Terai, for talks. The Government is ready for talks with political outfits, he said, warning that his Government would crack down on the outfits if they ignored his invite for talks and gave continuity to criminal activities.
UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said he has not backtracked from the party's tactical line of people's line.
Vice Chairperson of the Constituent Assembly, Purna Kumari Subedi has said the preliminary draft of new constitution should be brought out if the new constitution was not possible within the scheduled date. Subedi stressed that the parties should come with objective reasons as to why they are unable to give the nation the new constitution within May 28, the deadline for issuing it. He urged the parties to come to consensus before the nation sees any disasters due to increasing misunderstandings among them.
Anil Chamar alias Samrat, 'Western Regional Bureau Chief' of Madheshi Mukti Tigers (MMT), was killed by the Police at Rohani Khola, border of Nawalparasi and Rupandehi Districts. According to the District Police Office, Rupandehi, Chamar died in the clash after he attacked on a patrol team of Police. Samrat was living at Syathi VDC-8 of Nawalparasi District.
Three people, including the driver, were injured in a bomb attack on a bus at local Volti in Mahottari District.
April 29
The UCPN-M in its CC meeting approved the political dossier of its chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda by majority votes, according to Nepal News.
Special Committee (for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants) is gearing up to deploy monitors to supervise 21 satellite camps where Maoist fighters are billeted, the combatants have objected to the idea, arguing that they need a 'separate order' from their mother party, the UCPN-M. "We are at the final stage of deploying monitors, but the camp commanders are in opposition. They say they have yet to receive an order from party high command," a non-Maoist member in the SC Secretariat said.
The major three parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML - have agreed to speed up the constitution-drafting process.
Minister for Education, Gangala Tuladhar, has said that peace and constitution are the top priorities of the Government and support and collaboration from the main opposition party NC is a must to meet such goals, according to Himalayan Times.
The RPP-N urged three major political parties - UCPN-M, CPN-UML and NC -- to dump the ideas of federalism and secularism thereby creating a favourable environment for the reinstatement of monarchy in the country,. RPP-N claimed to establish constitutional monarchy and Hindu kingdom through street demonstrations if the big three parties failed to rethink over the issues of secularism, federalism and republic state. The RPP-N leaders demanded that the Government ensure the dissolution of the CA it parties failed to draft the constitution by May 28 deadline.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on Nepal's rival parties to step up efforts to agree a new constitution.
The FATF-a global anti-money laundering body formed by G-20-may blacklist Nepal if it fails to meet its commitment regarding anti money laundering and terrorist financing by June 23 when FATF's holds its annual meeting. This is the warning issued by APG on Money Laundering Executive Secretary Gordon Hook during his meeting with speaker Subas Nembang. APF is an anti-money laundering body that monitors this region on compliance of anti-money laundering measures. Nepal is an APG member.
May 1
One Police Constable, Ambika Pokharel, injured when a group of unidentified assailants shot at him in Jhapa District. Sources said that the armed assailants opened fire at Constable Ambika Pokharel, who was currently posted at Birtamod Area Police Office, near the Aduwa Bridge in Birtamod at around 6 pm.
Police arrested three persons, Tej Kumar Mahato, Santosh Mahato and Basanta Kumar Mahato, along with weapons from Mahottari District. A pistol and five rounds of bullets were also recovered from their possession.
UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal warned of agitation from May 29 if the CA is dissolved. The CA term ends on May 28. Addressing the May Day function organised by his party affiliated trade union at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu Dahal said his party would not tolerate if anyone tried to derail the peace and constitution writing process by conspiracy. Maoists raised the demand for CA and initiated the peace process and we cannot see the CA and the peace process aborted, said Dahal. UCPN (Maoist) central committee has recently adopted a political line that focuses at the peace process and the constitution writing as opposed to the strategy of people's revolt passed by the parties Palungtar plenum.
Peace and Reconstruction Minister Barsha Man Pun has claimed that the UCPN (Maoist) has transformed into a democratic party like others as it has approved the democratic path.
May 2
Ruling coalition partners UCPN-M and CPN-UML agreed to extend CA's term that expires on May 28 after forging consensus with other political parties.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said the constitution drafting process can move ahead smoothly only after the peace process is taken to a logical conclusion.
May 3
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communications, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, said that the Government would make public a draft of new constitution before May 28. Mahara said the Government would issue a draft constitution by May 28, as it would be impossible to promulgate a full statute without consensus among the political parties.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal Chairperson Kamal Thapa argued that another extension of the CA will serve no purpose; instead it will lead the country to a greater crisis. Thapa claimed that the country's situation will remain the same no matter how many times the CA term is extended and the best way out is to go for elections after dissolving the CA. Furthermore, he blamed the CA elections without first managing Maoist combatants and their weapons for the present situation.
May 4
UCPN-M has got the Home Ministry in the latest expansion of cabinet. Deputy Prime Minister and Maoist leader in the Government, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, who held the communication portfolio, was appointed Home Minister.
MJF, CPN-United, CPN-ML Socialist also joined govt. He inducted eight ministers and four state ministers from the UCPN-M, three ministers and a state minister from the MJF and one minister from each CPN-United and CPN-ML Socialist.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda's move to recommend Krishna Bahadur Mahara as a Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs has irked the hardliner faction led by Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya and his close aides.
NC President Sushil Koirala and other senior party leaders accused the UCPN-M of not being responsible about concluding the constitution and peace process on time. Koirala said the Maoists are not in favour of drafting the constitution on time and taking the peace process to a logical end.
May 5
Explosives were found in a passenger bus that was heading for Janakpur (Dhanusa District) from Kakdbhitta in Jhapa District. Police found the explosives in the bus at Purano Bhansar in Kakadbhitta in the course of checking the vehicle.
Newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav said he will not allow any anti-India activity in Nepali soil.
May 6
Unidentified gunmen shot dead a UCPN-M cadre in Rampurbirta area of Siraha District. Two motorcycle-borne assailants shot dead Bindeshwar Mahato at Manaharwa Chok near his house.
UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the party has prepared a clear-cut action plan for the integration and rehabilitation of the combatants staying in the cantonments to give a head-start to the peace process before May 28.
Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala remarked that the peace and constitution drafting processes would not be possible if the UCPN-M continued its lust for arms and maintained communist mindset. He added that the adherence to the communist ideology that has become extinct from the world would lead the Maoists to its downfall just like other tyrants.
May 8
NC is to seek a written commitment from the ruling parties, especially the UCPN-M, on completing outstanding issues in both the peace and statute writing processes before agreeing to extend the CA.
May 9
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda tried to assure the people that the CA term would be extended and the parties will offer a clear roadmap for the peace process and constitution drafting.
CPN-UML and UCPN-M are learnt to have informally agreed to find an alternative to the barely few month old Jhala Nath Khanal Government, according to Nepal News. A secret meeting of top leaders of the coalition partners convened at Baneshwor thoroughly evaluated Prime Minister Khanal’s leadership in the Government and decided that an alternative to the current Government is a must to institutionalize the republic by taking the peace process to a logical conclusion.
CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal said action will be taken against Prime Minister Jhalanath khanal, who is also UML party chairman, for his decision to allot the MoHA portfolio to the UCPN-M. Nepal reiterated that Khanal will face action for defying the CPN-UML party decision not to give home ministry to the Maoists. He, however, didn’t say what kind of action will be taken against Khanal.
May 10
Police arrested three UCPN-M cadres in connection with their involvement in extortion in Lalitpur District. The arrestees, identified as Hari Bahadur Bhujel, a native of Kavre, Santa Man Lama of Lalitpur and Ujjwal aka Donang Blon of Lalitpur, were found extorting gullible people in Lalitpur in the name of Valley Tigers’ Group.
The UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda hit back at the voices from some political quarters against the imminent extension of the tenure of the CA, claiming that "regressive and status-quoist forces" are plotting to dissolve the CA.
NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said his party would not be ready to extend the tenure of the CA unless Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khnal steps down. Mahat said NC would stand against any proposal to extend CA's tenure if Khanal does not quit by May 28. "Khanal government is legitimate as it was formed on the basis of the illegitimate seven-point agreement. It has also failed in both the missions - peace process and constitution-drafting," the NC leader added.
Maoist leader Barshaman Pun countered Mahat's views, saying that there is no alternative to the Khanal-led Government in the current scenario. He claimed that parties are going to reach an agreement within a few days to establish a separate Security Force by merging certain number of personnel from the Nepal Army and the Maoist People's Liberation Army.
