Nepal declared republic by CA

By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 28 May: CA my a majority vote declared a republic by a majority of 560 to 4.
RPP-Nepal voted against the resolution.
Chairman Kul Bahadur Gurung announced the result of the division.
The result was announced at 11.10 PM more than 12 hours have the assembly was first scheduled to meet.

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CA meeting again delayed

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 May: The CA meeting has been delayed for the second time in four hours.
The first was at 11 in the morning was rescheduled fore three in the afternoon even without meeting; there are no signs when the meeting to declare a republic will start.
The meetings have been delayed after failure of seven parties to define the powers of a ceremonial president demanded by Congress and CPN-UML.
After losing elections to Maoists, the largest party in the CA, Congress and CPN-UML are trying to curtail the powers of the prime minister and shift some to the president which Girija Prasad Koirala is trying to become.
But Fourm and Maoists are opposed to Koirala as a ceremonial president.
Only seven parties are involved in discussions without the involvement of three parties from the tarai just elected in the CA vote.



Differences have persisted since Tuesday.
Maoists have agreed only to a declaration of a republic by the CA.
Maoists aren’t agreeing to the definition of the powers of a ceremonial president demanded by Congress and CPN-UML after the declaration of a republic.
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Curfew slapped on Dhangadi

Kathmandu, 28 May: Dhangadi in under indefinite curfew after three persons were killed Wednesday died in a police firing and six others were injured.
The town was tense since this week after Maoists battered a journalist.
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Differences delay announcement of a republic

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 28 May: Differences between seven parties have delayed the declaration of a republic by CA at 11 in the morning.
Guests and assembly members started moving out of the Birendra International Convention Center where the CA has been called.
A meeting of the CA was postponed for four hours until three in the afternoon, assembly members said.
Three parties agreed Tuesday only to declare a republic.
There was no agreement on the role and powers of a president between Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists for a ceremonial president after announcing a republic.
Differences have also crept in the CPN (Maoist)
Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran , the number two Maoist leader, didn’t take his oath of office Tuesday apparently because Dr Baburam Bhattarai was appointed deputy party leader in CA after Prachanda.‘
Baidya is the number two man in the Maoist shadow cabinet.
Parties have brought out demonstrations in support of a republic.
There’s heavy security presence at main points, including Narayanhiti Royal Palace.
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Govt. proposal to implement a proclaim republic


By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 May: Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists agreed Tuesday government will formally present a proposal in the CA Wednesday to proclaim a republic by abolishing the 238-year monarchy.
Top leader of conservative RPP-Nepal Ramhari Sharma said the declaration ‘illegal”.
“The issue will remain. The declaration won’t be in the interest of the country,” he added.
A republic isn’t sustainable.
But Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, elected Tuesday party deputy leader in CA, said the King will have to accept the executive proclamation to be presented to the CA by government Wednesday.
Prachanda has been elected Maoist leader in the CA.
The CA will then direct the government to execute proclamation.
Dr Bhattarai said a constitution amendment proposal will also be tabled in CA Wednesday to facilitate the implementation of a republic.
Prohibitory orders have been ordered in the capital since Monday banning protests and meetings at five centers and security forces have also been kept on high alert for the proclamation.
Yet two persons were injured in bomb explosion at Ratna Park Tuesday; a bomb went off in the capital for the second successive day.
Hindu Ranabir Sena took responsibility for Monday’s two bombings.
Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists patched up differences and agreed Tuesday morning to appoint a ceremonial president first opposed by Maoists.
The three parties were to present the agreement first to 13 and then to 25 parties in the CA for endorsement Tuesday night.
Elected and nominated members of hee CA took their oaths of office Tuesday; government didn’t complete nomination of 26 remaining members for the ceremony.
A three-day holiday has been announced from Wednesday to celebrate republic day.
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Narayan Kazi Shrestha “Prakash” surfaces
Kathmandu, 27 May: Communist leader Narayan Kazi Shrestha ‘Prakash” surfaced in the capital 18 years after going underground.
He is General-Secretary of CPN (Unity Center/Mashal).
He helped broker the 12-point agreement between parliamentary parties and Maoists in New Delhi in 2006.
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Govt. proposal to implement a proclaim republic


