Himalayan Daily Ramblings

CPN-UML general secretary to contest from the capital as well

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: The rebellion in the terai has forced the CPN-UML to seek a safe constituency in the capital for Secretary General Madhav Kumar Nepal in the 10 April controversial assembly election.
Constituencies in the capital and adjoining towns of Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kirtipur are considered for safe for communists.
Nepal will be contesting the country’s first assembly elections to draw up suggestions for sweeping constitutional changes by elected members of the assembly from Kathmandu constituency number 2 as well; the CPN-UML chief will contest from his old constituency in Rautahat as well .
Nepal had been contesting parliamentary elections from two constituencies in terai district.
The party now considers the constituencies unsafe for Nepal following the terai rebellion.
Supporters of Madesh Jatantric Forum led by Upendra Yadav killed 28 Maoists to protest the first amendment to the constitution that ignited the rebellion in the terai and the subsequent displacement of Maoists from the region immediately bordering India.
Maoist chairman Prachanda is contesting from two constituencies in the capital and Rolpa from where the people’s war was launched 12 years ago.
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Sujata Koirala again defends monarchy

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: Even as she defied women lawmakers and refused to depose for the third time Thursday at a bipartisan committee of women lawmakers, Sujata Koirala again came our firmly in support of monarchy.
Angry women lawmakers summoned the daughter of the prime minister and minister without portfolio to grill her for public support for monarchy after her appointment.
“Monarchy is unique to Nepal; it should be saved; it is our culture,” she told the Nepali service of BBC.
“We shouldn’t topple it. You may not like the king; he may be bad. Nepal might not be disintegrated if can keep and safeguard the institution,” she reiterated.
Sujata again came out in public support for monarchy even after her own Congress party leaders demanded action against her.
The party of prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala is divided in the 238-year-old institution while going for the constituent assembly polls.
A sizeable section led by general secretary KB Gurung boycotted seven joint rallies with Maoists to canvass support for a republic in the 10 April assembly election.
More than 40 leaders charged Koirala for subordinating party and country interests to Maoists.
The King Wednesday for the first time spoke out publicly on some issues with a journalist.
On the insertion of a republic in the constitution without monarchy the king said,” Oh. It has been written in the constitution. I have not been able to understand it.’
The King also said he will also not go into exile with ruling seven parties opting to go for a republic in the assembly vote.
The king’s first interview after the collapse of the royal regime in April 2006, is probably an indication that the king, who has refrained from speaking publicly so far, will now come out in openly.
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Commercial banks record profits

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: Kumari Bank Ltd recorded a net profit of Rs 188.1 million in Q2 of fiscal year 2007/08 ending 14 January 2008.
Machhapuchchhre Bank Ltd registered a net profit of Rs 84.52 million in thew same period.
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Maoists to give up Prachandapath for unity with Unity Center

Kathmandu 1 Feb: CPN (Maoist) is uniting with one group of activists of two communist splinter groups of the CPN (Unity Center) and Janamorcha Nepal, Sambodhan reports.
The central committee meeting of Unity Center is continuing in the capital for unity with CPN (Maoist); the unity will materialize probably within one week.
In return, Maoists have agreed to give up “Prachandapath’ as the party’s guiding party principle.
Party general secretary Prakash of Unity Center along with a majority of central committee members proposed unity before registering candidates for constituent assembly elections.
But Amik Serchan, Lilamani Pokhrel and some top other leaders are opposed to unity; this group is in a minority.
A heated discussion is ongoing in Unity Center following difference on unity.
Prakash has proposed CPN(Maoist) give up Maoism as a guiding party principle.
The matter will be discussed in the Maoist general convention.
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Clashes in Madesh

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: Two terai groups who have formed a front clashed with police as they attempted to state sit-ions and padlock district headquarter ogovernment offices in terai districts in east and central Madesh Frioday, reports from the south saidd.
More than 50 workers of the NSP (D) faction led by Rajendra Mahoto and Madesh Janatantrik Forum members were injured in clashes with police who arrested the protestors.
The two parties were pressing government to fulfil 11 regional demands before election which they said they will boycott if demands aren’t met.
Donors, meanwhile, asked the Election Commission at an interaction to reinforce security in the terai and hold assembly elections.
Terai groups and parties said they will fight the deployment of the army for elections.
Maoist Chairman told 3,500 plus participants at an election training programme in Chitwan Friday foreigners were conspiring against elections because Maoists would win the 10 April vote.
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Country engulfed in darkness

Kathmandu, 1 Feb: The capital residents from Friday had to suffer two more hours of load-shedding from Friday on a cold winter day as weathermen said the cold spell will last for another two weeks.
Load-shedding has been extended daily to eight from six hours because, Nepal Electricity Authority said, repairs had to be undertaken at Kulekhani.
There’s again a shortage of POL products in the capital and the rest of the country with dealers saying they will close down pimps if products aren’t available for distribution.
Long queues have formed at petrol stations to collect petrol again.
Students forced the government earlier this month to rollback the third hike on prices of POL products.
Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) said Friday it has paid one billion rupees to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) for imports which should ease the supply situation from Saturday.
There are shortages and shortages.
IOC isn’t ready to send supplies of scarce POL products without payment of dues; government hurriedly extended a rupees one billion load to NOC to pay India.
Government doesn’t have money to conduct elections as well.
It asked donors for three billion in donation; donors told an embarrassed government they would prefer to channel the money through the UN.
United States asked why one million was being liberally given to each lawmaker before the vote if government was short of cash.
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