04/05/06 - 10/05/06 19th May, 2006 (Thursday) Parliament proclamation victory for 12 points with serious concern: Prachanda By Bhola B Rana Kathmandu, 19 May: Hours after the historic announcement of parliament stripping the powers of the King Thursday, Prachanda said the proclamation was a victory of the 12-point understanding between the ruling seven party alliance and Maoists. "Our party welcomes it and supports as a victory of the 12-point understanding and the Nepal people's historic movement," the statement said. In a cautious welcome, Prachanda whose party is demanding a republic, said: " But the declaration has attempted to address the people's desire of ending monarchy by politically limiting to a ceremonial role." Prachanda noted the 12-point agreement was not mentioned in the declaration giving rise to suspicion only the SPA was attempting to take credit for the April movement. "The proclamation does not, on the whole, address the needs and aspirations of the people," the rebel strongman said. "The silence on peace talks as a solution to the serious problem of a decade-old civil war has given rise to a serious suspicion," he said. Published reports said Friday Chief of the Army Staff Gen Pyar Jung Thapa met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala before the proclamation was announced. Details of what transpired at the meeting was not known. Some schools in the capital observed a holiday Friday to celebrate the parliament announcement. People’s News/BR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- India keeping watch New Delhi, 17 May: India will talk to the new government in Nepal on all security related issues including ISI activities, Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday, Times of India reports. Minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed said during question hour that the new government in Nepal had the support of Maoists. He said the Nepalese government had assured India that they would not allow any anti-India activities, including those of ISI, from their soil. Ahamed said the government was aware of contact between Naxal groups and Nepal's Maoists but denied any operation linkages between the two. ' India has consistently called for the process of general dialogue between constitutional forces of Nepal to find a peaceful solution to challenges facing the country, including the Maoist insurgency," the Minister said. He said India has been closely following events in Nepal arising out of the movement for the restoration of multiparty democracy there, which rapidly gathered momentum in April 2006. People’s News/BR -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parliament declares itself supreme authority; declares all clashing constitutional provisions ultra vires [Has more details on the provisions in the parliament proclamation] By Bhola B Rana Kathmandu, 18 May: Parliament unanimously passed a resolution by voice vote a House of Representatives Proclamation -2063 that empowered it with supreme authority. The nine-point proclamation with sub-clauses declared all provisions in the 1990 constitution that clash with the declaration ultra vires. RPP chairman Pashupati SJB Rana who supported the proclamation called his party the opposition, said his party was not consulted while preparing the historic document. "This is the dictatorship of the majority," Rana said before foreign diplomats who were present at parliament Friday. The declaration now declares Nepal a secular state. The position of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Royal Nepal Army, now called the Nepal Army, has been abolished. The chief of the army staff will now be appointed by the government and will be responsible to the prime minister who heads the national security council. All executive authority is now vested in the council of ministers. Royal Palace officials have been incorporated into the government civil service. NC(D) chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba supporting the proclamation said," I'm the happiest man." Surya Bahadur Thapa of the Rashtriya Janata Party said," The declaration is the need of time." Ailing Girija Prasad Koirala couldn't read out the proclamation which was read out by Speaker Subash Newang. But Koirala who was led to the podium read out a prepared statement warning people and institutions not to challenge the proclamation which the attorney general has said does not have legitimacy. "Anybody who minimizes or attempts to will not be spared," Koirala warned. "The proclamation makes the people sovereign." The proclamation will be valid pending the announcement of another arrangement. Parliament was adjourned until Monday. People’s News/BR --------------------------------------------------------------------------------