News update from Nepal, August 14, 2005 News Update from Nepal August 14, 2005 Government As the parliamentary political parties are relegated into the margin, the mainstream media speculates about the deep polarization between monarchists and the republicans, between the old and new generation of leaders within the mainstream political parties and between the government and the Western donors. The government has made claims that the security situation in the country has improved since the Royal takeover of February 1, 2005. To improve internal law and order it appointed chairmen and vice-chairmen in all the District Development Committees(DDC). The positions of DDC authorities have been left vacant since the dissolution of local government in 2002. The government also transferred and posted District Superintendents of Police(DSP) in various police stations across the country. On August 11, the government has constituted a Human Rights Protection and the Promotion of National Coordination Committee headed by the Foreign Minister, a Human Rights Public Relations Committee headed by an Attorney-General and a Human Rights Steering Committee headed by the Chief Secretary of the government. The King also appointed the Chief Justice, and 4 temporary justices of the Supreme Court were appointed at the recommendation of the Judicial Council. On August 5, Finance Minister Madhukar S. Rana said that the nation could go for a“referendum” to test the popularity of monarchists and republicans if Maoists surrender their arms. He also charged that Nepal has been marred by the “double standard” policy adopted by donors. The government has overhauled the Social Welfare Council and has been given powers through royal ordinances to issue“directives and supervise NGO activities.” The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is preparing a Code of Conduct to this effect. About 25,000 NGOs and over 100 INGOs bring in more than Rs 7 billion annually to support Nepal’s development. For the year 2005-2006, the government has approved ten major programs proposed by the Peace Secretariat related to relief and rehabilitation for conflict victims, initiation of development work in conflict-hit areas, creating awareness on peace and negative impacts of conflict on women, children, Dalits and ethnic minorities. Preparing a policy on Internally Displaced People(IDPs), it revealed that during the nine years of conflict, state infrastructure at a value of Rs 1.07 billion have been destroyed. The secretariat revealed that USAID and DFID have supported the Secretariat, while JICA and DANIDA are ready to provide assistance. The secretariat is assigned to monitor and evaluate relief programs lunched by different ministries in order to maintain a“One Window”-policy to study 1