By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 May: Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists agreed Tuesday government will formally present a proposal in the CA Wednesday to proclaim a republic by abolishing the 238-year monarchy.
Top leader of conservative RPP-Nepal Ramhari Sharma said the declaration ‘illegal”.
“The issue will remain. The declaration won’t be in the interest of the country,” he added.
A republic isn’t sustainable.
But Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai, elected Tuesday party deputy leader in CA, said the King will have to accept the executive proclamation to be presented to the CA by government Wednesday.
Prachanda has been elected Maoist leader in the CA.
The CA will then direct the government to execute proclamation.
Dr Bhattarai said a constitution amendment proposal will also be tabled in CA Wednesday to facilitate the implementation of a republic.
Prohibitory orders have been ordered in the capital since Monday banning protests and meetings at five centers and security forces have also been kept on high alert for the proclamation.
Yet two persons were injured in bomb explosion at Ratna Park Tuesday; a bomb went off in the capital for the second successive day.
Hindu Ranabir Sena took responsibility for Monday’s two bombings.
Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists patched up differences and agreed Tuesday morning to appoint a ceremonial president first opposed by Maoists.
The three parties were to present the agreement first to 13 and then to 25 parties in the CA for endorsement Tuesday night.
Elected and nominated members of hee CA took their oaths of office Tuesday; government didn’t complete nomination of 26 remaining members for the ceremony.
A three-day holiday has been announced from Wednesday to celebrate republic day.
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Narayan Kazi Shrestha “Prakash” surfaces
Kathmandu, 27 May: Communist leader Narayan Kazi Shrestha ‘Prakash” surfaced in the capital 18 years after going underground.
He is General-Secretary of CPN (Unity Center/Mashal).
He helped broker the 12-point agreement between parliamentary parties and Maoists in New Delhi in 2006.
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King won’t accept light-hearted republic declaration

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 May: The King won’t accept without ‘firm accusation and charges’ a ‘light-hearted declaration of a republic’ if it’s declared Wednesday by the first meeting of the CA Wednesday.
The King won’t vacate the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, Puranjagaran reported Tuesday quoting an unnamed palace source.
Published reports said the King returned to the palace Monday after a retreat at Nagarjung where is returning back this week.
The ‘clear verdict of the people hasn’t come through a referendum’, the newspaper said adding the historic institution of monarchy unified and established the nation.
The newspaper said “election was held only for a CA and the declaration of a republic through the election without involving the King’ is both ‘undemocratic, unilateral and unjust’, newspaper quoting the unnamed source said.
“The King won’t go for a confrontation but won’t accept an unjust decision” the newspaper said and added the palace has ‘concluded the statements of politicians against monarchy is turning people’s sympathy in favour of monarchy’.
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Another three-party meet to try for a consensus

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 May: Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists began discussions for the second consecutive day Tuesday to try to end a deadlock of government one day before the CA meets to declare a republic.
Elected members of the assembly are scheduled to Tuesday afternoon to take their oaths of office in the afternoon.
Government is yet to appoint 26 members.
Agreement couldn’t be reached Monday even after three rounds of discussions.
Congress and CPN-UML rejected a nine-point proposal of Maoists who proposed the present arrangement of the prime minister as officiating head of state should be continued until a new constitution is drafted in another two years.
Congress and CPN-UML proposed appointing a ceremonial president in a republican after agreement to declare a republic Wednesday.
Maoists proposed converting the YCL into a political organization in a vague proposal.
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Community schools closed down for two weeks.

Kathmandu, 27 May: In an unprecedented move, government ordered the closure of all community schools from Tuesday until 10 June.
The government took the extreme step to close down schools to quell nation-wide protests after failure to make textbooks available after schools reopened following announcement of SLC results.
The Education Ministry is without a minister after CPN-UML withdrew from government following its dismal performance in the 10 April CA election.
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Bombs go off in front of convention center; talks deadlocked

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: There were no casualties when two motorcyclists defied indefinite prohibitory orders slapped at five sensitive centers in the capital from Monday and lobbed two socket bombs in front of the Birendra International Convention Center, the venue of the CA meeting which meets two days later Wednesday.
Prohibitory orders were slapped around Singha
Durbar, Narayanhiti, Nirmal Niwas and even Baluwatar, the official residence of the prime minister who has sent daughter Sujata out of the country.
A bomb was set off in front of Debendra Raj Pandey, a civil rights leader.
Ranabir Sena, a Hindu organization, claimed responsibility.
The first day’s agenda is to order the government to implement a republic by ending the 238-year old monarchy established by King Prithvi Narayan Shah who unified modern Nepal with the help of Nepal Army.
The country is heading towards uncertain times; a republic is not sustainable.
Seven parties who won the 10 April CA election to draft a constitution say they have a mandate to declare a republic.
But supporters of monarchy say only a direct vote through a referendum can decide between monarchy and a republic.
Conservative leader of RPP-Nepal Kamal Thapa said the republic is pushed by unnamed foreign powers and will lead either to a Maoist or military takeover.
“”…what will the army decide—people are watching.
“In fact, the efforts to end it [monarchy] began as per the desire of foreign powers and ultra-left Maoists’ strategic objective,” Thapa said in an interview Monday.
Congress, CPN—UML and Maoists discussed a nine-point CPN (Maoist)proposal to end a political deadlock before the CA meets Wednesday.
Two rounds of meetings in the morning and early afternoon were inconclusive.


