Another positive step. ********************************************************** Lawyers demand dissolution of the council of ministers The umbrella body of nearly ten thousand law professionals in the country, Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has demanded immediate dissolution of the Council of Ministers (CoM) headed by His Majesty King Gyanendra terming it as `unconstitutional.? The annual general meeting of the Association ? that concluded in the capital Kathmandu Saturday?held that HM King?s act of constituting the CoM under his own chairmanship and controlling executive powers through the royal takeover of February 1 ?was completely unconstitutional.? Expressing regrets towards the continuation of such a government, the Association has demanded immediate dissolution of the incumbent government. Over 1,000 delegates of the NBA from all over the country also extended their support to the major demand of the seven-party opposition alliance for the reinstatement of the House of Representatives that was dissolved three years ago. ?Since elections to the House of Representatives could not be held immediately due to the situation of insecurity in view of armed conflict in the country, there is a need to immediately reinstate the dissolved House in order to secure people?s rights,? the Association said. The Association also demanded immediate dissolution of Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC) terming it as ?unconstitutional and against the principle of natural justice.? The Commission also condemned the act of creating positions like zonal and regional administrators through ordinance ?terming it as ?unconstitutional.? In its 17-point resolutions, the Association has demanded immediate release of all the political detainees, journalists and human rights activists, and has expressed its solidarity towards press freedom in the country. The Association has also protested recent amendment in the National Human Rights Act through ordinance and proposed amendment in the laws governing country?s civil service. The Association has also called upon both the state and Maoist insurgents to express their commitment towards minimum humanitarian laws and stop all forms of atrocities against civilians. There have been no comments from the authorities as yet regarding the resolutions adopted by the country?s professional lawyers. nepalnews.com by June 04 05 ***************************************************