Major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Sunday have prioritised a host of issues. The political issues that gained attention include the government’s preparations to appoint province chiefs and fix capitals of provinces and dissatisfaction seen in parties over the selection of proportional representation lawmakers. Likewise, statements of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre leaders at a function yesterday and the final match of Everest Premier League held in Kathmandu have also received significant attention.
As today is the last day of the year 2017, two English broadsheets—The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post—have published year-ender supplements whereas Republica has dedicated its first page to highlight major incidents of the year.
Important
Govt to appoint province chiefs this week
Kantipur, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times inform that the government is preparing to appoint chiefs of provinces within this week so that they can administer oath of office and secrecy to newly elected provincial assembly members and can convene the meeting of provincial legislatures.
Kantipur says the government is preparing to make the appointments as provincial lawmakers must be sworn in to hold National Assembly polls and the new government cannot be formed before the elections of National Assembly. Quoting Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Yagya Bahadur Thapa, the report says the government will also name temporary provincial capitals while appointing the governors.
The Himalayan Times reports that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba will try to forge consensus among major parties including the opposition, the left alliance, for the appointments. But, if his attempts fail, he will make decisions unilaterally even though the UML is adamant that the appointments must be made by the new government.
Leaders, cadres not satisfied with PR lawmakers’ selection
Annapurna Post and Naya Patrika have carried out news stories about dissatisfaction seen in major parties about the selection of provincial lawmakers under the proportional representation category.
Annapurna Post report says leaders loyal to Ram Chandra Paudel have accused Prime Minister and party President Deuba of selecting leaders for the parliamentary berth unilaterally. They also walked out of the party’s Central Executive Committee meeting which made the selection. Likewise, disgruntled cadres of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal vandalised the party office, the report says, adding the party has formed a panel to investigate into the incident. Similar dissatisfaction has been surfaced in the selection of provincial assembly members in Province 3 from CPN-Maoist Centre.
The CPN-UML seems to have managed aspirations of leaders quite well as dissatisfaction in the party has not been much louder, the reports suggest.
Ignored
Nepal wants China to reopen Tatopani border point
China does not seem willing to reopen Tatopani crossing point bordering with Nepal as it is trying to promote Rasuwagadhi as an international crossing. But, Nepal still has kept Tatopani, which is closed since the 2015 earthquake, on its priority list, reports Annapurna Post.
Though Beijing proposed to permanently closed Tatopani crossing, Nepal says doing so will create adverse impacts on the national economy here. Therefore, China has said it can reconsider opening the border point if there is tight security provision, the report claims.
The story quotes newly elected lawmaker from Sindhupalchok district, Agni Prasad Sapkota, as saying that China is positive about reopening the border.
Interesting
Biratnagar Warriors lift EPL trophy after one-run victory
The Himalayan Times lead story for the day says Paras Khadka-led Biratnagar Warriors defeated Bhairahawa Gladiators by one run to lift the trophy of Everest Premier League. Bhairahawa Gladiators were one run short to meet the target of 150 runs.
Nepal establishes diplomatic ties with 12 countries in one year
Nepal established diplomatic ties with as many as 12 countries in 2017, reports Rajdhani in its front-page story. With this, 2017 has become the year when Nepal established diplomatic relationship with the highest number of countries.
Now, the number of countries that Nepal has diplomatic relationships with has reached 155.
This year, Nepal established bilateral links with most of land-locked and non-aligned countries of Africa and Europe, the report says, adding, Burkina Faso of West Africa has been connected with Nepal just on Saturday.
New law sought to control ‘hate posts’ on social media
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to formulate a new law or amend existing ones so as to control ‘hate posts’ on social media, reports Gorkhapatra anchor story. A division bench of justices Sharada Prasad Ghimire and Sapana Pradhan Malla made the verdict citing the tendency of posting against particular persons or groups on social media has increased of late.
No corruption complaint against five govt agencies
Nepal’s constitutional anti-corruption watchdog, Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, says it did not receive any complaint against five government bodies in the last fiscal year 2016/17, according to a report in Karobar. The agencies include Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Office of Nepal Trust and Office of the Auditor General.
Quoting a CIAA commissioner, the report says the Commission continues monitoring the offices even if complaints are not filed against them. However, anti-corruption activist and Transparency International Nepal chief Shree Hari Aryal comments that zero complaint against agencies which do not directly deal with people does not guarantee good governance.