Political differences persist on government formation and constitution amendment to declare a republic and replace monarchy with a ceremonial president.
Congress and CPN-UML charged Maoists didn’t have concrete proposals for breaking a deadlock.
Maoists are demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala transfer his power with powers of a head of state as well.
Maoists aren’t ready to share the power of the prime minister and presidency which has tot be created and are opposed to constitution amendment to facilitate the overthrow of a government by simple majority.
CPN-UML and Congress aren’t willing to hand over the reigns of government to Maoists without ensuring constitutional provision to overthrow a government through simple majority.
The two parties have presented seven conditions to Maoists for cooperation.
The two parties never expected Maoists to emerge on top in CA elections.
Maoists also oppose creation of a ceremonial president for Koirala
Maoists have presented nine-point proposals for agreement.
Negotiators are to meet for the third time late in the night after dispersing following a second round of inconclusive talks.
Prachanda said Monday conditions have put the peace process in a difficult situation.


53 killed hr situation not satifsaftory.

Parachad atalks said talks were sisitution response was positive.
Bombs go off in front of convention center

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: There were no casualties when two string bombs exploded in front of the Birendra International Convention Center, the venue of the CA meeting that meets for the first time Wednesday with an agenda to ask government to implement a republic.
Congress, CPN—UML and Maoists met for the second time to narrow down Monday afternoon to narrow down political differences on government formation, constitution amendment to declare a republic and other issues after the first round of discussions was inconclusive in the morning.
Congress and CPN-UML charged Maoists didn’t present concrete proposals for breaking a deadlock.
Maoists are demanding Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala transfer power with powers of a head of state.
CPN-UML and Congress aren’t willing to hand over the reigns of government to Maoists without ensuring constitutional provision to overthrow a government through simple majority.
The two parties have presented seven conditions to Maoists for cooperation.
The two parties never expected Maoists to emerge on top in CA elections.
Maoists also oppose creation of a ceremonial president for Koirala
Maoists have presented nine-point proposals for agreement.
Negotiators are to meet for the third time late in the night after dispersing following a second round of inconclusive talks.
Prachanda said Monday conditions have put the peace process in a difficult situation.
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Kathmandu, 26 May: A top official of the Bush administration looking after South Asia held talks for the first time with Nepal’s Maoists Monday
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Evan A. Feigenbaum held 45-minute discussions with Maoist Chairman at his residence Monday.
The meeting was held after Ambassador Nancy J. Powell established first direct contact with Maoist Chairman this month before leaving for Washington for detailed review of American Nepal policy following Maoist victory in the 10 April CA election.
USA is considering whether to take Maoists off its terrorist list.
Prachanda said he asked the top US diplomat to remove Maoists off the US terrorist list and said the official was positive.
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King turns PM Koirala request for meeting

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: It’s learnt the King has turned down Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s request for an audience to discuss the fluid political situation, Tarun reports.
Koirala requested for a meeting this week.
The meeting request was turned down even the king meets ordinary people at Nagarjung from Thursday.
Sources close to the palace said the request was turned down because a meeting with Koirala would have no meaning for the King who has concluded the prime minister weakened the palace through repeated actions. .The King has been telling people he has been let down by Koirala.
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Sujata slips out to Singapore

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: Some leaders have slipped out of the country at a time when Maoists have decided to celebrate the declaration of a republic by lighting lamps, Tarun reports.
Sujata Koirala has slipped out to Singapore.
Before leaving she told some party leaders and security personnel she fears attacks from Maoists.
Ms Koirala left the country on 24 May, apparently on advice of her father, not to be in the country when it is headed for an uncertain situation, newsfront reports.
This has also sparked a debate, especially in the Congress party, that the elder Koirala is not going to ‘give on the platter’ the power to Prachanda.
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King turns PM Koirala request for meeting

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: It’s learnt the King has turned down Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s request for an audience to discuss the fluid political situation, Tarun reports.
Koirala requested for a meeting this week.
The meeting request was turned down even the king meets ordinary people at Nagarjung from Thursday.
Sources close to the palace said the request was turned down because a meeting with Koirala would have no meaning for the King who has concluded the prime minister weakened the palace through repeated actions. .The King has been telling people he has been let down by Koirala.
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Sujata slips out to Singapore

