"All district administrations have been instructed to ensure the immediate return of the land and buildings seized by CPN-Maoist or its sister organizations or others to the rightful owners, and to end YCL´s paramilitary structure and activities," PM Dahal told the House in one of his most awaited addresses to the parliament. "In this regard, YCL-related tasks will be completed within two to three weeks and other works within three months."
Dipesh Shrestha
PRIME MINISTER SAYS:
- YCL´s `paramilitary structure and activities` to be ended within three weeks
- Private properties seized by the Maoists in the past to be returned to the owners within three months
- Appointment of new priests in the Pashupatinath Temple rolled back, and old Indian priests to perform worships until new priests are in place
- Existing Local Peace Committees have been dissolved; new ToR to be ready within a week
- Nepali Congress wants the process to implement PM`s fresh commitments to be started tomorrow
On November 11, 2008, while addressing the parliament, PM Dahal had said the seized properties would be returned by mid-December 2008, besides pledging to end the paramilitary structure of YCL (Young Communist League). He had also expressed commitments that the government would provide compensation to the people who didn’t get their property back. The PM also informed the House about the government decision to instruct respective ministries to implement his November 11 commitments.
On Wednesday too, the PM said compensation will be provided to those who didn´t receive their properties back by mid-December. He said the government has decided to "request the Speaker to form a special committee in the Constituent Assembly-Parliament to monitor the aforementioned activities".
The parliament session had resumed its business on Wednesday after 10 continuous postponements in the past three weeks, due to protests from Nepali Congress and small parties.
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Following PM Dahal´s address to the House, Ram Chandra Poudel, a leader of the main opposition, Nepali Congress, demanded that the process to implement the PM´s fresh commitments should be initiated right from "tomorrow". "The government instructions should go to districts and the Maoist ranks tomorrow," said Poudel. "The (House) committee too should be formed tomorrow."
To show that he is serious about implementing his fresh commitments, PM Dahal said the government won´t remain quiet this time. "The process will be initiated in an effective manner," he said.
In the capacity of the Patron of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), PM Dahal said the government has rolled back its decision to appoint two new priests in the Pahsupatinath Temple, as directed by the Supreme Court in its interim ruling.
PM Dahal said he has accepted resignation tendered by two old priests and requested them to perform the daily rituals as usual until the new priests are in place. “We have also instructed the PADT to make necessary arrangements for unhindered performing of worships in the temple," he said, urging the general people, religious groups and all to help maintain centuries-old tradition of religious tolerance and harmony.
PM Dahal informed the House about a government decision to revise terms of reference of the Local Peace Committees (LPCs) "within seven days" and dissolve all existing LPCs so as to reconstitute them as per the new terms of reference and through consensus among the parties.
The prime minister also informed the House about action initiated against attackers of Himalmedia and also expressed full commitment to respect press freedom.
In his bid to calm down the anger of some small parties in the House, Dahal said the government never wanted to cut the scholarship quota for Dalit students. He said the government wanted not only to keep the existing 15 percent quota for Dalits in the scholarship, but also wanted to increase the quota as far as possible. “But we want to increase the quota through amendment in the bill instead of withdrawing it from the House,” he said.
Dahal said he would take immediate initiatives to take action against those -- irrespective of them being members of YCL or UML-affiliated Youth Force or other groups -- involved in criminal activities. “We will leave no stone unturned to take action against those involved in anarchist activities and I have repeatedly asked the home minister in this regard.”
