Army says election difficult

By Parshuram Kafle in Naya Patrika/ Translated by Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Nepal Army generals have reported security is inadequate for elections.
A two-day meeting began at army headquarters Sunday.
“Government dispatches police into villages in the morning. Police sent for the protection of people are themselves fearful.,” a source quoting general Pawan Jung Thapa told the meeting. “Additional problems have cropped without clear instructions from government.”
He warned sending unarmed police into villages means police outposts there will soon be unmanned.
“If this continues, not one outpost will remain in the hills,” he said.
General Thapa said nobody expects elections in Madesh.
‘Even civilian officials cannot stay there. I don’t think they will stay there. It looks like officials deputed there also won’t go.”
Gen Toran Jung Bahadur Singh said political parties are fighting amongst themselves and explained elections won’t be held because of them.
Political workers haven’t reached the grassroots.
People feel threatened with the statements of Chairman Prachanda and said the army shouldn’t be deployed only in the terai.
“The deployment of the army only in the terai will have adverse impact,” he said.
The consequences of deployment only in the terai should be analyzed.
He warned of clashes between YCL and activists of other parties during elections.
Logistics shortage are problematic in east, central and western division.
“There are shortages of weapons. Ammunition has run out. They haven’t been replaced,” Gen Thapa said.
Load-shedding has created problems in barracks.
Shortage of medicines were also reported.
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Sonia Gandhi’s party to discuss Nepal

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: Sonia Gandhi’s top Congress party leaders were scheduled to discuss Nepal in New Delhi Monday, Tarun reported .
Earlier, Dr Ravini Thakur visited Nepal last week to prepare a report of Nepal for leaders of the party.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party chief of international department Karan Singh were to participate in the meeting.
The top leaders are meeting ahead of the dispatch of a party delegation to Nepal headed by general secretary Digbijaya Singh to assess the situation in the troubled nation before the 10 April election.
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PM Koirala attends spring festival instead of king

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: King Gyanendra didn’t attend the traditional singing of hymns Monday on Shripanchami at Hanuman Dhoka like last year..
The day ushers in spring with the end of winter.
Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala instead listened to the incantation by Hindu priests.
It’s learnt the king observed Shirpanchami at the Narayanhiti royal palace.
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