Nepal

Kathmandu, June 18

Fourteen aid agencies of Nepal today revised and endorsed the Basic Operating Guidelines in recognition of the federal structure of Nepal.

The BOGs were first introduced in Nepal in 2003, in the context of the armed conflict and revised with minor changes in 2007.

The BOGs were developed as a way to keep development space open and to ensure the security of staff.

The BOGs were effective in carrying out development work as they clearly explained operating principles to all concerned actors, in a clear and comprehensible manner, according to a press release issued by the United Nations.

The release stated the current revision of BOGs has been undertaken in recognition to the federalised context of Nepal, which meant a difference in the way the development partners and their implementing partners operate.

Co-chair of the BOGs, UN Resident Coordinator Valerie Julliand stated, &I am pleased that the Basic Operating Guidelines have been revised to reflect the fundamental changes which have taken place in Nepal. This does not only include the federalisation process, but also focuses on increasing development efforts at national, provincial and local level. It reaffirms the commitment to the principles of accountability, impartiality, transparency, and inclusion.&

Co-chair of the BOGs group, Elisabeth von Capeller, Ambassador of Switzerland said, &The Basic Operating Guidelines will continue to play an important role in supporting the implementation of federalisation as development partners will comply by using the BOGs as an entry point for the introduction of development activities at the federal, provincial and local level, wherever they work.&

In addition to the existing thirteen signatories of the Basic Operating Guidelines, the American Embassy has also joined as a signatory.

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KATHMANDU:Thousands of people have gathered at Maitighar Mandala right now demanding the government to scrap the controversial Guthi Bill.

Though the bill was withdrawn by the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation in a press conference yesterday, the protestors are demanding that the bill be scrapped.

Yesterday itself, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in a separate press conference held in Singha Durbar, also expressed his support for withdrawal of the bill. However, the agitators — who say the bill is a threat to the centuries-old culture and traditions of Nepal — are of the opinion that the protest must go on until the bill is totally cancelled.

The agitators have completely surrounded the Mandala chanting slogans to preserve the guthi, scrapping of the bill and demanding the resignation of Home Minister and the Minister for Communication and Information Technology, among others.

The crowd of such a magnitude is not a common sight. People have come together for a cause they believe is crucial for the conservation of culture and heritage. There is a even a music band to give that cultural touch to the demonstration!

Meanwhile, security personnel including armed police force and riot police have been deployed for security purposes.

Updated at 1:35 pm: Latest photos from the field

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