21 days before vote, parties still releasing manifestoes; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 March: Twenty-one days before the historic constituent assembly vote, parties were releasing their political manifestoes in the hope of telling the voters what they envisaged for a ‘new Nepal’.
The message is too late; most of the voters, who have in the past cast ballots in parliamentary elections don’t also know what assembly election is all about.
Maoists, with control of the state media with the largest reach to the people through radio, television and state-owned newspapers, are dishing out only their propaganda.
Campaigning is restricted to district headquarters of the 75 districts ;Maoists have confined their opposition to headquarters in the hills and rebellion by groups demanding independence in the tarai has restricted campaigning in the south bordering India.
Daily violence continues unabated.
Serial blasts Thursday rocked Birgunj in south central Nepal; rebel groups bombed homes of security personnel in Sunsari and former Congress minister Surendra Chaudhary was targeted in an attack in Parsa.
CPN-UML charged Maoists Thursday disturbed campaigning in Chitwan and Dhading.
Meanwhile, Nepal Army denied Thursday Chief of the Army Staff Gen Rukmangaud Katawal and Maoist Chief Prachanda held discussions at an undisclosed place and time.
The Army was denying a Maoist politburo member Agni Sapkota who claimed,” the meeting was felt necessary because we see a rising threat to Nepal’s nationality from international forces.”.
Top Maoist leaders Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarau have said USA, India and palace are conspiring to deny Maoists a victory in assembly elections.
The Army denied the claim was baseless and the rumour was spread to ‘hide their own weakness’.
The army spokesman issued the denial indicating the seriousness with which the government and army have taken the Maoist charge of an international conspiracy.
Maoists have repeatedly identified foreign powers as India and USA.
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No leave for Maoists combatants

Kathmandu, 20 March: All leave for Maoist combatants has been cancelled after complaints by major parties, including Nepali Congress of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, the former combatants under UNMIN observation were leaving camps to participate in electioneering.
The decision came into immediate effect; 12 percent of combatants in camps were eligible for leave.
Maoist fighters, parties complained, were campaigning for top candidates including Chairman Prachanda and military chief Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal”.
Their constituencies are next to the cantonments in Rolpa and Chitwan respectively.
The issue was discussed at a tripartite meeting of UN, Army and Maoist representatives who came to an agreement.
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Nepal hopes Beijing Olympics will be a success

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 March: In a delayed reaction to the bloody revolt in neighbouring Tibet, Nepal Thursday hoped the august Beijing Olympics will succeed.
An official statement was issued by the foreign ministry as Tibetan refugees in Nepal protested against the Olympics and called for UN intervention to lend what they called oppression by Beijing.
CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist) condemned the protests of the Tibetan refugees and supported China.
But Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress has maintained a studied silence.
Government also said Tibet is a part of China and called for the peace, development and progress of China.
Nepal said it is always committed to a one China policy adding it was alert at the recent developments in Tibet.
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