May 11
Normal life was paralysed in Lumbini, Gandaki and Dhaulagiri Districts due to a bandh (shutdown strike) imposed by Chhetri Samaj, an ethnic outfit. Police arrested five Samaj activists while they were enforcing the strike in Butwal. Chhetri Samaj called the one-day shutdown strike in the three Districts putting forth a seven-point demand that includes enlisting Chhetris as Janjatis (indigenous nationalities), reservations in national body and timely promulgation of the constitution, among others. The outfit had imposed a similar bandh in Rapti zone two days ago against caste based federalism.
Pradip Nepal, who is the politburo member of the ruling CPN-UML claimed that the PM has become “half Maoist” already. He said that although Khanal is CPN-UML party chairman and heads the Government led by the party, he is actually a “Maoist Prime Minister” at heart. He said that he believes that Khanal defied party’s clear orders not to allot Home Ministry portfolio to the Maoists. Pradip Nepal added that action must be taken against Khanal for his open misdemeanor.
An unidentified group abducted a UCPN-M cadre, identified as Rajendra Dahal, from Jai Nepal chowk in Biratnagar in Morang District.
Earlier on the day, a group had assaulted local Nepali Congress member Yogendra Dhakal. Dahal, who was accompanying injured Dhakal to a hospital in an ambulance, was abducted on the way to Koshi Zonal Hospital, local Maoist leader Ganesh Upreti said. Police suspect Dahal may have been abducted by the same group that attacked Dhakal.
May 12
PM Jhalanath Khanal said that he will not resign from the post without accomplishing the mission of peace and statute drafting. PM Khanal said that the current Government is committed to completing the tasks assigned to it. He added that the remaining time will be utilised to the fullest in order to pilot the peace process to a logical conclusion prior to May 28.
The Government registered a proposal in Parliament to amend the Interim Constitution and extend the tenure of the CA by one more year. The proposal seeks to amend Article 64 that states that the tenure of the CA would expire three years after its first sitting — to “four years” from the first sitting held in May 28, 2008. The Bill says that Article 82 of the Interim Constitution envisages that the responsibility of the CA would cease only after a new constitution comes into effect.
The Government argued that significant progress has been made in the constitution drafting process and that there is no alternative to promulgating a new constitution through the CA. Law and Justice Minister Prabhu Sah registered a Bill proposing the amendment in accordance with a decision taken by the Cabinet.
The UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda told reporters, “All leaders were of the view that extension of CA was essential but government should be able to justify the extension and come up with a clear roadmap to bring peace and constitution drafting process to a logical end,” adds The Hindu.
The NC said it will support CA extension only if three conditions are met — agreement on numbers and modality of integration of former Maoist combatants and their regrouping so that the peace process reaches an ‘irreversible' position; agreement on draft democratic constitution; and the abrogation of the seven-point agreement between Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and Prachanda and resignation of the present government.
The UCPN-M has expressed willingness to agree on the modality of PLA integration, starting the process of regrouping the combatants and introducing a time-bound action plan to complete the peace process before the May 28 deadline.
Fixation of the norms of integration and rank harmonisation are the contentious issues in the integration process. The Special Committee for the Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants is discussing four different integration modalities, including the formation of a separate force for the PLA and a mixed force comprising the PLA and personnel from the existing security forces.
May 13
The UN continues to list UCPN-M "as a party to conflict using child soldiers" in its latest report. The Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict presented before the UN Security Council on April 23 has included Maoist in the list of 52 armed forces from Asian and African countries that recruit or use children, kill or maim children or commit sexual violence against children during the armed conflict. This is the sixth annual report that has put the Maoists on a watch list for using minors.
The Maoists discharged of 2,973 minors from the cantonments in 2010. The discharge process was carried out as per the tripartite action plan that was signed between the Maoists, the Government of Nepal and the UN in December 2009. 2,394 individuals including 1,843 miners were released from the seven main cantonment sites during the formal ceremonies organized between January 7- February 8, 2010 and the "no-shows" were discharged through the sign off process involving the Maoist leadership a month later.
The Maoists, however, insist that they have cut links with the "child soldiers" and that the UN has failed to adequately document the discharge of 4,008 disqualified combatants that included minors. "We handed over the disqualified combatants to the UN and suggested them to accept the rehabilitation packages after signing the action plan. They have cut off the links with the PLA," said Maoist Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun, adding, "The UN's conclusion has deprived us of justice. We will raise our reservations regarding this issue during the upcoming visits of the senior UN officials."
The Government formed three-member ministerial team headed by Minister without Portfolio Ghanshyam Bhusal to negotiate with different agitating groups. The government formed the negotiating team after a series of shutdown strikes called by different groups continued to paralyse normal life across the country.
UCPN-M ‘chairman’ Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda expressed serious dissatisfaction over the recent Government move of tabling a bill to extend the current term of the CA by one more year. He told Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal that his party is serious about the PM’s unilateral decision to table the bill. In response, Khanal told Dahal it was important for the Government to table the bill to complete due process for constitution amendment before May 28 as it had become certain that a new constitution could not be promulgated by that date.
NC General Secretary Krishna Prasad Situala said his party is not ready to extend the term of the CA in the existing situation. Situala said the NC would not agree to extend the CA's deadline as long as the UCPN-M sticks to "politics of arms" and refuses to return the seized properties and integrate its combatants.
Sadbhawana Party ‘chairman’ Rajendra Mahato warned that his party will walk out of the CA and take to the streets to wage a strong movement if the CA’s term is extended again without forging consensus among the parties. He said that a clear roadmap to complete the ongoing processes of peace and constitution should be prepared before going for extension of CA’s tenure.
May 14
One civilian, identified as Dinesh Kumar Yadav (25), was injured when a bomb went off at Lakkad-2 in Janakpurdham area of Dhanusha District on May 14. According to Yadav, the incident took place when he happened to step on the explosive covered with black tape.
A suspect was arrested along with explosive substance from near the Nepalgunj Customs Office in Banke District. The recoveries included a detonator, five meters of fuse wire and 400 grams of explosives.
Police in Lamatar area of Lalitpur District arrested Kalpadeep Rai, a leader of the UCPN-M, ANTUF, on charge of attempted of murder of a member of the rival faction in the trade union. Rai is the president of Casino Anna Chapter of ANTUF that lends support to Saligram Jamakattel, who is the leader of faction close to Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda. According to reports, group of about 15 people led by Rai had assaulted and injured Gyan Man Dangol at Jamal in Kathmandu on May 9. Dangol is the treasurer of ANTUF faction close to Maoist vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai at the Casino. Police said Rai was taken into the custody based on a complaint lodged by Dangol.
CPN-UML General Secretary Ishwor Pokharel said that there is no significance of extending the tenure of the CA unless satisfactory basis for extending the term is presented before the general public, according to Kantipuronline. Pokharel said there is no meaning in extending the tenure without clarifying all the issues concerning the CA.
May 15
At the meeting of the Legislature-Parliament, Minister for Law and Justice, Prabhu Shah tabled four different proposals. The Crime Code 2067, Criminal Procedures Code 2067, Criminal Office (Punishment determination and enforcement) Bill 2067 and Bill designed to amend, integrate, adjust and annul some Nepal Acts were tabled at the parliament.
With political uncertainties looming large ahead of the fast approaching deadline to promulgate a new constitution, the Nepal Police has directed the metropolitan police to step up security measures to avert any untoward activity before May 28 and afterwards. “Based on our intelligence inputs, we will boost security in Kathmandu Valley,” said Nepal Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General Nawa Raj Dhakal, adding, “We will bring in additional police in the Capital from those districts where pressure remains low and make the best use of the available resources.”
The UCPN-M have proposed two modalities for Army integration — creating a fifth force — either comprising the PLA only or a mixed force with equal number of personnel from all SFs. “We have not entered the Nepali Army proposal for forming a separate directorate under the national army,” said Maoist Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha. “PLA will lead the fifth force and integration will be unit-wise, but general norms of the security body will be mandatory,” he said. Shrestha said his party was now ready to determine the tentative number of combatants to be integrated through discussions with other parties as it had become imperative to take a decision very soon.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that a framework on the integration and rehabilitation of the PLA specifying the numbers would be prepared before May 28 deadline of the CA, according to Kantipuronline. He said that a draft including the number of the PLA to be integrated, modality and standard would be brought prior to the deadline.
UCPN-M secretary C. P. Gajurel made it clear that his party will go for a ‘people’s revolt’ if the CA fails to deliver the constitution and the political parties fail to integrate Maoist fighters through a consensus, Himalayan Times reports. Gajurel further admitted that disputes within his party have delayed preparations for the revolt. Conceding that ‘’it is [UCPN-M] ready to deploy PLA for border security in coordination with security forces,’’ he warned against ending the PLA’s identity in the name of integration.
The CC has extended the term of its sub-committee formed to narrow down the differences in the new constitution till May 27.
