YCL disrupts RPP chairman’s election campaign

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 March: Following a suspension of such activities against conservative political parties without notice, YCL Saturday resumed disruptive acts and stopped RPP chairman Pashupati SJB Rana from addressing a public meeting in his home district Sindhupalchow.
Police arrested one armed Maoist armed with a khukri.
But the election campaign was peaceful in the capital Saturday as candidates attempt to give the controversial election momentum; reports from the terai fear pervades districts in the terai and eastern hills where candidates have been given armed security guards by government.
Police told candidates to campaign only under security escort.
A candidate was abducted from his home in Kapilvathsu overnight by an armed terai group active in the south as they oppose elections demanding cessation.
A committee of ruling parties charged Maoists were responsible for last onth’s murderous attack on former Congress Dilendra Prasad Badu in Dandeldhura, the home district of Sher Bahadur Deuba amid Maoist rejection of the findins of the study team.
Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel said Saturday unnamed political parties were violating an election code of conduct during campaigning and warned they would be disqualified.
In an election manifesto entitled ‘New ideology and new leadership for a new Nepal’ released Friday, Maoists said they will push for French presidential system with a prime minister nominated by lawmakers.
The party said Prachanda will be the first president elected by the constituent assembly if Maoists win the 110 April vote; Congress has rejected a presidential system and is pushing parliamentary democracy with a powerful and directly elected prime minister.
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Rhino census launched

Kathmandu, 8 March: A census of the endangered one-horned rhino began in Chitwan Saturday.
A census began in Bardiya in the far-West earlier in the week.
The rhinos have been threatened with poaching; the census will help determine how many rhinos have been killed by poachers.
Rhinos were trans-located to Bardiya from Chitwan, with international assistance, to save the population from an epidemic.
The one-horned rhino is found only in Nepal and Assam, India.
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