Prez okays Karki as CIAA chief amidst strong protest

KATHMANDU, May 9:

President Ram Baran Yadav has endorsed the proposal of the Constitutional Council (CC) to appoint former chief secretary Lokman Singh Karki as chief commissioner at the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), in the face of widespread protests and pressure on the head of state against his nomination.

Officiating Chief Justice Damodar Prasad Sharma administered oath of office and secrecy to Karki in the presence of the president and head of the interim election government Khil Raj Regmi, among other dignitaries, at the president´s office.

Also, former secretary Bhanu Prasad Acharya and Kayo Devi Yami were sworn in as auditor general and head of the Public Service Commission respectively. Similarly, retired assistant inspector general Keshav Prasad Baral was sworn in as a CIAA commissioner.

While Karki was being sworn in amidst tight security within and around the president´s office, some noted civil society members including Shambhu Thapa, Charan Prasai, Kanak Mani Dixit and Drona Regmi were arrested from outside the office. People from various sectors have been taking to the streets for the last couple of days to protest the appointment of the controversial Karki as chief of the crucial constitutional body.

The president endorsed the CC´s proposal even as the major political parties remained sharply divided over the matter. While leaders from the UCPN (Maoist) and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UDMF) lobbied firmly in favor of Karki, Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML have vehemently opposed his name, saying they were against appointing him in the face of widespread protests.

Though top leaders from the constituent parties of the High Level Political Committee (HLPC) -- UCPN (Maoist), NC, CPN-UML and the UDMF -- had agreed on Karki´s name, NC and the UML leaders backed out following strong protests from the rank and file of their respective parties and people from various walks of life. The top leaders were widely criticized for promoting Karki, who is accused of brutally suppressing the people´s movement in 2006 that abolished the 240-year-old monarchial system and established a republic in the country.

UML denounces

A central committee meeting of CPN-UML on Wednesday denounced the appointment, saying that the move was against the spirit of the historic people´s movement and the progressive path. The UML has taken strong exception to the appointment made despite the party´s request not to do so. On Tuesda a delegation led by party General Secretary Ishwar Pokharel had submitted the party´s decision in writing against appointing Karki.

"The party´s decision was submitted to the high level political committee, the chairman of the interim council of ministers and to the president as well," said a statement issued by the party on Wednesday. "Our party has been saddened by the president´s move to appoint the very same person despite our party´s objection."

NC leader positive

NC leader and former minister Balkrishna Khand said there was no point dragging the issue into controversy and unnecessarily politicizing the matter. He believed that it was good to have a chief commissioner and commissioners for the CIAA that has remained without office-bearers for years. "Top leaders from major political parties are the ones who recommended Karki´s name and the Supreme Court has already given him a clean chit, so there is no point disputing the matter," he said. "Now, let´s hope that he will work at the CIAA independently and without bias."

NBA to protest

Various organizations and social groups have described the development as a move toward undermining democratic values and curtailing civil rights.

Issuing a statement, Nepal Bar Association (NBA) has announced a protest against Karki´s appointment. "The NBA protests against the recommendation and appointment, which is against the constitution and the Supreme Court verdict," said the Association´s statement issued on Wednesday. The umbrella organization of lawyers has also described the decision as being against the spirit of the people´s movement 2006, constitutional supremacy and fundamental democratic values.

Karki refutes accusations

Karki has claimed that the allegation that he had suppressed the people´s movement in 2006 was baseless. "I was chief secretary in the erstwhile His Majesty´s Government during the people´s movement. My experience is that the post of chief secretary isn´t an executive position. As chief secretary I had focused myself only on the role of coordinator and facilitator among the ministries," he said in a statement issued immediately after assuming office at the CIAA on Wednesday. "Therefore, there is no truth in the charge that I suppressed the people´s movement."

He also rubbished reports about his alleged involvement in smuggling gold through Tribhuvan International Airport. "I was given a clean chit over the issue and proved innocent by the appellate and apex courts," he claimed.

Source: Republica