Nepal Foreign Affairs (11 September 2018) – The National Assembly (NA) today endorsed the BIMSTEC Convention on Cooperation in Combatting International Terrorism, Transnational Organised Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.
In today’s session of the Upper House, Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa presented a proposal, seeking the endorsement of the Convention.
Moreover, the meeting unanimously passed a proposal presented by Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Tham Maya Thapa, to approve the Bill Related to the Rights of Persons with Physical Disabilities (First Amendment), 2075 BS.
Likewise, the NA session unanimously approved a proposal on organising the conference on the Nagoya Protocol on access to fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources issued under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The proposal to this regard was presented before the meeting by Minister for Forest and Environment, Shakti Bahadur Basnet.
Moreover, the meeting unanimously accepted a proposal presented by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Rabindra Prasad Adhikari, seeking consideration on the Convention for the Integration of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air.
Legislation Management Committee chair Parshuram Gurung tabled the Committee report about the Bill on Protection of Victims of Crimes- 2075 BS.
In today’s meeting, the NA members drew the attention of government towards the resignation of Birendra KC, the member on the committee formed by it to investigate into the killing on July 26 of 13-year-old Nirmala Panta of Kanchanpur.
Airing his views in a special hour of the meeting, Badri Pandey said it was a serious matter that committee member KC resigned from the responsibility, citing security reasons. He demanded a clear reply from the Home Minister regarding the issue.
Claiming the hand of cadres of ruling party in the killing of Rohit Pun, Nepal Tarun Dal Rolpa town committee president, he demanded a stern action against the guilty and proper compensation to the victim family.
Nanda Chapai urged the State to be serious about the case and mobilize government at all three levels to arrest the killer(s).
Mahesh Kumar Mahara called on the government to seriously take the issue relating to a threat to probe committee member KC. He also took the time to draw the government attention towards over the issue of the removal of Kalapani, territory in western Nepal, from the official map of Nepal.
Pramila Kumari Yadav said despite commitments from the prime minister to amending the constitution in favour of the oppressed community, no progress had been made so far to that end. She apprised the NA that she had been deprived of the facilities as the NA member.
Bimala Poudel was of the view that participation of local representatives and women in the probe committee relating to the murder of Nirmala would make the investigations more effective.
Bina Pokhrel expressed her concerns over growing cases of rape, adding that inhumane incidents should not be treated with political interests. Radheshyam Adhikari took the time to express his concerns over the detention of khojtalasnews.com editor Raju Basnet using news from other source.
The NA shall next meet at 11:00 am on September 14.