May 16
Shakti Singh, a central level leader of JTMM, was arrested by Police from Gaur. Police seized a gun, three rounds of bullets, and three sets of mobile phone, cash NR 25,000 and documents from his possession.
The UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai received death threat from a member of labour union affiliated to his own party.
Opposition parties led by main opposition NC submitted a seven-point memorandum on concluding peace and constitution drafting process to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal.
UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai said the CA term extension will be futile without a clearly designed package deal among the three largest parties and Madhesh-based parties regarding the formation of a national unity government and statute drafting process.
Senior CPN-UML leader K. P. Oli accused two individuals - UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and Prime Minister and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal - of running the show in the country by hatching conspiracies.
President Ram Baran Yadav ruled out the possibility of a presidential rule saying there is no such provision in the existing constitution.
Minister for Local Development Urmila Aryal said the coalition partners are ready to change the present Government if the oppositions come up with a clear format to resolve the existing political crisis.
Demanding the incorporation of their demands in the new constitution, indigenous nationalities announced a series of new protest programmes as a part of the first phase of programmes prior to May 28.
A group of 60 UCPN-M cadres from the Chulachuli-based PLA first division camp of Ilam attacked local people of Kamal Jhoda, injuring at least 12 people.
May 17
CPN-UML leader K. P. Sharma Oli said that the plot to kill UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai by his own party cadre was the latest example of violent nature within the Maoists.
UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma said his party has become alert after revelation of murder plans of vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai inside the party headquarters itself, Nepal News reports. It has been revealed on May 16 that one of the Maoist cadres has threatened to "finish off" Baburam Bhattarai.
The Ministry of Home Affairs is working in full swing to withdraw registered criminal cases against UCPN-M cadres charged with various offences - including serious charges dating back to the period of insurgency.
Seventeen smaller parties said that they would not back the recent government proposal tabled at the Parliament Secretariat to amend the Interim Constitution for extending the CA deadline by another year.
Leaders of the Unified Democratic Madheshi Front have said that the term of the CA should not be extended only for the sake of going to power again.
CPN-UML senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal put forth a condition for the extension of CA's term by one more year Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's unconditional resignation.
NC President Sushil Koirala reiterated that the tenure of the Constituent Assembly should not be extended prior to the conclusion of the peace process, reports Kantipuronline. Saying that the CA tenure extension will not have any significant impact on the state of affairs in the present context, Koirala said taking the peace process to a logical conclusion is the first condition for the extension.
The UCPN-M politburo member Nawaraj Subedi said the country may grapple with serious crisis if the tenure of the CA is not extended, according to Himalayan Times. He said counter revolutionaries are now making ploy to not prolong the tenure of the CA.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal asked the UCPN-M to come up with a concrete proposal on integration of the cantoned combatants at the earliest.
NC and CPN-UML has converged on integration and rehabilitation of Maoists combatants.
NC leader Ram Sharan Mahat said the Constituent Assembly deadline shouldn't be extended before completing army integration.
May 18
NC rejected the Maoist proposal of forming a separate security force, including PLA fighters, and prepared its own document, which will be handed over to the UCPN-M said NC sources.
Leaders of the UDMF demanded resignation of the current Government to form a "national unity Government" as a precondition for extending the tenure of the CA.
Nepali Congress general secretary Prakash Man Singh said the current CPN-UML-led Government should clear the way for a new national consensus Government as it has become certain that it cannot complete the task of promulgating the new constitution and conclude the peace process.
The UCPN-M has decided to submit a "more acceptable proposal" for their Army integration that would incorporate the suggestions forwarded by Nepal Army.
Earlier, saying the issues of integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants should be addressed politically, the UCPN-M, in its proposal sent to the government and the main opposition NC, has sought simultaneous development of national security policy, and restructuring plus esoteric "democratisation" of the security bodies along with the task of integration.
May 19
The NC CWC endorsed the 10-point 'proposal' put forth earlier by the party for extending the tenure of the CA.
The CWC concluded that the CA's term cannot be extended unless there is concrete progress in the peace process.
UCPN-M has decided to adopt the Army integration proposal floated by the NA.
Defense Minister Bishnu Poudel urged the UCPN-M to hand over all weapons possessed by the party's cantoned PLA combatants at the earliest.
The sub-committee formed under the Constitutional Committee resolved eight disputes surrounding the upcoming constitution including its name.
May 20
Minister for Home Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that politically motivated cases registered against the (UCPN-M) cadres during the insurgency period would be withdrawn.
Minister Mahara said there are several cases, many of them politically prejudiced, against UCPN-M leaders and cadres filed during the conflict.
A day after UCPN-M Standing Committee decided to accept the modality proposed by Nepal Army on integration of PLA combatants, the General Staff meeting of PLA on May 20 put its stamp of approval to the party's decision.
UCPN-Maoist vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha hinted that his party might reconsider its stance on integrating 10,000 combatants into the state security agencies, Nepal News reports.
The sub-committee under the (CC) agreed not to include the provision of compulsory military training to citizens above 18 years of age in the new constitution.
May 21
Three coalition partners decided to put forth common proposal to take the peace process to a logical conclusion.
Police arrested a suspected bomber in possession of an IED and a cache of explosives from Gongabu in the Capital Kathmandu.
Leaders of Samyukta Loktantrik Madheshi Morcha threatened another revolt in Madhesh if the Government extends the tenure of the CA with majority votes.
NC lawmakers, including Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel and Chief Whip Laxman Prasad Ghimire, had said they would allow the Government to table the amendment bill in May 22 session. The main opposition had prepared to raise its concerns including its 10-point charter of demands during the theoretical discussion on the bill.
May 22
UCPN-M standing committee meeting suspended Janak Bartaula for three months for threatening Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai.
The chiefs of the largest three political parties in the ruling coalition have prepared a proposal for army integration and constitution drafting.
Likewise, the chiefs of the three ruling parties have proposed to prepare an integrated draft of the new constitution within eight weeks from May 28. They have proposed to complete the constitution in April 2012 by completing all procedures including taking it to the people for feedback and organising interactions, seminars and workshops for advice.
UCPN-M Vice Chairman Mohan Baidhya, Secretary C. P. Gajurel, Dev Prasad Gurung and Netra Bikram Chand signed note of dissent on the last day of the standing committee meeting of the party.
The Government's bid to table the Interim Constitution amendment bill proposing a one year extension of the CA fell through on May 22 in face of opposition from the main opposition NC.
May 23
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern that despite the fast-approaching deadline for Nepal's Constituent Assembly to complete its work, there is still no agreement on the contentious issues of the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist combatants and the key elements of a new constitution.
May 24
Eight persons were injured when a clash broke out during the management committee meeting of the Khochadas Lower Secondary School in Ranganj Sinuwari in Sunsari District. The clash erupted between supporters of the MJF-L and the UCPN-M after they had disagreement on the appointment of two new teachers under the women and general teacher relief quotas.
May 25
The SC ruled out the extension of the CA term, except during a state of emergency or any other special circumstances as per the doctrine of necessity, for six months or less.
The Chairman of the UCPN-M Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that the tenure of the CA which expires on May 28 should be extended for "one last time" after seeking apology from the people.
May 26
The 10 fringe parties having representation in the CA on concluded that the CA's tenure should be extended only after coming up with a clear road map for constitution drafting and completing the ongoing peace process.
UDMF made it clear that they can't agree on the term extension of the CA unless there is a strong basis for timely constitution drafting and completion of the peace process.
May 27
The UCPN-M 'chairman Puspha Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda ruled out submission of weapons possessed by the Peoples Liberation Army cadres to the state authority, saying the process would be "illogical and immature".
UCPN-Maoist secretary C. P. Gajurel declared that his party would not hand over the arms and ammunition to the Government as demanded by NC prior to forging consensus among the parties on the army integration modality.
The UCPN-M is extorting people in Rautahat, Bara and Parsa Districts. The newly-formed Maoist Peoples' Volunteers Bureau is extorting businessmen, Government offices and contractors in the Terai Districts.
May 29
The CA term has been extended by another three months. The Legislature Parliament passed the ninth amendment to the interim onstitution in the morning of May 29 to extend the CA term.
The CA term was extended after a five-point agreement among largest three political parties in the CA - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML.
Despite strong reservations from the Madhesh-based parties, the Big Three - UCPN-M, Nepali Congress CPN-UML -- have for the second time agreed to form a high-level State Restructuring Commission.
A parliamentary committee led by Speaker Subash Chandra Nemwang is going to be formed to monitor the implementation of the five-point agreement reached among the three largest parties in the CA in the course of extending the CA term.
May 30
The three largest parties in the CA are also said to have informally agreed on two other issues-ending dual security being provided to Maoist leaders within a week and issuing a progress report or "white paper" incorporating all contentious issues pertaining to the constitution writing process.
