Minister Chemjong said the LPC, which supposed to monitor the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) and other agreements between then government and the Maoists and facilitate the ongoing peace process, has not been formed in Taplejung, Ilam, Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Nuwakot, Gorkha, Tanahu, Kaski, Mustang districts.
A cabinet meeting held on February 5, 2009 had approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the LPCs to be formed in all 75 districts. The LPC headed by respective Chief District Officers (CDOs) comprises representatives from political parties, civil society and conflict victims, among others.
Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Development Committee in Singha Durbar, Minister Chemjong said, “The CDOs in these districts called meetings time and again to forge consensus among the political parties. But there was no agreement.” He also refuted media reports that the current government had dismissed the LPC secretaries appointed by the erstwhile Maoist-led government.
“The LPC secretaries were appointed on a one-year contract term,” he said. “The government could not extend their terms as it took nearly four months get approval from the cabinet.”
Chemjong said a selection committee headed by Regional Administrators in various five development regions had sent a list of candidates following competitive examination recently. “The Ministry has appointed them as secretaries of the LPCs on contract basis and they have already been sent to districts,” he added.
He said that the ministry has sent all logistics in all districts hoping that the LPCs would also be formed in the remaining 11 districts any time soon.
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