Nepal

Kathmandu, June 20

Opposition leaders flayed the KP Sharma Oli-led government in the House of Representatives today for ‘bringing bills to curtail peoplereligious and cultural freedom, freedom of expression, press freedom and powers of the National Human Rights Commission.

Taking part in the debate on Appropriation Bill in the House of Representatives today, Nepali Congress leader Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar said Oli should take moral responsibility for bringing the Guthi Bill in contravention of the spirit of the constitution and should resign on moral grounds.

Lauding the role of journalists during Panchayat regime and royal takeover in 2005, Gachhadar said the government was trying to punish those who faced all kinds of adversities to herald and promote democracy. &Why should the government bring the Information Technology and Nepal Media Council Bill Why is the government jailing journalists& he wondered. He added that crackdown on media professionals was no different from the one during the Panchayat regime. Gachhadar also criticised the government for trying to curtail powers of the NHRC.

He said Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara should have allowed Leader of Opposition Sher Bahadur Deuba to speak in the House before the PM on Tuesday, as that was the precedent set by former speaker Damannath Dhungana. &The PM can always address the House, but as per the precedent and parliamentary norms, the House belongs to the opposition and the leader of opposition should be given priority. The PM could have easily responded to Deubaquestions later,& Gachhadar added.

Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal lawmaker Mahantha Thakur also accused the government of attempting to curtail peoplerights by framing controversial laws. &There are cases around the world where the Parliamentfailure to check excesses of executive led to the rise of tyranny. I fear that our country is sliding in that direction,& he said.

Thakur said all the laws being enacted these days had some provisions that were aimed at curtailing peoples& rights.

He added that Madhesi forces opposed the constitution because it created divisions between communities and regions, particularly between the hills and the Madhes. Thakur said the centre had allocated less budget for the development of Madhes and had failed to ensure representation by population. &Madhes is being treated like a colony,& he added.

Thakur claimed that a lot of people who participated in Madhes movements were facing false charges. &The government has indicted even those who were not present at protest sites and those who were working in Malaysia,& he claimed. He added that the government should make public the Girish Chandra Lal Commissionreport and punish the guilty accordingly.

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Kathmandu, June 19

The National Human Rights Commission has formed a rapid response team to carry out speedy monitoring of the incidents of human rights violation across the country.

A press release issued by the rights body today stated that the rapid response team had started its work. The team led by the director of Law, Investigation and Monitoring Department of the NHRC will conduct monitoring of human rights violations in the country, including Kathmandu valley, and report promptly to the rights body.

&We would like to request all concerned agencies and stakeholders to cooperate with the team for protection and promotion of human rights,& the release said. According to the NHRC, the recent incidents of human rights violation in the country prompted it to form the team for speedy monitoring and reporting of such cases.

&The NHRC is concerned about the recent government attempts to curtail freedom of expression, cultural and social rights of citizens, state of impunity, extrajudicial detention, torture, rearrest of released detainees, gun-fighting, murder, blast, extortion and use of excessive force in peaceful demonstrations,& it said.

The rights body reminded that it was the duty of every citizen to abide by the law while demanding their rights. &It is also equally important for the concerned authorities to hold dialogues with disgruntled groups. Unfortunately, holding protests even for minor issues and using force on the demonstrators by the state have become a common phenomenon in recent times. The NHRC is of the opinion that this tendency will pose a threat to the culture of human rights,& the rights body stated.

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Closure of OPD services has been affecting 300 to 400 service seekers on a daily basis

Kathmandu, June 19

Out-patient services in Bhaktapur Hospital remained closed for the second day today, due to employees& protest, affecting patients seeking health services.

The hospital employees resorted to protests after the management decided to withhold employee benefits. Agitating employees have been demanding benefits such as provident fund, dearness allowance and uniform allowance.

&We had been providing benefits to our staffers from the income being generated by the hospital. The hospital is now under the jurisdiction of the province. Ministry of Social Development of Province 3 has directed us not to provide any benefits to the staffers until further notice,& said Sudha Devkota, a medical superintendent at the hospital.

The hospital stopped providing benefits to its employees after the Hospital Development Committee was sacked last year.

&We have been protesting for the past one year afterthe hospital stopped providing us dearness allowance and provident fund. We decided to halt the service as repeated talks with the management failed,& said one of the hospital staffers on condition of anonymity.

A committee has been formed by the Ministry of Social Development of Province 3 to probe into the matter.

The hospital provides services to around 300 to 400 patients on a daily basis.

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Kathmandu, June 19

Four women have been attacked by sharp objects within one-and-a-half months in the capital. Of the four victims, three are receiving treatment at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.

The women have puncture marks above right knee. These marks are left by a sharp needle like object. It could be from a metallic syringe or a needle or a pointed nail, said Anup Bastola, consultant tropical medicine physician at STIDH, who is involved in the treatment of the victims.

&It is reported that women have been attacked by a biker with a needle like object. Three women have filed complaints with the police after being pricked by a needle-like object. We are investigating the case. A team has been formed to probe into the incident after three women from Dallu and Paknajol registered complaints,& said Spokesperson for the Metropolitan Crime Range DSP Hobindra Bogati.

If someone is pierced deep by a metallic syringe, it can increase the risk of transmitting HIV, Hepatitis B and C. To prevent people from possible transmission of HIV and Hepatitis B they are given post-exposure prophylaxis. These antiretroviral drugs help to prevent HIV if someone is exposed to the infection. There is 0.03 per cent risk to contact HIV if someone is pierced by a metallic syringe.

But to ensure whether the women contacted HIV or not, it takes three to six months time, said the doctor.

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