News update from Nepal, 02 March 2009 News Update from Nepal 10 March 2009 Human Rights and Governance Nepal's human rights situation continues to deteriorate. The Informal Sector Service Cen­ter-prepared Human Rights Year Book 2009 reveals that in the year 2008 out of 541 indi­viduals murdered and 729 abducted, the UCPN(Maoist) cadres killed 12 and abducted 304, CPN-UML cadres killed 9 and abducted 22 individuals. In Tarai districts 369 persons were killed. 18 armed groups claimed responsibility for 79 murdered and 148 abducted persons. On February 8, International media mission concluded that press freedom in Nepal is back­sliding despite the restoration of democracy. In 2008 the Federation of Nepalese Journal­ists(FNJ) recorded 342 cases of violation of media freedom. It condemned the arrest of three journalists Subhak Mahato, Manoj Mahato and Birendra Mahato by the police on charges of dealing arms. On February 3, the police also arrested Rishi Dhamala on charges of criminal activities. On February 7, NC President G. P. Koirala said the Maoist led government had failed, as it could not take a clear stand on the Nepal Army. He said that his party would never accept the integration of combatants into the NA. The NC initiated a meeting of 18 political parties including partners of the ruling coalition CPN-UML, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum(MJAF) and Sadbhavana Party. Subject was the special session of the parliament to debate on the ordinances and criticized UCPN(Maoist). To this, Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal ac­cused the NC and the CPN-UML leaders of derailing the peace process and termed their actions a"conspiracy of reactionary and status quoits forces." On February 27, the government decided to declare around 8,000 people which were killed during the Maoist insurgency, the April 2006 mass movement and the Madhesh movement as martyrs and provided each member of their families with$1234,56. The same day the government decided to give a voluntary retirement to over 13,500 civil servants who have already completed 50 years of age or served 20 years in the civil service along with a seven years salary and pension in a bulk. The ruling parties also decided to investigate the royal massacre at Narayanhiti palace, in which King Birendra and his family members were killed. 1