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: Some leaders have slipped out of the country at a time when Maoists have decided to celebrate the declaration of a republic by lighting lamps, Tarun reports.
Sujata Koirala has slipped out to Singapore.
Before leaving she told some party leaders and security personnel she fears attacks from Maoists.
Ms Koirala left the country on 24 May, apparently on advice of her father, not to be in the country when it is headed for an uncertain situation, newsfront reports.
This has also sparked a debate, especially in the Congress party, that the elder Koirala is not going to ‘give on the platter’ the power to Prachanda.
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Kamal Thapa warns of possibility of military takeover

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa Monday warned of a ‘possibility’ of a takeover by the army or Maoists in ‘another round of confrontation’ in an interview with The Kathmandu Post Monday.
‘Yes, that comes as the second option, After confrontation I don’t rule out the possibility of one of the two taking over,” Thapa said in reply to a question: Does that another round of confrontation mean the takeover by the army.
The Army and King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great united modern Nepal
“The impact will be so big that I don’t think the current political leadership will be able to manage it. In that situation one of two things that will happen: either a complete takeover by the Maoists or another round of confrontation.” Thapa said in reply to a question what after the first CA meeting.
“The monarchy is soon to be a victim of conspiracy of foreign powers, and strategic objective of the extreme left forces of this country.
“In fact, the efforts to end it [monarchy] began as per the desire of foreign powers and ultra-left Maoists’ strategic objective,” Thapa added.
CA is expected to ask the government Wednesday to implement a republic.
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Indian ambassador Sood comes under ore flak

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 26 May: Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood has come under more fire for suggesting Maoists should be allowed to lead a post-election government.
Sood has been behaving like a colonial viceroy and a ‘brown sahib’ dictating to Nepal how and who should be government it.
“It’s not correct for foreign diplomats to be making comments on Nepal’s government formation,” Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat told Kantipur.
“Matters such as government leadership and constitution amendment are entirely internal matters,” he added.
“Nepalese parties have to decide government leadership. Friends can wish us well but they can’t direct us,” CPN-UML leader Ishwor Pokhrel said.
Dr Mahat and Pokhrel said this after the two parties negotiated the 12-point agreement with Maoists by involving India.
They invited foreign interference in Nepal’s internal affairs in the first place.
On the last occasion, the two parties even discussed the Madesh accord with tarai parties at the Indian embassy.
While foreigners certainly shouldn’t be telling Nepal and Nepalis how to manage their affairs, Congress and CPN-UML don’t have any moral authority and right to say so after inviting foreign interference in the first place.
They said so now because Sood said a government should be now be led by Maoists—a proposal not to the liking of the two parties.
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Prohibited areas declared
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 25 May: Preparations are afoot for the CA to ask the government to implement a republic when the assembly meets for the first time Wednesday by restricting access to people.
Security presence is expected to be heavy.
Uncertainty prevails as major parties called for the observance of Wednesday as a republic day.
Maoists have asked activists to assemble in the capital while Nepali Congress has asked its student wing Nepal Students’ Union to protest against Maoist excesses.
Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists have parted company cobbled together by India and its western supporters two years ago after the 10 April election when Maoists emerged at the largest political party.
Local administration Sunday evening declared areas around the Birendra International Convention Center, Singha Durbar, Narayanhiti, Nirwal Niwas and Baluwatar prohibited areas indefinitely from Monday banning protests and other meetings.
The CA meets at the Convention Center built by the Chinese as its gift to King Birendra.
Without that Center, it would have been difficult for the government to find a suitable place in the Valley for 600-plus persons to assembly for a lengthy meeting.
Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Maoists and MJF are still disagreed on a common political agenda three days before the assembly meets.
Maoists and MJF said they won’t accept Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as a ceremonial president after the declaration of a republic and Koirala and CPN-UML aren’t willing to transfer power to Maoists who have staked a claim to a post-election government.
Prachanda Sunday said he should be prime minister and acting head of state like Koirala until a constitution is drafted.
Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists are meeting for the third consecutive day Monday to resolve a deadlock.
Maoists are presenting a draft proposal for an agreement which will be rejected because the two rival parties are demanding proposals already rejected by Maoists.
Congress and CPN-UML accept Maoists in government and even went for elections with the PLA and YCL intact; Congress especially never pressed Maoists to meet pre-conditions for return of seized assets for elections.
With elections over, Congress are renewing the pre-conditions demonstrating unprincipled politics and unconcern for the people and their private property.
Congress never thought it would lose elections and so never bothered about pressing pre-conditions; it is demonstrating belated concern not for the people or democracy but its own last ditch survival after a rout.
Maoists have asked the king to vacate Narayanhiti by Wednesday.
The palace is silent.
The declaration is a republic isn’t sustainable.
Nepalis heading for uncertain days ahead.
India is pushing the agenda with the support of the main political parties without putting monarchy to a popular vote.
The 238-year-old institution wasn’t put to a vote al all in the 10 April CA election.
India, like a colonial power, is pushing a domestic agenda openly.
Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood, acting like a viceroy and ‘brown sahib’
is even dictating who should lead government as parties differ; he said Maoists should head what he called a government of ‘national unity’—a mantra first spelt out by his boss Shyam Saran.
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Nepali creates record on Everest
Kathmandu, 25 May: Min Bahadur Serchan, 77, established a world record Sunday to become the oldest person to step on top of the world.
Serchan climbed the 8848 meters high world’s tallest to improve a record of a Japanese who was 71 when he climbed Everest.
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Body of Ram Kazi Shrestha recovered
Kathmandu, 25 May: Police Sunday recovered the body of businessman Ram Kazi Shrestha in a decomposed state from under a bridge in Chitwan, and along a highway en route to the capital, police said.
But family, on anti-Maoist protest, refused to take delivery of the body until DNA tests.
Maoists abducted the businessman from the capital to a cantonment at Chitwan under UNMIN observation, tortured and murdered him.
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Two die of starvation on Dailekh

