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Nepal recalls 12 Ambassadors

Ameet Dhakal

Pro-democracy movement toll 21; Maoists want interim constitution

MAKING THEIR PRESENCE FELT: Maoist rebels at Kowli village, 160 km south of Kathmandu, on Sunday.

KATHMANDU: The Nepal Government on Sunday recalled 12 Ambassadors, including the envoy to India, and dismissed all political appointees to various state organs and public enterprises made after October 4, 2002, following the sacking of the elected Prime Minister by the King.

Royal Nepalese Ambassadors to New Delhi, Karna Dhoj Adhikari, and to Beijing, Narendra Raj Pandy, are among the 12 Ambassadors who will be leaving soon for Kathmandu. The Ambassadors to the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Pakistan, Russia and Myanmar are also among the envoys who will be returning home. Among the recalled envoys, three are former army generals. Most of these Ambassadors were appointed after King Gyanendra's royal coup on February 1, 2005.

Dozens of top executives from various public enterprises and state bodies, who were appointed after October 4, 2002, will also have to leave their job. But the exact number is not available yet.

The move is seen as the new Government's first attempt to assert itself to consolidate power. The Government of Seven Party Alliance, led by veteran politician Girija Prasad Koirala, came to power two weeks ago after the King bowed down before a popular pro-democracy movement that brought million of people to the street nationwide. The Government is soon expected to turn the heat on the security forces, which is widely accused of unleashing terror on peaceful protesters during the people's movement.

Two more die

Meanwhile, two more protesters, injured during the movement, died on Sunday at city hospitals, taking the pro-democracy movement's toll to 21.

Anil Lama and Chandra Bayalkoti, who were injured during police actions in Kathmandu, died at the Nepal Medical College and the Nepal Medical Hospital.

Lama, 42, who was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, was declared dead late in the evening on Saturday, according to the hospital sources. Likewise, 35-year-old Bayalkoti, who was hit by a teargas canister in the chest, died at midnight on Saturday.

Lama was a Nepali Congress activist, while Bayalkoti was affiliated to the CPN-UML, according to the parties.

Following the deaths, the Cabinet meeting on Sunday decided to pay special attention to the treatment of the injured during the movement. Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula said the Government would even take the injured abroad for treatment, if need be.

Maoists' demand

AP reports:

Nepal magazine quoted Maoist rebel leader Prachanda as saying on Sunday that the communists are demanding the immediate enactment of an interim constitution, even before a special assembly is elected to rewrite a new charter.

``There should be an interim constitution and an interim government,'' Mr. Prachanda said.

The parties in the Government and the rebels both agree there should be elections for a constituent assembly that would rewrite the constitution, but appear to have differences in how to do it.

The rebels want an interim constitution immediately, but the alliance is happy to just make minor changes in the existing charter until a new one is written by the constituent assembly.

``We have not made any official decision but we are in agreement that it would be fine just to remove some clauses from the existing constitution,''said Gopal Man Singh, Minister for Physical Planning and Works.

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