Political parties agreed to extend the tenure of the statute sub-committee formed under the CC to resolve the disputed issues seen in constitution drafting.
PM Jhala Nath Khanal in his televised address to the nation clarified that he was committed to the recent five-point agreement signed by the three major parties that saved the CA.
May 31
Political parties agreed to extend the tenure of the statute sub-committee formed under the CC to resolve the disputed issues seen in constitution drafting.
PM Jhala Nath Khanal in his televised address to the nation clarified that he was committed to the recent five-point agreement signed by the three major parties that saved the CA.
June 1
The Government extended the term of OHCHR-N by another six months with the same mandate.
UCPN-M in a meeting decided to end the dual security to the party leaders, provided by the State and the PLA, "as soon as possible".
June 2
The CC sent the report submitted by the Committee for State Restructuring and Power Sharing to the sub-committee formed under it to resolve disputed issues seen in constitution drafting.
Peace Minister Bishwonath Sah said the Government is going to send letters to armed groups operating in Terai and eastern hills, asking them to come to the negotiating table.
The Special Committee on Supervision, Integration and Rehabilitation of Maoist combatants decided to appoint 120-member surveyor's team deploy them to the cantonment sites for regrouping of the Maoist combatants.
The combatants would be divided into three groups-those opting to be integrated into the security forces, those opting to be rehabilitated back into the society and those opting voluntary retirement.
UCPN-M's decision to abandon their double security system, the leaders decided to send the 100 Maoist security combatants to their respective cantonments (those registered inside the valley would be sent to the Shaktikhor cantonment). The weapons held by them would be locked in the Shaktikhor 'container'.
A cadre of Terai Mukti Tigers, identified as Ashnarayan Saha Kalwar, sustained serious injury when an unidentified group opened fire at him along the By-pass road section of Birgunj.
In a strategic move, UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda is preparing to shift his focus for the time being to the constitution writing process to ensure that it moves ahead simultaneously with the peace process in the next three months.
AISC decided to start the catagorisation of the cantoned Maoist combatants at the earliest.
CPN-UML has floated the time-bound action plan for completing the peace process and new statute.
June 3
UCPN-M approved the five-point deal struck by the three major parties - UCPN-M, CPN-UML and NC- on May 28 to pave the way for the extension of CA tenure.
Maoist leader Barsha Man Pun said that Prachanda, his party Chairman, would not become the Prime Minister as he has no such plans for the time being.
June 5
The UCPN-M formally began the process of sending Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) combatants deployed for the security of Maoist leaders to cantonments.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal reiterated that he would resign only after parties forge national consensus on the leadership of new Government.
June 6
The UCPN-M spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said that his party might choose Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai as the "right candidate" to lead the next National Unity Government as chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal is not interested in becoming the next Prime Minister.
Unified Marxist Leninist leader Pradeep Gyawali clarified that the party won't bargain for leadership in the next Government.
The AISC unveiled the first phase of the action plan for integration of the Maoist combatants on June 6 reports Nepalnews.com.
June 7
The CPN-UML Vice Chairperson Bidya Devi Bhandari remarked that a new constitution could not be promulgated unless without completely disarming the UCPN-M no matter how many times the Constituent Assembly's term is extended.
UDMF, an alliance of five Madhesh based political parties with a collective strength of about 70 members in the 601-member CA, has decided not to accept a constitution that does not include the provision of a single autonomous Madhesh State.
The AISC made public another schedule for the integration and rehabilitation of the PLA combatants, aiming to conclude the regrouping of the combatants by August 27.
79 PLA combatants who were deployed for the security of UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and other leaders have already reached Shaktikhor in Chitwan District by June 7.
June 8
The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M led by Vice-Chairman Mohan Baidya that had written a note of decent against ending the dual security system being provided to Maoist leaders opposed to send the PLA combatants back to their respective cantonments.
The MJF-L Chairman Bijaya Gachchadar said that around 6,000 former PLA combatants could be integrated into the Security Forces.
Reports indicate that though UCPN-M expressed their commitment in public to camp all the combatants and arms used to provide security to Maoist leaders in third division in Shaktikhor, it has not yet been implemented in practice. Only 32 combatants - five on last June 5 and 27 on June 7 - have only been brought back to Shaktikhor division.
Prachanda assured the PLA 'commanders' that Army integration will be done in a 'respectable' manner. "He assured of respectable integration. Prachanda also asked the commanders and the combatants not to be divided because of the differences of opinion among party leaders, added the source. It is learnt that the commanders requested the party leadership to insist on integrating least 10,000 PLA members and demand the "top command of the joint force to be established".
June 9
The sub-committee formed by the Constitutional Committee to narrow down disputes in the new constitution has set a deadline of August 18 to resolve the outstanding disputes and prepare the first draft of the new constitution. In a meeting, the sub-committee decided complete the first draft latest by August 18, ten days before the CA term expires.
A meeting of the (AISC) evaluated the progress made so far regarding the integration of PLA combatants.
June 10
The Government decided to allow the secretariat of the AISC to appoint 120 officials to speed up its works. Among the 120 officials, 72 are section officers and 48 computer officers.
June 11
sub-committee, formed under the CC to settle disputed issues seen in constitution drafting, couldn't form a separate taskforce to forge consensus on key disputed issues including the forms of governance, state restructuring and electoral system.
UCPN-M leader Barshaman Pun ruled out the possibility of handing over the arms before the integration of PLA combatants. He said arms and other objects belonging to combatants would be submitted to the Special Committee along with their integration.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal reiterated that the Government is committed to completing the peace process and the new Constitution on time adding that there has been progress in both the tasks lately.
June 12
A meeting of the AISC held discussion on the modality for the integration of former (PLA) combatants into the Security Forces.
Minister for Physical Planning and Works Top Bahadur Rayamajhi urged all political parties as well as peace process stakeholders to unite to ensure new constitution and lasting peace in the country.
June 13
A team of the Army Integration Special Committee Secretariat has started monitoring the PLA Third Division camp in Chitwan.
A group close to UCPN-M, the Upper Karnali Struggle Committee, has warned to protest again if the Government awards the construction contract of Upper Karnali hydropower project to the Indian company GMR.
June 14
The (NA) cleared its land minefield located at Phulchowki in Lalitpur District, marking the conclusion of the de-mining works.
The CPN-UML urged the main opposition (NC) and coalition partner UCPN-M) to quit issuing threats of nationwide agitation and people’s revolt.
A cadre of the MCC-N, an underground armed group, was arrested from Khalanga, the district headquarters of Jajarkot District, Police arrested Yuddha Bir Singh alias Ramsingh, who is said to be the Midwestern in-charge of MCC-N. Charges of arms possession and arson have already been filed against Ramsingh. The outfit that became underground for the past three months had set ablaze a bulldozer at the construction site of Mid-Hill highway.
UCPN-M cadres ‘looted’ maize planted in about seven bighas (nearly 4.3 hectares) of land in Jogidaha VDC in Udayapur District.
June 15
The taskforce formed to settle the contentious issues related to constitution drafting under the Dispute Resolution Subcommittee started discussions on forging consensus on the forms of governance.
UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai remarked that leaders of major political parties, including his party (Maoists) are striving to dissolve the CA.
The Government has decided to deploy Nepal Army soldiers for the security of sensitive hydropower projects.
June 16
Top three leaders of the UCPN-M expressed their commitment to take the party ahead in unison, dispelling the speculations about deep divide within the party.
Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that he would make every possible effort in his capacity as the party chairman to keep the party unity intact.
The MoHA claimed that the number of armed outfits operating across the country has significantly come down, thanks to the government’s operations against the groups that were launched nationwide one-and-a-half years ago.
June 17
President Ram Baran Yadav expressed serious concern over political parties unable to come to an agreement on the issue of peace process and constitution drafting.
CPN-UML urged its YAN to cooperate with the security agency on the investigation of the attack on Nagarik journalist Khilanath Dhakal. Dhakal was attacked on June 5. The prime accused Parsuram Basnet is a member of the YAN
June 18
Minister for Physical Planning and Work Top Bahadur Rayamajhi said that the (PLA) combatants should hand over their arms only after their integration.
June 19
As the deadline to finalise the Army integration model comes closer, it has become certain that the AISC will miss the deadline to fix the number of former combatants to integrate and the model of integration.
The taskforce formed at the coordination of Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna by the UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda-led sub-committee formed by the CC to resolve disputes in the new constitution has decided to propose a mixed model having both President and Prime Minister with shared executive authority as the form of governance in the new constitution.
Top two leaders of the UCPN-Maoist – chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya – who are at odds on several issues in the recent days have started fence mending exercise from June 19.