Kathmandu, 25 May: Two persons have died of starvation in Dailekh, Naya Patrika reports from Dailekh.
Jaya Bahadur Bika and Ganga Bahadur Bika died of starvation following a long drought.
The old couple was staying a nephew’s house after son and daughter-in-law went to India in search of a job.
The village Rum-3 is deserted after youth left.
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Maoists won’t accept President Koirala; Sood dictates type and government leader like a colonial master

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 May: Chairman Prachanda said Sunday CPN (Maoist) won’t accept Girija Prasad Koirala as a ceremonial president and said he will be prime minister and act as head of state.
“The present arrangement is the interim constitution should continue. Our clear policy is there should be an executive prime minister. Prime minister should have the role of head of state as well to implement a republic,” Prachanda told Deshantar.
‘Until a news constitution is drafted, prime minister should play the role of acting president,” he added.
Rival parties are demanding a position of ceremonial president for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who asked Prachanda Saturday to assembly a government as the largest party in the CA..
Rival parties said they will transfer power to Maoists only after an amendment in the constitution for power-sharing.
Prachanda offered the position of ‘patron’ of an ‘alliance’ of parties.
As a power struggle continues, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood ,like a colonial, ordered from Pokhara Saturday the style of government Nepal should have and who should lead it.
He said Maoists should lead such a government.
He was acting like the British did when they colonized India.
British could never colonize Nepal even as they overran India.
“All parties should have one objective—write the constitution,” Sood told a meeting in Pokhara.
He was speaking like a ‘brown sahib’ and telling Nepalis how to form then next government.
He said Maoists should lead a new government of national unity—an Indian mantra first enunciated by Shyam Saran.
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Four more women climb Everest
Kathmandu, 25 May: Four more Nepali women members of an inclusive women’s expedition scaled Mount Everest Saturday.
Shailee Basnet, a journalist, Usha Bista, Asha Kumari Singh and Pema Diki Sherpa climbed the peak.
Five women climbed in the first group.
Juru Shrestha, the last member of the team, is attempting to set foot on top of the mountain.
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Two die of starvation on Dailekh

Kathmandu, 25 May: Two persons have died of starvation in Dailekh, Naya Patrika reports from Dailekh.
Jaya Bahadur Bika and Ganga Bahadur Bika died of starvation following a long drought.
The old couple was staying a nephew’s house after son and daughter-in-law went to India in search of a job.
The village Rum-3 is deserted after youth left.
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Maoists won’t accept President Koirala; Sood dictates type and government leader like a colonial master

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 25 May: Chairman Prachanda said Sunday CPN (Maoist) won’t accept Girija Prasad Koirala as a ceremonial president and said he will be prime minister and act as head of state.
“The present arrangement is the interim constitution should continue. Our clear policy is there should be an executive prime minister. Prime minister should have the role of head of state as well to implement a republic,” Prachanda told Deshantar.
‘Until a news constitution is drafted, prime minister should play the role of acting president,” he added.
Rival parties are demanding a position of ceremonial president for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who asked Prachanda Saturday to assembly a government as the largest party in the CA..
Rival parties said they will transfer power to Maoists only after an amendment in the constitution for power-sharing.
Prachanda offered the position of ‘patron’ of an ‘alliance’ of parties.
As a power struggle continues, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood ,like a colonial, ordered from Pokhara Saturday the style of government Nepal should have and who should lead it.
He said Maoists should lead such a government.
He was acting like the British did when they colonized India.
British could never colonize Nepal even as they overran India.
“All parties should have one objective—write the constitution,” Sood told a meeting in Pokhara.
He was speaking like a ‘brown sahib’ and telling Nepalis how to form then next government.
He said Maoists should lead a new government of national unity—an Indian mantra first enunciated by Shyam Saran.
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Four more women climb Everest
Kathmandu, 25 May: Four more Nepali women members of an inclusive women’s expedition scaled Mount Everest Saturday.
Shailee Basnet, a journalist, Usha Bista, Asha Kumari Singh and Pema Diki Sherpa climbed the peak.
Five women climbed in the first group.
Juru Shrestha, the last member of the team, is attempting to set foot on top of the mountain.
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Doctors divide revenue collection at Teku hospital

