While civil society members and students organizations have taken to the streets, political parties have asked President Dr Ram Baran Yadav not to appoint controversial Karki as the head of the anti-graft body. [break]
Sources at the President´s Office said President Yadav will study the constitutionality of the recommendation and decide whether to endorse or send it back for ´reconsideration´ within two-three days.
A CPN-UML delegation led by its general secretary Ishwar Pokharel on Monday submitted a memorandum to President Dr Yadav asking him take into account the sentiment of people against Karki, who was found guilty by the Rayamajhi Commission for his role in suppressing peaceful democratic movement back in April, 2006.
The delegation apprised President Yadav of the decision made earlier by the UML politburo meeting that the appointment of a person with controversial image would not be appropriate in an important and sensitive government body like the CIAA. The politburo meeting held a few days ago had decided to ask other parties in the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) to reconsider the proposal to appoint Karki as the head of the anti-graft body.
As per the existing constitutional provisions, the president´s endorsement is a must for any appointment in the constitutional bodies. "We have expected that the president will respect the sentiment of people on the issue in the present context when there is no possibility of conducting parliamentary hearing due to absence of parliament," reads the memorandum submitted to the president.
Separately, CPN-ML General Secretary C P Mainali and CPN-Samyukta chief Chandra Dev Joshi also submitted a protest letter at the President´s Office against the proposed appointment of Karki as the head of the CIAA, Monday evening.
NC leaders say Karki issue not discussed in party
NC Central Working Committee (CWC) members have also expressed strong disenchantment with the party´s top leadership for not protesting the proposal of UCPN (Maoist) to appoint Karki as the head of the CIAA.
NC CWC member Gagan Thapa demanded that the party withdraw the decision. He argued that the appointment of Karki as CIAA head could have been avoided had Koirala, who is current chairman of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC), called the meeting of the HLPC and discussed the nomination again.
"The issue was not discussed within the party," said CWC member Arjun Prasad Joshi. "I was out of the country for a while and was also busy in party´s functions in my district, so I will talk to the top leadership to find out if the party had really accepted Dahal´s proposal to appoint Karki."
Another CWC member, who asked to be unnamed, said it is unfortunate to see that the NC leadership had accepted such a proposal of the UCPN (Maoist). "Had the issue been discussed in the party then the party would certainly not endorse someone like Karki for CIAA chief," he said.
The CWC member asked as to what will the morale now be of the people who took to the streets against the autocratic regime back in 2006. "We are very disappointed with our party leadership. At least they should have considered what people would think about their proposal," he added.
Civil society members stage sit-in outside Prez Office demanding not to endorse CC´s recommendation
Civil society members from various professional backgrounds staged a one-hour sit-in outside the presidential palace Sheetal Niwas on Monday demanding that the president not endorse the recommendation made by the CC to appoint Karki as CIAA chief. Lawyers, journalists, students, youth activists and human rights activists were among those staging the sit-in, which began at 4 pm.
The civil society leaders have announced they will seek answers why the leaders chose to nominate Karki as the head of the powerful body like CIAA against the sentiment of hundreds of thousands people.
They have decided to stage sit-in at UCPN (Maoist) headquarters in Parisdanda on Tuesday and the headquarters of Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and other major parties each in the following days.
Addressing the sit-in outside the President´s Office on Monday afternoon, senior advocate Shambhu Thapa said civil society members needed to be united for justice as the government and major political parties did not care about the concerns of the ordinary people. Thapa had also questioned the moral standing of Khil Raj Regmi, the chief justice and chairman of the Interim Election Council.
Students burn Regmi, Karki in effigy
Students unions affiliated to various parties including UCPN (Maoist) NC, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist have taken to the streets against the recommendation of the CC to appoint Karki as the chief of CIAA.
They also burnt the effigies of Chairman of the Interim Election Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi and Karki Monday morning.
A joint meeting of the students´ unions has decided to stage a two-hour vehicle stoppage beginning 8 am on the streets outside college campuses and submit memorandum to President Yadav against Karki´s appointment on Tuesday. Likewise, they have also decided to stage mass demonstration against the proposed appointment on Wednesday and enforce strike in Kathmandu Valley on Thursday.
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