The NC leader Gopal Man Shrestha said if the UCPN-M fail to make concrete progress in the peace process as agreed in the five-point deal by mid July, his party would lay claim to the Government leadership.
June 20
Police constable Purna Shrestha got injured when an unidentified gang detonated a socket bomb at Ganeshpur Police Station in Bardiya. The explosion caused partial damage to the Police Station.
About 70 UCPN-M cadres abducted three cadres of the CPN-UML and a minor in Makwanpur District. The incident occurred following a dispute over shifting Dandakhaka VDC office in the District the day before. The abducted UML cadres were identified as Lalit Moktan, Tularam Moktan, Padmeshwor Shangtan and his twelve-year-old daughter, sources said.
Top leaders of the major three parties-UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML-held an informal discussions on the implementation of the five-point pact, peace and statue-drafting. The discussion was continuation of the big three parties' efforts to forge consensus on the details of the integration and rehabilitation process of former Maoist combatants-a key part of the four-year-old peace process.
Further, the taskforce formed to settle the contentious issues related to constitution drafting under the Dispute Resolution Sub-committee decided to propose 'French Model' for power sharing in the new statute. The taskforce led-by Sadbhawana Party leader Laxman Lal Karna decided to propose the model in which the executive power rests upon the president and is aided by the prime minister with limited powers to run the day-to-day administration. Earlier, the CPN-UML had also proposed the same model during the three-party meeting.
NC Central Committee member Khum Bahadur Khadka said that the NC will not go for fresh elections at any cost until the weapons of the PLA combatants were managed, reports Nepal News. He said the Maoist's weapons should be managed prior to the next elections.
June 21
Nepal is ranked 27th in the list of the 'most failed states' by the Foreign Policy magazine.
Representatives of foreign employment agencies met Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and urged him to provide Security to foreign employment agencies. A sense of panic gripped the foreign employment agencies after unidentified assailants opened fire inside Grand Shikhar Manpower Company in Kathmandu on June 20.
June 22
SFs arrested a teen identified as Pawan Rai (14) with explosives at Kakadbhitta in Jhapa District. SFs recovered 125 Orika explosives, a detonator and wire from him.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal opposed Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara's move to withdraw cases filed against UCPN-M leaders and cadres. According to a source at the Prime Minister's Office, the Maoist party and the CPN-UML are at loggerheads about withdrawing the cases filed since the time of the insurgency.
June 23
The plan to deploy 120 surveyors in Maoist cantonment sites to regroup PLA combatants from June 28 was put on hold because of the deadlock on the integration modality and rehabilitation package issues. The Secretariat of the Prime Minister-led Special Committee that was supposed to send 72 section officers and 42 computer operators to profile the combatants on June 24 reviewed its decision on June 23. The panel agreed to shortlist the candidates to be now deployed on June 29. "More than 2,100 individuals filed applications for the job. We will try to complete the recruitment by next week," said Special Committee Secretariat member Deepak Prakash Bhatta.
UCPN-M Central Committee is meeting from June 24 in a bid to resolve the escalating rift between Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and hardliner Mohan Baidya. The central committee could declare the general convention as a tool to diffuse the ongoing dispute.
Sadbhawana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato said that his party would pressurise the three major parties, UCPN -M, NC and CPN-UML to execute the five-point deal. He warned that his party would opt for struggle if the deal is not carried out as agreed.
June 24
Chairperson of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Republican) Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, while speaking at a programme organised in Sunsari District headquarters Inaruwa to inaugurate party office and to honour martyr's families and conflict victim families, claimed that the country was still in the conflict-ridden state since the state did not seriously hold talks with conflicting armed groups in Madhes and mid-eastern mountainous region.
The Legislature-Parliament meet endorsed the international anti-terrorism conventions, reports Kantipuronline. International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism 1999 and the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime were passed by the House.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda proposed opening up discussions on both ideological and political differences in the crucial Central Committee meeting. Dahal said besides public discussions, the party could form a separate internal forum to discuss and forge consensus. Dahal's proposal comes in response to the demand of Vice-chairmen Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai to scrap the party's "restrictive" five-point code and allow open discussions on dissenting voices at all tiers.
June 26
The UCPN-M 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda has tried to assure other parties that he would not deviate from the line of peace and constitution, reports Kantipuronline.
June 28
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and main coalition partner UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda held discussion on the latest political situation of the country including ongoing peace process and constitution drafting on June 28. During the meeting held at PM Khanal's official residence in Baluwatar, in Kathmandu, both agreed to intensify consultation with opposition parties for the effective implementation of the five-point agreement signed by the three major parties -UCPN-M, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML on May 28 which led to the extension of the Constituent Assembly's deadline by three months.
SFs recovered a bomb from a bus, heading towards Kathmandu from Nepalgunj town, at Rajha in Banke District.
June 30
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda dismissed speculations that the Maoist party was heading for a vertical split. Dahal claimed that the ongoing dispute and discourse should be construed as an 'exercise to transform the party and consolidate unity' and that the party was not at all going to split. Dahal's statement comes at a time when he has not been able to conduct the central committee meeting due to factional dispute even after calling the meeting.
July 1
UCPN-M 'vice-chairman' Narayan Kaji Shrestha said the party's internal meetings will resume only after the resolution of outstanding issues, including those related to the annual budget and government policies and programmes, He said that we have started talks with the Government for the resolution of the issues. Our party's internal meetings will take place only after the resolution of issues with the Government. Shrestha said the issues include dues to be paid to the martyrs' kin and to those hurt during the people's war, besides the finalisation of proportional representation in the government.
July 3
According to leaders close to (UCPN-M) 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda, Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai could become the prime ministerial candidate of the party if he meets certain pre-conditions put forth by Party Chairman.. Prachanda, according to his confidants, asked Bhattarai not to indulge in factionalism and support him in the party. His new offer comes at a time when Bhattarai is making alliance with another Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya on some organisational issues to end Dahal's monopoly in the party.
Meanwhile, the Morang district committee of the UCPN-Maoist urged all not to provide any kind of financial support and donation to anyone in the name of the Maoist party.
July 4
CPN-UML lawmakers including those loyal to Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal raised serious objection to the use of phrase 'People's War' in the policies and programmes presented by the Government at the Parliament on July 3.
July 5
SFs arrested six militants of the TJPM, an underground Terai outfit, over the past three days in Saptari District.
July 7
Janatantrik Terai Madhesh Mukti Party, an outfit waging an armed struggle in the Terai region, detonated an Improvised Explosive Device at the Gulariya customs office in Bardiya District. However, no casualty was reported in the blast.
The Parliament passed the Government's policies and programmes with a majority vote and also gave a vote of thanks to President Ram Baran Yadav for presenting them in the House on July 3.
July 8
Political parties and journalists in Parsa District accused police of terrorising the people in the name of maintaining peace and security. Besides, CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and Sadbhavana parties' District leadership urged Police to stop asking for kickbacks from farmers while bringing fertilisers from India.
SC meeting of UCPN-M, the largest party in the CA, ended without reaching any conclusion on the serious intra-party dispute that ails the party.
July 10
JTMM-R put forth an eight-point condition for holding talks with the Government. The JTMM-R 'chairman' Rajan Mukti laid out the conditions in response to an invitation letter sent by Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Bishwonath Sah on June 12 for talks.
UCPN-M, called its central committee on July 13. The party standing committee that met for less than an hour at party headquarters in Koteshwar District called the central committee meeting from July 13 this week. According to party spokesperson Dinanath Sharma, the standing committee will meet again on July 12 , one day before the central committee meet, to finalise the agenda for the central committee meeting. The standing committee meeting also decided to delegate the task of sorting out the contentions including distribution of power to the central committee.
Lawmakers of the MJF-L Ramananda Manandal and Karima Begum received letters from their party seeking clarification within 72 hours on their alleged tilt towards the UCPN-M.
July 11
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba asserted that he was in the race for the PM,. Deuba said the peace process and constitution-drafting could move forward only when the NC gets the leadership of the next "national consensus Government" and that he might as well stake claim for the post of the Prime Minister.
July 12
various armed outfits planted IEDs at four places in Sunsari and Udayapur Districts. All the IEDs were defused later.
An IED was recovered at the gate of a saving and credit cooperative company in Inaruwa, the District headquarters of Sunsari. Elsewhere in the District, another IED was found on the premises of Revenue Investigation Office in Itahari. The Janatantrik Terai Madhesh Mukti Party, an armed outfit, claimed responsibility for planting the IED at the revenue office.
In Dharan in Udayapur District, Khambuwan Mukti Morcha Samyukta, a regional ethnic group spearheading separate statehood, planted an IED on the premises of Inland Revenue Office. The outfit also claimed responsibility for an IED that was planted at a crusher factory in Tapeshwori (VDC)-9.