Kathmandu, 24 May: Four doctors, including the director of Sukraraj Tropical Hospital, Teku, divided amongst themselves revenue collected from persons who had applied to go South Korea for employment, Naya Patrika reports.
Money was collected for their health tests.
The money should have been deposited in the hospital’s development fund.
According to the board decision, Director Dr Mahendra Bahadur Bista collected 14 percent of the fees collected while Drs Arjun Ran Pant, Debi Prasad and BasudevPandey took 12 percent of the collection each.
Director collected Rs 224,000.
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Maoist military leader suspended
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 24 May: Maoists have suspended military leader Kali Bahadur Khan Magar ‘Bibid’ the Chitwan Third Division Company Commander to hemp internal investigation of the murder of a business murdered inside the facility under constant observation of UNMIN.
Maoists took the action to try and contain a crisis as it prepares to form a government following victory in CA election.
Protests have swelled after businessman Ram Shrestha was abducted to the cantonment in Chitwan from the capital tortured and killed.
UNMIN Chief Ian Martin tried to negate growing criticism of UNMIN for failure to contain criminal activities inside the cantonments and camps.
"There have been some suggestions that in some way it points to a weakness in UNMIN’s monitoring role at the cantonments, but that really is without foundation," The Kathmandu Post quoted Martin as saying from New York.
"We have a 24-hour surveillance of the weapons storage areas in the cantonments, but we are neither mandated nor resourced to supervise the personnel of the cantonments—around 20,000 of them in 28 sites—in addition to the Nepal Army installations."
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Koirala asks Maoists to form govt.
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 24 May: Girija Prasad Koirala, as the head of state and not prime minister, Saturday asked Maoists to form a government as the largest party in CA.
“The ball is now in the Maoist Court,” Congress leader Bimalendra Prasad Nidhi said.
Koirala asked Maoists to form a government at a summit of three parties Saturday—Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists.
“Maoists have two options to form a government through consensus or gather a two-thirds majority to form a government,” Nidhi said.
No party is parliament is in a position to form a post-election government fulfilling these two conditions ensuring the continuity of the Koirala government before the CA meets Wednesday.
Prime Minister Koirala is refusing to give in to Maoist demands to resign as a head of a ‘caretaker government’ to make way for a CPN (Maoist) government.
Congress is also demanding the appointment of a ‘ceremonial president’ following the declaration of a republic Wednesday.
Maoists are opposing power-sharing by a president and prime minister and want to continue the present status quo.
But four other parties, Congress, CPN-UML, MJF, TMLP and NSP- Mahoto- are demanding a ‘package’ solution to break the deadlock.
MJF, TMLP and NSP has also demanded the incorporation of the One Mdesh, One Pradesh regional demand in the constitution before discussions on drafting the constitution begin.
As New Delhi increases its intervention in Nepal’s internal politics, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood told reporters in Pokhara Saturday Maoists should be allowed to form a government.
There’s basically no change after Koirala asked Maoists to form a government Saturday.
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Swiss, Spanish killed on Everest, Annapurna
Kathmandu, 24 May: Swiss and Spanish climbers have been killed on Everest and Annapurna this spring.
Swiss climber Uwe Gianni Goltz, 44, died while attempting to scale Mount Everest Friday, the Ministry of Tourism said.
Twenty-two more climbers stepped on top of the world Friday.
Spanish climber Ignacio Ochoa de Olza ‘Inaki’, 40, died on the 8091 meters high Annapurna, the ministry confirmed.
He has climbed 12 of the world’s 14 eight thousand meter high peaks.
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US explorer Ian Baker put on wanted list
Kathmandu, 24 May: Nepal has put US writer and explorer Ian Baker, living in Nepal for nearly 24 years, on its wanted list.
Police recovered body parts of endangered species and artifacts from two homes in the capital following raids Friday.
Baker was a contributor to Newsweek and National Geographic.
Rajesh Maharjan, lessor of Baker who have gone missing, has been arrested.
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DCBL upgraded

Kathmandu, 24 May: Development Credit Bank Ltd (DCBL) has been upgraded to “A” grade commercial bank
DCBL will begin operation as a commercial bank from Sunday.
The bank has a paid-up capital of Rs 1.1 billion and was launched 1 February 2001.
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Climbers killed on Everest, Annapurna

