Nepal's King Gyanendra has given an amnesty to 12 women prisoners who had been jailed for having abortions.

Abortions were illegal in the Himalayan kingdom until 2002, and violators were sent to jail for anything between three years and life.

Women's rights group in Nepal had been insisting on an amnesty for the women after abortion was made legal.

The government allowed termination of unwanted pregnancies because women were dying from unsafe illegal abortions.

Nepal has one of the highest mortality rates for mothers in Asia.

"King Gyanendra has exonerated the 12 women inmates of their remaining jail terms," the Department of Prisons said in a statement, quoted by Associated Press.

The royal pardon has been announced on the country's traditional constitution day on Monday.

The authorities said about 200 other prisoners had also been freed from jails across the country to mark Constitution Day.



Govt draws flak for its 'largesse'

The government's decision to provide millions of rupees as 'medical expenses' to a member of the royal family has drawn strong criticism from the media and opposition parties.

Reports said Wednesday that the Council of Ministers has decided to provide 90,000 pounds (approx. Rs 12 million) for medical treatment of Princess Helen Shah. Finance Ministry is going to release the amount this week and Princess Shah will be leaving for UK for treatment within a few days, Kantipur daily reported quoting sources.

Addressing a function organised by Kathmandu chapter of Nepal Press Union (NPU) in the capital Thursday morning, senior leader of Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, alleged that the government was trying to introduce harsh laws in order to suppress criticism against such decisions.

In Thursday's Kantipur daily, journalist Balram Baniya wrote that 80 people died of diahrrea in far-western district of Achham over the last six months for not having access to 'Jeevan Jal' (Oral Rehydration Solution). "For them there is no government. But the government did not lag behind in providing millions of rupees to a royal family member (for treatment)," he said.

In his write-up, Baniya quoted legal provisions saying that even the Prime Minister cannot claim for more than Rs 266,000.00 (approximately 2,000 pounds), which is equivalent to his one year's salary, as expenses incurred for treatment abroad. A total of 666 Nepalis (with the per capita income of US dollar 264) need to work round the year to earn that much amount (Rs 12 million), he said.

Baniya further wrote that total medical expenses claimed by ministers and members of parliament over the period of five years (between 2049 B. S. and 2054 B. S.) stood at Rs 13.1 million only. For those expenses, not only the parliament but the parliamentary system also was defamed. "Now the government has provided 'medical expenses' to a royal family member which is far more than the said distortions of the parliament," wrote Baniya.

Princess Helen Shah is daughter of late King Tribhuvan. The government has not made any thing public regarding the nature of her disease and what type of treatment she would require, reports said. nepalnews.com by Oct 14 04


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