UCPN-M general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, attended a ‘secret’ joint strategic meeting of the Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai camps. Thapa expressed dissatisfaction at the working style of ‘chairman’ Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda and stressed on the need to develop a culture of multiple-post leadership at the meeting, leaders present at the meeting said.
July 13
The meeting of the UCPN-M standing committee, which was scheduled to take place on July 13 was put off amid mounting internal dispute. The standing committee meeting was called to discuss ways to manage the internal rift and set agendas for July 14 central committee meeting.. Maoist spokesperson Dina Nath Sharma said that standing committee meeting would be held on July 14.
July 15
One person, identified as Bikram Saud (12), was killed and another, identified as Babita Saud (5), was injured when an abandoned explosive went off at Bindabasini-7 in the far-western Achham District .
an emergency meeting of the CSC held in Singha Durbar issued a high alert across the country to prevent any untoward incidents in the wake of coordinated blasts in Mumbai on July 13. The CSC meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara directed the security agencies to keep vigil on suspects in Tribhuvan International Airport and porous borders. The meeting was summoned to discuss the impact of Mumbai terrorist attacks in Nepal.
July 17
UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda not only bowed to demands of rival factions within the party but also offered to reshuffle the party organization and the party’s representation in the Cabinet,. The rift among party’s top leadership – Dahal and vice chairmen duo Mohan Baidya and Baburam Bhattarai - that has virtually driven the party to a brink of a split was also discussed during meeting,
The five-member taskforce formed by the UCPN-M to make recommendations on a number of agenda suggested the party leadership to replace Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara in the Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's Government with ‘vice-chairman’ Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
UCPN-M member Barshaman Pun told the Special Committee (on supervision, integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants) that the peace process will gain momentum once the party’s Central Working Committee resolves prickly issues.
District in-charge of the JTMMM, Bachha Yadav alias Shumsher Singh, was shot dead by two unidentified assailants on July 17 in Birgunj in Parsa District.
SFs arrested Suraj Singh alias Jitan, a District committee member of the JTMM-J, from Garuda in Rautahat District.
UCPN-M 'Chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda prepared a detailed proposal on reshuffling the Cabinet and internal power-sharing, in which he expressed willingness to nominate secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa as a head of the party's military commission to be formed in due time and delegate executive powers to Mohan Baidya, who is already the party's head of organisation department.
July 18
SP 'Chairman' Rajendra Mahato warned to launch a stern protest if the new party formed by lawmaker Anil Kumar Jha was given legitimacy.
July 19
UCPN-M 'secretary' C.P Gajurel claimed that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal agreed to hand over the Government leadership to his party after August 31 while signing the seven-point agreement with the Maoist party, reports Nepal News. Gajurel said that his party did not pressurise Jhala Nath Khanal to step down as he had already agreed to make way for the Maoists after August 31.
July 20
Top leaders from UCPN-M and NC discussed the implementation of five-point agreement signed by chiefs of the three largest political parties in the Constituent Assembly - UCPN-M, NC and (CPN-UML) - before the extension of the CA term on May 28.
UCPN-M 'vice chairmen' trio - Mohan Baidya, Baburam Bhattarai and Narayan Kaji Shrestha - decided at a meeting to pressure party 'chairman' Puspha Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to divide key responsibilities among leaders and end the dual responsibilities given to some of the leaders.
July 21
In the Standing Committee meeting, leaders of all the three factions of the UCPN-M, said that their differences should be tabled before the CC for discussions and eventually put to vote should they fail to find common ground.
Constituent Assembly 'chairman' Subas Nemwang met Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and discussed the implementation of the five-point agreement between the three major parties.
July 22
(SFs) arrested JTMM 'army commander' Bulan Yadav alias Jaya Mukt in Siraha District along with explosives and pistol making accessories.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the UCPN-M) office-bearers failed to find a way out of the ongoing row over power-sharing in the party.
CPN-UML national conclave - a meeting of district chairmen, zonal coordinators and central level officials - is beginning on July 23 in Dhulikhel of Kavre District. The national conclave was called to collect suggestions from the local committees to set agenda for the upcoming meeting of the National Representative Council.
July 23
SFs arrested a UCPN-M cadre, identified as Shyam Magar (24), for possessing firearm in Kathmandu. SFs recovered a revolver and two rounds from his possession.
July 24
President Ram Baran Yadav expressed his belief that the twin task of peace and statute drafting processes would be accomplished in time.
UCPN-M central committee decided to call back ministers and state ministers from the party in the Jhala Nath Khanal Government and send a new team led by vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that the important task of promulgating the new constitution and taking the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion must be accomplished through the CA itself.
July 25
SFs arrested four cadres of JTMM-R, from Siraha District on the charge of their involvement in different bomb explosion cases.
The national conclave of the ruling CPN-UML failed to sort out longstanding differences between the party establishment led by Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and his rival camp led by senior leaders KP Sharma Oli and Madhav Kumar Nepal.
Top leaders of the UCPN-M tried to allay the fears of Nepali Congress, saying the decision to reshuffle the Cabinet will not affect the five-point deal implementation and peace and constitution-drafting processes.
July 26
SFs in Kathmandu arrested a person, identified as Muhammed Zahir, who was communicating with a number under watch in connection with the 13/7 Mumbai blasts. The suspect, an Indian citizen based in Nepal for the past several years, has in the past worked in Mumbai and Bangladesh, sources said.
The Jhapa chapter of the FNJ and five media bodies censured the threat issued to media houses by JTMM.
A meeting of senior leaders of the two main ruling allies UCPN-M and CPN-UML was inconclusive as both sides remained firm in their stances over the Maoist central committee's decision to change its team to the Government.
The main opposition party NC decided to mount pressure on Khanal to step down and pave the way for formation of a new national consensus government.
July 27
NC President Sushil Koirala proposed UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to lead the new "national unity government" by taking "concrete steps" to complete the peace process and draft the constitution.
NC called on fringe parties to join its protest demanding prime minister's resignation.
July 28
PM Jhala Nath Khanal is prepared to reshuffle the Cabinet once the Maoist party comes up with a concrete proposal on peace and statute.
CPN-UML standing committee decided not to go for cabinet reshuffle as proposed by the UCPN-M.
July 29
The UCPN-M has warned to withdraw its support to the Government if PM Jhala Nath Khanal fails to reshuffle the Maoist ministers as per the decision of its Central Committee meeting.
July 31
PM Jhala Nath Khanal hinted that he will reshuffle his cabinet on August 1 by inducting some new ministers recommended by the UCPN-M.
UCPN-M had given him ultimatum to reshuffle the cabinet by August 1.
With a view to ending the escalating spat between the two ruling parties, UCPN-M and CPN-UML, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda on July 31 tried to downplay differences between the two parties and said substantial progress will be made on the peace and constitution writing processes by August 31.
August 1
SFs recovered a home-made pistol and four bullets from two people at Baglung Municipality-1 in Baglung District.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that he will resign from his post if he failed to take steps to take the peace process forward by August 13.
August 2
PM Jhala Nath Khanal proposed to go for a rotational system with leadership in turn for the remaining period of the transitional phase.
CPN-UML Central Disciplinary Commission said that party Chairman and PM Jhala Nath Khanal breached the party tradition and procedure by disregarding the request of a majority of CPN-UML Standing Committee members and inducting the new ministers in his Cabinet, reports Kantipuronline.
August 3
NC president Sushil Koirala, CPN-UML senior leader Mahdav Kumar Nepal and TMLP chairman Mahanta Thakur urged UCPN-M 'chairman' Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda to take lead of the peace process and new constitution drafting.
Nepali Congress General Secretary Prakashman Singh said that his party will continue obstructing parliament until Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal resigns as per the five-point agreement.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav urged leaders of the three major parties to be serious about the peace and constitution-drafting processes, warning that time was running out to accomplish the tasks.
August 5
A bomb exploded at the Nepal Electricity Authority District Centre at Itahari of Sunsari District. No one claimed responsibility so far for the explosions.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said his party would come up with a "rational proposal" to forge consensus on integration and rehabilitation of PLA combatants.
Two major points - disciplinary action against party Chairman and Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and the formation of a national consensus Government - have been included in the agenda for the UML's CC meeting starting August 6.
August 7
The Standing Committee meeting of UCPN-M decided to expedite the tasks of regrouping Maoist combatants and the army integration process.
Chairman of the Sadbhawana Party, Rajendra Mahato said that the three major political parties should be responsible to conclude the peace process and forge national consensus.
August 8
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's proposed address to the House on August 8 failed to convince Nepali Congress, with the main opposition continuing to obstruct parliamentary proceedings.
UCPN-M spokesperson Dinanath Sharma informed that the party was planning to take forward the regrouping process of its combatants within August 13 after reaching an understanding with the political parties on the number of PLA combatants to be integrated and the rehabilitation package.