Kathmandu, 24 May: Mount Everest and Annapurna claimed two more lives this week.
Swiss climber Uwe Gianni Goltz, 44, died while trying to climb the 8848 meters high Mount Everest Friday when 22 climbers stepped on the simmit of the world’s tallest peak.
Ignacio Ochoa de Olza ‘Inaki’, 40, died on the 8091 meters high Annapurna, the world’s 10th peak, the ministry said.
The Spanish climber has climbed 1 of the world’s 14 eight thousand meter high peaks and had ambitions to climb all 14 to the top peaks.
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US writer Ian Baker placed on a wanted list

Kathmandu, 24 May: Nepal Government has put US writer and explorer Ian Baker on its wanted list.
Police Friday recovered body parts of endangered species like tiger and snow leopard and artifacts from two homes in the capital after a raid.
Baker contributed to Newsweek and National Geographic.
Rajesh Maharjan, Baker’s landlord, has been arrested.
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UNMIN acted irresponsibly [Excerpts]

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 23 May: It has now been confirmed Ram Hari Shrestha was killed after extreme torture at the PLA third division headquarter under 24-hour CCTV surveillance of UNMIN, Gobinda Pariyar reports in Samya.
Outsiders aren’t allowed and UNMIN permission is required for entry.
Question has been raised about UNMIN irresponsibility after the murder of Shrestha.
Former member of National Human Rights Commission Sushil Pyakhurel said it’s unbelievable UNMIN wasn’t aware of the week-long detention of Shrestha there.
‘Action should be taken against officials for negligence according to UN rules,” Pyakhurel said. UNMIN condemned the murder only four days after it came to light.
Pyakhurel said failure of UNMIN has been proved; Shrestha was taken in and out of the camp twice and yet UNMIN wasn’t aware of the movements.
The monitoring of UMNIN has come under question when arms were freely moving in and out and people were being tortured in the camp.
The work of UNMIN had already been questioned earlier.
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Orphanages for conversion

By Arjun Paudel in Naya Patrika

Kathmandu, 23 May: Thirty percent orphanages nation-wide are run illegally and they are run by churches, gumbas, madrasas and ashrams.
Of the 451 orphanages, 132 aren’t even registered.
Orphanages can run only with the permission of district Child Welfare Centers.
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Appa Sherpa climbs Everest for record 18th time

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: Appa Sherpa, 37, improved a personal record and climbed the 8848 meters world’s tallest peak Mount Everest for the 18th time Thursday, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) said.
Appa climbed with other members of a 35-member team.
Appa, who first stepped on the world’s highest point in 1989, and had stopped climbing after moving to the USA but came back to climb the Everest.
The sherpa moved to USA for the better opportunities.
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Govt. forms team to investigate businessman’s death

Kathmandu, 22 May: Government formed a three-member commission headed by retired supreme court justice Rajendra Kumar Bhahdari to investigate the abduction and murder of businessman Ram Kazi Shrestha.
The commission should report within 15 days.
Maoists, under pressure from different sections of society, announced their own investigation team Thursday morning.
Continuing protests were held for the fifth consecutive day Thursday demanding an investigation into the murder.
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Another Maoist pressure on PM Koirala

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: Maoists have put another pressure on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala asking his cabinet not to make substantive decisions that will have far-reaching ‘economic and administrative’ impacts, Maoists said.
Five Maoist ministers Wednesday submitted the request to Koirala as Maoists revealed a special cabinet committee is meeting to take such decisions.
Five ministers collectively in a letter to Koirala claimed the present government is only a caretaker.
Maoists have laid a claim to form a government as the largest party in the 601-member CA while rival parties have asked it to prove a two-third majority in the assembly for Koirala to hand-over government.
A hung parliament emerged after the election.
Meanwhile, three other parties are attempting to forge a coalition against Maoists by demanding an amendment in the constitution with a provision to share power by appointing a ceremonial president for which there is no provision in the constitution.
The parties are demanding an amendment to the constitution to appoint a president to which Girija Prasad Koirala is staking a claim with powers Maoists don’t want to share.
Congress, CPN-UML and MJF have also agreed the constitution should be amended to remove any government through a simple majority replacing a present provision that requires a two-third vote.
Maoists have rejected the proposal; a post-election government hasn’t been formed more than six weeks after the 10 April vote.
Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba Wednesday ruled out working with Maoists until seven party demands are met, including amendment to the constitution and dissolution of the PLA and YCL.
The party abandoned the pre-condition for return of seized assets before going for polls and the government led by the party turned a blind eye to Maoist excesses during two years after the Maoist joined the mainstream.
“Coordination is totally out until our demands are met,” former Prime Minister Deuba said in Pokhara.
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Security around palace enhanced as preparations afoot to declare republic

