Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Code of conduct to guide Maoist ministers

KATHMANDU, March 16: The ruling party UCPN (Maoist) is all set to enforce a code of conduct for its ministers this time also although a similar code did not work when the former rebels were in power in 2009.

The code being prepared by Maoist Senior Vice-chairman Mohan Baidya and General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa, among other things, bars Maoist ministers from appointing close relatives as personal assistants and prohibits the ministers´ family members from taking advantage of any sort because of their ministerial links.


"The three-point code of conduct [the number of points may change when the final touch is given] will be made public once the cabinet gets full shape," a highly-placed Maoist source told Republica Tuesday on condition of anonymity.

The Maoists had enforced a similar code of conduct for its ministers in 2009 but its implementation had failed after Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who headed the government then, violated it by appointing relatives to his offices at Singha Durbar and Baluwatar, according to a party leader close to Dahal.

According to sources, some relatives of the ministers had defamed the party by misusing their ministerial links.

"Ministers´ relatives should not show their ministerial links to get things done," said the leader, adding that the code is expected to stop such misuse of power.

As per the code of conduct, the Maoist party will recommend names for personal assistants to Maoist ministers.

"If our ministers defy such recommendations and appoint personal assistants on their own, the party will invalidate the appointments," said the leader.

The party will recommend only senior cadres to work as personal secretaries to Maoist ministers, according to the draft code of conduct.

The code further says that the party will provide an advisory council to each Maoist minister to help the ministers over what they should do and what they should not do. Such advisory councils will have three to nine members.

"Ministers will take decisions only on the basis of the advice from the councils," said the leader.

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=29263

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