The vice chairman of UCPN-M, Baburam Bhattarai said that he was averse to leading a majority Government.
August 9
A UCPN-M student leader, identified as Saroj Gautam, supporting party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai was injured in an attack by fellow student leaders representing the faction led by party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda in Pokhara in Kaski District.
With three weeks left for the extended deadline of CA to expire, UCPN-M vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai expedited parleys within and outside the party to form a national consensus Government under his leadership.
CPN-UML central committee meeting was put off because party Chairman and PM Jhala Nath Khanal was indisposed.
August 10
SFs recovered a socket bomb in Nera Primary School at Kawahigoth-5 of Bara District. Bhumi Yadav, District In charge of Janatantrik Tarai Madhes Mukti Morcha (JTMMM), took the responsibility for planting the bomb.
The House got down to business after a hiatus of more than two weeks as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bharat Mohan Adhikary read out a letter from Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal expressing 'commitment to resign on August 13 if no tangible progress could be made by then'.
With the possibility of Jhala Nath Khanal's resignation getting stronger, NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and party Vice-president and Parliamentary Party leader Ramchandra Paudel have intensified internal exercise to garner support to become the prime ministerial candidate from the party.
August 11
Uncertainty over PM Jhala Nath Khanal's resignation continued with the Maoists trying to persuade the PM to change his mind and the NC remaining averse to any piecemeal deal to immediately start the regrouping process that would have given the PM some face-saving room, reports Kantipuronline.
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda agreed to take key decisions for completing the peace process including determining the modality of integration, number of combatants to be integrated and rehabilitation packages before Khanal's resignation.
In the wake of nearing deadline of the CA, President Ram Baran Yadav expressed disappointment towards the major political parties for making 'power' the central agenda instead of peace and constitution.
NC was likely to go for a "compromise formula" to head off a possible skirmish over the party's PM candidate, said leaders involved in negotiations with NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and Ram Chandra Poudel. The compromise, according to leaders, was to pick Deuba as the party's PM candidate keeping Poudel as the parliamentary party leader.
August 12
Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal is preparing to float a package proposal in a meeting of the big three parties slated for August 13.
A planned cultural show was driving a wedge in the UCPN-M fold in Itahari in Sunsari District.
August 15
PM Jhala Nath Khanal said that there was no alternative to National unity Government.
UCPN-M Standing Committee Member Bahadur Rayamajhi claimed that his party Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattari would be the next Prime Minister through majority basis if the parties fail to forge a consensus on the same.
NC and the CPN-UML agreed to accept UCPN-M led Government if the latter presents a work calendar to logically conclude the peace process and forge consensus among the political parties on it. CPN-UML Secretary Shankar Pokharel and NC central member Arjun Narsing KC revealed such statement.
Nepal's major political parties disagreed on who should replace the PM who resigned on August 14, pushing the country back into the year's long political crisis that has left it without a constitution or a stable Government.
Caretaker PM Jhala Nath Khanal defended the Government's actions and his "efforts for consensus" made during his six-month tenure.
CPN-UML Party, will not lay claim to the leadership of the new Government.
Even before the expiry of the August 31 deadline for drafting of the new constitution, CPN-UML leader K.P Oli said that the term of the Constituent Assembly, which is mandated to promulgate the new constitution, will be extended once again.
CA Chairman Subash Nemwang remarked that Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal's resignation mark the implementation of one of the points of the five-point deal between the three major parties and drew the attention of the Political Parties to implement other points of the deal to ensure peace and constitution.
August 16
NC named senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba as its candidate for leading a national unity Government on August 16.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda said that he fully backed party Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai's candidacy for the PM berth and clarified that he himself recommended Bhattarai's name for the post.
UDMF, an alliance of five Madheshi parties decided to field their own prime ministerial candidate if the major parties fail to agree on formation of the national unity Government.
Meeting of the CPN-UML CC was postponed. According to CPN-UML central party office, the meeting was deferred till Aug 22 as top leaders remained busy in holding dialogue with NC and UCPN-M for the formation of consensus Government.
August 17
UCPN-M started consultations with other Political Parties in order to garner support for its Prime Ministerial candidate Baburam Bhattarai. Maoist representatives, including Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, met five chairmen and other senior leaders of the constituent parties of (UDMF) at Singha Durbar for the purpose.
NC senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and UCPN-M Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattai-two prime ministerial candidates for the future Government-held a meeting in Kathmandu.
August 18
UCPN-M Standing Committee member Barsha Man Pun said that his party will lead the much anticipated national consensus Government as the political parties are close to reaching an agreement on important issues concerning the ongoing peace process including regrouping of the Maoist combatants - separating those to be integrated and rehabilitated.
UDMF urged the NC and UCPN-M to agree on a single Prime Ministerial candidate for a national consensus Government.
UCPN-M and CPN-UML leaders said that the discussion held between the leaders of two parties was positive.
Vice President Parmananda Jha expressed hope that the parties would be able to form a national consensus Government by Aug 21-the deadline given by President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav to the political parties, reports Kantipuronline.
The Kathmandu DAO issued prohibitory orders in a number of sensitive areas in the capital from August 18 in view of possible agitations ahead of the expiry of the Constituent Assembly's tenure on August 31.
A programme launched four years ago to resettle Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal camps crossed 50,000 mark on August 1, UNHCR Nepal revealed on August 18.
August 19
Caretaker Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal said that the political parties are trying to push the nation towards doom by forming another majority Government.
With NC and UCPN-M both refusing to budge from their respective stances and CPN-UML indecisive, a national unity Government by the August 22 deadline set by the President appears elusive.
The parliamentary committee formed to monitor the implementation of the five-point agreement between the three major parties - UCPN-M, NC and CPN-UML- urged the parties to form national consensus Government.
Top leaders of two leftist parties - UCPN-M and the CPN-UML- held talks on matters relating to the formation of the national consensus Government.
August 20
Samuel Tamrat, special envoy of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon, met caretaker Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal to discuss the 'progress' in the peace process.
August 21
Nepal's two largest parties failed to come up with a mutually acceptable new (PM), compelling the President, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, to give them three days more as a last-ditch attempt for a national unity Government.
NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel said that he will toss his hat in the prime ministerial ring if consensus bid fails and the Parliament opts for a majority Government.
With the Political Parties missing the first deadline to form a national consensus Government, the political leaders have started expressing skepticism about the possibility of forming the much-anticipated consensus Government UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda said the probability of forming a national consensus Government was bleak.
UCPN-M and the NC, which staked claim to the leadership of a national unity Government, are at loggerheads over the handover of weapons that are with former Maoist combatants.
August 22
Constituent Assembly Chairman Subash Chandra Nembang urged the political parties to complete the peace process at the earliest.
UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda admitted that 'intra-party' issues as opposed to 'inter-party' differences are forestalling a unity Government for now, but insisted that the parties have agreed to find consensus on peace process, even if a majority Government were to be formed.
Prachanda conferred with TMLP chief Mahanta Thakur regarding Government formation. Dahal told Thakur that it has become certain that the next Government will be a majority Government instead of consensus one and that Bhattarai will lead it.
August 23
NC leader Chandra Bhandari said that NC could possibly even withdraw the nomination of its senior leader Sher Bahadur Deuba for the prime ministerial post to pave the way for the formation of national consensus Government within the extended deadline of August 24 set by the President.
NC President Sushil Koirala met senior CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and requested the latter's support for NC's prime ministerial candidate Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Senior leader of the NC and prime ministerial candidate Sher Bahadur Deuba said that a majority Government was not his option at the moment. He said despite converging on most of the issues, the difference over who should first lead a rotational Government remained unresolved.
The Government registered a Bill in the House seeking a fresh three-month extension of the Constituent Assembly (CA) a week ahead of the CA's term expiry on August 31.
August 24
NC leader Sher Bahadur Deuba withdrew his candidacy for the post of Prime Minister. He stated that he would not vie to lead a majority Government.
NC central working committee named its parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel as the Prime Ministerial candidate.
The UCPN-M decided to go for majority Government under the leadership its vice chairman Babu Ram Bhattarai as party leaders said they lost confidence on garnering support from other political parties to form consensus Government under their leadership.
CPN-UML and fringe parties reached an understanding not to support UCPN-M to lead consensus Government.
August 25
NC, CPN-UML, UDMF and other fringe parties accused the UCPN-M of reneging on a previous informal understanding on the peace and constitution drafting processes.
The UCPN-M came up with a time-bound action plan on integration and rehabilitation of its former combatants, with flexible positions on disputed issues.
Amicus curiae suggested that the Supreme Court give its final verdict on term extension of the CA as per the Interim Constitution in such a way that it justifies the term extension as well as ensures timely drafting of the constitution.
