केदारनरसिंह केसी, दिनेश त्रिपाठी, भवानी खरेल, सावित्री श्रेष्ठ, जगन्नाथ लामिछाने, फणिन्द्र लुइँटेल, विष्णु घिमिरे लगायत विभिन्न संघसस्थाका मानवअधिकारकर्मीहरू, नागरिक अगुवाहरू, पत्रकारहरूको उल्लेख्य सहभागिता रहेको थियो । विवेक ढुंगाना

Kathmandu/March 13 A group of civil society members have staged a sit-in in front of the President's office Shital Niwas on March 13, protesting the decision of the four political parties to make the sitting Chief Justice as the head of the government.

The group called on President Ram Baran Yadab to refuse the agreement of the four parties forwarded to him saying that the decision would jeopardize democracy. The group had staged the protest asking the President to protect multi-party democracy and independent judiciary according to the spirit of the constitution, establish rule of law, protect human rights and avert the country from heading towards autocratic system.

Speaking at the sit-in, INSEC Chairperson Subodh Raj Pyakurel said that the human rights activists would protest the decision of the political parties to make the chief of judiciary as Prime Minister in an unconstitutional and undemocratic way. Pyakurel said that the Supreme Court had saved people from grave human rights violations at a time when the legislature was not in place, adding that "Our human rights, democratic rights would be in trouble when the sitting CJ of the Supreme Court which is the last alternative to protect the rights of the people is made the head of the government."

He further added that the people would retaliate if the government moves forward in same manner ignoring the spirit of the voices raised peacefully by human rights activists.

Civil society leader and journalist Kanak Mani Dixit urged the President to move forward according to the spirit of the constitution. He said that the President, protector of the constitution was himself involved in the decision of the four parties. "The parties have made a mockery of rule of law by making the decision to form a CJ-led government," he said.

Human rights activists Charan Prasain said that the decision to make the same person chief of judiciary and executive is against the principle of separation of power.

Human rights activists, civil society leaders, journalists had gathered in large number in the protest.

Bibek Dhungana