Maoists/police clash (Breaking News)

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 24 March: Police Tuesday morning dispersed Maoists to who had stopped a security convoy from transporting what they called arms imported from India en route to the capital at Nawal Parasi.
Local officials said the Indian trucks were transporting logistics materials and denied arms are being ferried.
One radio report said 40 trucks were in the convoy.
Maoists clashed with the police and torched a vehicle. They enforced a strike in three districts in southwest terai districts.
Chairman Prachanda demanded an explanation from government for what he called import of arms from India without consultation just ahead of elections.
Prachanda said he expects a government later Tuesday.
Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan is flying to New Delhi for consultations Tuesday.
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Nepali woman on death row in Kuwait

Doha, 24 March: The Nepali embassy in Saudi Arabia has again appealed to individuals to donate money to save the life of Dolma Sherpa, who has been handed down a death sentence by a court in Kuwait, The Kathmandu Post reports.
Hamid Ansari, Nepal’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said that sufficient funds have not been available for arranging a defense lawyer to represent her and pay compensation to the family of a Filipino woman who Dolma Sherpa has been accused of murdering.
At least Rs 5 million is needed and only Rs 700,000 has been collected so far.
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Anti-American protests of Bhutanese refugees

By Bhola B Rana

Damak, Jhapa, 24 March: Nearly 300 Bhutanese refugees staged anti-American and anti-Bhutanese government protest at Beldangi refugee camp Monday, Nepal Samchararpatra reports.
They demanded a right to return home.
Bhutan Republic Youth Organization sponsored the protest and protested 100,000 refugees in refugee camps in Nepal were denied a right to vote in Monday’s election.
Refugees said the vote was meaningless.
Bhutan Communist Party (MLM) Bikalpa group said the vote was just a ploy to prolong the rule of the king.
United Revolutionary Front said the vote won’t provide relief.

[Note: Druk Phuensum Tshogpa swept 44 of 47 seats in national assemly elections.]
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