August 26
UCPN-M Vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai and NC Parliamentary Party leader Ram Chandra Poudel filed their nominations for the prime ministerial election scheduled for August 28.
August 27
Sanjaya Lama, a cadre of the Youth Association Nepal (YAN), the youth wing of CPN-UML, was killed at Kabilas area in Chitwan.
August 28
The parliament elected UCPN-M vice chairman Baburam Bhattarai as the 35th Prime Minister of Nepal. Bhattarai received 340 votes while his rival, NC parliamentary party leader Ram Chandra Poudel, received 235 votes. Altogether 575 lawmakers participated in the voting. While UDMF with 65 lawmakers and few fringe parties supported Bhattarai, Ram Chandra Poudel was supported by the CPN-UML and few other parties in the voting. Pro-monarchist RPP-Nepal boycotted the election process.
The newly elected Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that expediting the peace process and constitution-drafting and providing relief to the people will be his main priorities.
The Supreme Court annulled the writ petition challenging the validity of the three-month term extension of CA.
A 'can bomb' planted by unidentified people at the main gate of the house of businessman Devraj K.C. at Tulsipur Municipality-8 was recovered.
August 29
Newly elected PM Baburam Bhattarai assumed his office in Singha Durbar soon after being sworn in by the President. Along with PM Baburam Bhattarai, MJF-Loktantrik chairman Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. He represents the UDMF.
NC turned down the request made by newly-elected PM to the party to join the UCPN-M-led Government. NC president Sushil Koirala said that his party has no intention whatsoever to join the Maoist-led coalition Government at the moment, adding further that there is little possibility of the party changing its earlier stance to remain in the opposition. He, however, assured the PM of "constructive support" to the Government.
The CA's tenure was extended by three months through the 10th amendment to the Interim Constitution. Earlier, CA's term was extended twice - first by one year and then by three months.
Whereabouts of 835 persons who were disappeared during 10 years-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal are yet to be known, said United Nations Office of High Commissioner of Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) and NHRC.
Transportation came to a grinding halt in nine eastern Districts due to the bandh (general shut down) called by Sanghiya Rajya Parishad (SRP) led by Sanjuhamg Palungwa. The SRP called three-day eastern District bandh demanding timely statute and guaranteeing Limbhuwan State in the constitution. Normal life in Districts including Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Dhankuta, Ilam, Paanchthhar, Taplejung, have been crippled.
August 30
PM Baburam Bhattarai reshuffled the Army Integration Special Committee (AISC), hours after the UCPN-M Standing Committee decided to expedite the regrouping process of the ex-combatants from August 31. The NC, however, said the decision to begin regrouping would not make any sense until the parties agree on the integration modality and rehabilitation package. Bhattarai, as the PM, will now chair the eight-member cross-party committee. With the transfer of the Special Committee's leadership to Bhattarai, the Maoists have withdrawn the membership of Janardan Sharma from the panel to maintain proportional representation of all major parties.
NC condemned the four-point deal signed between UCPN-M and UDMF saying that it was an 'ill-attempt' to challenge the rule of law, promote the culture of impunity and breach past agreements between the parties on peace and statute.
PM Bhattarai met CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal and invited the CPN-UML to join his Government. However, Khanal turned down the invitation but expressed his determination to help the present Government in taking the peace process to logical conclusion and drafting a democratic constitution.
The United States said that Nepal´s Maoists needed to do more to be removed from a terrorism blacklist, even though it hopes to work with a new prime minister from the left-wing movement.
August 31
In a major breakthrough in the peace process, the UCPN-M agreed to hand over keys to arms containers to the AISC on September 1. The decision to acquire the arms containers installed at cantonment sites was formalised by the Special Committee led by newly-elected PM Baburam Bhattarai.
September 1
Camp secretaries at five places have handed over keys of the weapons containers to the AISC. The places are Dudhauli, Shaktikhor, Jhyaltungdanda, Chulachuli and Dahaban.
Issuing a press release shortly after the handover of the keys in Shaktikhor and Dudhauli, UCPN-Maoist vice chairman Mohan Baidya warned that the decision would be "suicidal" for the Maoist party itself.
Normal life in western Terai was affected as newly-formed Tharuhat Terai Party, led by former minister Gopal Dahit, gave a call for bandh demanding dissolution of Constituent Assembly.
September 2
All the seven divisions of the PLA submitted the keys to the AISC. Six divisions had submitted them on September 1.
At least one cadre of the UCPN-M was seriously injured as cadres close to outfit Chairman Prachanda and Vice Chairman Mohan Baidya clashed in Panchkhal of Kavre District. At least 11 other cadres are said to have been injured in the incident. It is understood that the cadres clashed over the issue of handing over the keys to the arms containers to the AISC. The hardliner faction led by Baidya has been protesting against the party's latest move dubbing it as "suicidal."
The Baidya faction called for an hour-long nationwide 'Chakka Jam' (transport strike) protesting against handover of the arms containers' keys. The Baidya faction also boycotted the party Standing Committee meeting. Likewise, party Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa also did not show up at the meeting. However, the reason for their absent was not known.
In a press statement, Prachanda said the decision was not against the party's policies and that Baidya's line did not represent the party's position. Dahal urged the party rank and file, PLA combatants and the general public to "exercise restraint" and stick to the party's official decision. The weapons handover, Dahal argued, was in line with the five-point proposal and commitment paper on the peace process and constitution writing endorsed unanimously by the AISC on August 25 and as directed by the Central Committee (June 24-July22).
In reaction to the four-point deal reached between UCPN-M and UMDF human rights watchdogs appealed Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai not to withdraw the criminal cases filed during armed conflict and different movements and not to offer a general amnesty.
September 4
PM Baburam Bhattarai inducted 13 new ministers - six from UCPN-M and seven from main coalition partner UDMF - despite protest from within his party, the UCPN-M. The hardliner faction of the UCPN-M led by party senior vice chairman Mohan Baidya and party general secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa boycotted the ceremony.
NHRC chairman Kedar Nath Upadhyaya wrote a letter to PM Baburam Bhattarai and asked him not to withdraw cases filed against those allegedly involved in crime during various political movements.
The meeting of the sub-committee formed under constitutional committee failed to reach a concrete conclusion on creating a panel of experts to resolve disputed issues of state restructuring. In the meeting held at the Constituent Assembly secretariat, NC leaders are learnt to have stressed formation of a separate commission to iron out differences seen in State structuring instead of experts' panel.
NC President Sushil Koirala urged the UCPNM not to be enticed by the international movements - RIM and COMPOSA. Speaking at a program organised in the Capital Koirala urged the Maoists to break out of RIM and COMPOSA's grip and work to conclude peace and constitution.
September 5
A pressure cooker bomb went off at the main gate of C Max Food, a meat processing company with Chinese investment, located at Narsingh VDC in Sunsari District. While no human casualty was reported the blast damaged the front wall of the factory's compound. An armed outfit called Janatantrik Terai Madhesh Mukti Party (JTMMP) claimed responsibility for the blast, but it could not be verified.
Expressing commitment to make all efforts to ensure lasting peace and draft new constitution, ruling UCPN-M chairman Prachanda said successful conclusion of peace process and constitution drafting is possible within the extended three months deadline of the Constituent Assembly.
UCPN-M secretary C.P Gajurel said PM Baburam Bhattarai and party chairman Prachanda must apologise for their decision to hand over the keys of the PLA arms containers to the AISC. He said the dispute seen inside the party could also end if Bhattarai and Dahal offer an apology over the episode.
Bhattarai and Dahal called on NC President Sushil Koirala and assured him that the internal problems would not stall the peace process as they had "strong command" over the party and that they also prepared to use their authority whenever needed.
September 6
PM Baburam Bhattarai said that the Maoists have 'well and truly' rejuvenated the defunct peace process by handing over the keys of the weapons containers to the AISC. He reiterated that the current Government will guarantee constitution and take the ongoing peace process to a successful conclusion.
Earlier in the day Prachanda said the party won't split over the keys handover issue.
September 7
CPN-UML-affiliated Youth Association Nepal (YAN) central member Kamal Pathak sustained serious injuries when he was attacked by an unidentified group in the forest of Tikauli along the Ratnanagar-Bharatpur road section in Chitawan.
The NC unveiled the 14-point document on peace process. It demands the Maoists to come up with a clear, time bound action plan on completing the peace process within 45 days. It calls the Maoists to agree on number, modality, norms, role and rehabilitation package of combatants, handover all the weapons to the Government, bring all the combatants in the main cantonments, put them practically under control of Special Committee and regroup them based on their choices. "All these should be done by October 14," reads the document. The NC also proposes for integration of 4,000 combatants on individual basis and that each should meet the standards set
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