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Madhes Province Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav will seek a vote of confidence on Tuesday. Likewise, the election of the Speaker of Madhes Provincial Assembly will take place the same day. Secretary of the Provincial Assembly Secretariat Ranjit Kumar Yadav said that the programmes scheduled for today have been postponed for tomorrow following Sunday's plane crash in Pokhara and subsequent declaring of a national holiday to mourn the incident today. The provincial assembly will meet at 1 pm Tuesday. Chief Minister Yadav took the oath of office and secrecy on Friday. Meanwhile, Ram Chandra Mandal of CPN-UML and Jangi Lal Rai of the Nepali Congress have filed their nominations for the post of the Speaker.

Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday. Earlier on Friday, the Chinese Ambassador had presented a letter of credence to President Bidya Devi Bhandari. During the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar this morning, the duo discussed implementation of BRI Project, development of Nepal’s infrastructure, Nepal-China relations and mutual interests among others, the Baluwatar source said. On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal said that Nepal has effectively implemented the agreements signed with China earlier. He further said that Nepal is always committed to One-China policy. The Ambassador said that China will always be with Nepal on the path of economic and infrastructure development and prosperity. Meanwhile, he expressed his sadness over the Yeti Airlines plane crash in Pokhara on Sunday. There were 68 passengers and four crew members on board the plane. Among the passengers, 53 were Nepalis, five Indian nationals, four Russians, two Koreans and one each from Ireland, Argentina, Australia and France, Yeti Airlines said in a press release. Chen Song is known as the expert on Asian affairs. He is the deputy director general at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Chinese Ambassador is considered to be an expert on Nepal affairs.  

With the formation of a new government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the international community has started showing concerns about conflict-era rights abuses. On Jan 12, Human Rights Watch, a rights body, came up with a statement urging the Dahal-led government to amend the transitional justice bill.   

A new transitional justice bill, to address abuses committed during Nepal’s 1996-2006 civil war, was presented to the parliament in Aug 2022, HRW says, adding: The bill, despite significant flaws, had raised hope among the victims and their families, who have waited over 16 years for justice. The flaws include wording that makes it possible to grant amnesty for certain gross violations of human rights, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, the statement said.

In addition, verdicts from a new special court would not be subject to judicial appeal, in violation of international fair trial guarantees. The bill was neither amended nor brought to a vote before parliament was dissolved ahead of November elections, according to the statement.

Speaking with media persons on Jan 12, American Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson said that the international community is keenly interested to see progress in transitional justice. “This is definitely something that I talk about with my colleagues in the international community. I hope we can see progress,” he had said: “Ruling parties in their Common Minimum Program have pledged to conclude the transitional justice process.” 

Transitional justice mechanism—Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons—are without heads and other officer-bearers. The international community, however, has not cooperated with the commissions. The bottom-line of the international community is that there should be appointment in both commissions only after the amendment of laws in line with the Supreme Court verdict 2015, said former Chair of Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party General Secretary Bhuwan Pathak has been elected as the Speaker of Bagmati Province. Pathak, a candidate from the ruling coalition, secured 62 votes while 39 cast votes against him. Seven lawmakers remained neutral. Another candidate for the post of Speaker, Shivaraj Adhikari of the Nepali Congress garnered 36 votes. At least 65 lawmakers voted against him. There are 110 members in the Province Assembly. Jagannath Thapaliya, Parliamentary Party leader of the CPN-UML, proposed Pathak’s candidacy while Yuvaraj Dulal of CPN (Maoist Centre) seconded the proposal. Pathak is a lawmaker under Proportional Representation system.