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: A five-tiered security is being slapped around the palace at its special request as preparations are afoot to declare a republic through the first CA meeting Wednesday, Ishwar Raj Kafle reports in Nepal Samacharpatra.
Two rings will be deployed inside the palace and three outside, a source said.
. “Security is being deployed to prevent destruction of property. Bhiarabnath Battalion commando unit will be deployed,” a palace source said.
Palace officials have been ordered not to move around freely.
Meanwhile, the King is moving to Nagarjung Thursday published reports said.
CA is assembling Wednesday.
The same day, Nepal Students’ Union, a student wing of the Nepali Congress, has called another Valley strike to protest the Maoist murder of businessman Ram Hari Shresstha.
Maoists also assembling people in the Valley to press the King to leave the palace and celebrate the declaration of a republic.
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Anti-Maoist coalition being forged

Kathmandu, 22 May: Four biggest parties in the CA after the Maoists are attempting to forge a coalition to foil an attempt by the CPN (Maoist) to form a government.
No party has been able to form a post-election government with a hung parliament after the 10 April vote.
Congress, CPN-UML and MJF leaders agreed Wednesday to amendment the constitution to appoint a ceremonial president of which Girija Prasad Koirala is the leading contender.
The powers of the presidency are also being discussed.
The three parties also agreed to amend the constitution amid Maoist opposition to topple a government with a simple instead of a two-third majority under the present provision.
If implemented, a Maoist government can be toppled anytime by its rivals bring assembled.
Congress, CPN-UML and MJF leaders are currently meeting with YML to forge such an alliance with agreement on to amend the constitution and appoint a ceremonial president.
Maoists, the largest party in CA, said it won’t share powers between a president and prime minister.
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Maoist to investigate businessman’s murder

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: Under intense pressure from rival parties and angry sections of society, Maoists formed their own inquiry committee to satisfy opposition and critics Thursday.
A three-member committee headed by top leader Post Bahadur Bogati was formed amidst assurances the guilty would be booked.
Earlier Friday, Chairman Prachanda held discussions with irate family members and assured cooperation in investigation.
Protestors are gheraoing Singha Durbar Thursday to investigate the Ram Kazi Shrestha and action against culprits.
Meanwhile UNMIN which has also come under fire held discussions Thursday with Maoists and Nepal Army at a meeting of the tripartite committee.
The UNMIN was expected to present its own report on the murder and torture within a cantonment in Chitwan under its surveillance.
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India lifts ban

Kathmandu, 22 May: India has lifted a ban of the export of cement and clinker to Nepal.
The ban create shortages hiking up price while project implementation has suffered.
Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood is conveying the decision to the Indian government to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at a decision Thursday.
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Five women of all-inclusive Nepali women team scale Everest

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: Five Nepali women of an all-women’s team with representatives of all ethnic groups scaled the 8848 meters high Mount Everest Thursday.
Five other women members are attempting to set foot on the world’s highest point Friday and Saturday.
Suhmita Maskey, Maya Gurung, Nawang Futi Sherpa, Pemba Sherpa and Pujana Achara climbed the peak.
The successful climbers were from the Newar, Gurung, Brahmin and Sherpa community.
Twenty-seven climbers first climbed the peak from Nepal Wednesday after it was opened to 31 teams when Chinese took an Olympic torch to the top from Tibet earlier this month.
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Maoists to formally claim govt.

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 22 May: Maoist central committee Thursday decided to formally stake a claim to form a government following its emergence as the largest party in the 60-1 member CA but without a majority.
Maoists had only claimed the government through public speeches.
Maoist have already decided join government by heading a coalition lead of other parties.
The five-member present team was to be replaced.
Prachanda is the head of the Maoist government team and the second man in Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ who is ranked above Dr Baburam Bhattarai who is placed third in ahead of Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal and CP Gajurel.
The formal decision means that the CPN (Maoist) will have to formally ask the government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to resign.
Five Maoist ministers Wednesday told Koirala Wednesday his government is only a caretaker government and asked it not to take any major decisions.
Other rival parties won’t concede to Maoist demand and will instead be asked to prove a two-third majority to form a government.
No party has a majority to form a government following a hung parliament.
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Another Jetstream 41 joins Yeti fleet

Kathmandu, 22 May: The sixth 30-seat Jetstream 41 joined the Yeti Airlines fleet Wednesday.
The airline also has five 19-seater DNC6-300 Twin Otters.
The airline started operation in 1998.
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Nepali general to head UN Sudan force in

Kathmandu, 22 May: Maj Gen Pawan Jung Thapa will head the UN Mission in Sudan.
He flew for Sudan Wednesday to take over responsibilities as head of a 10,000 strong force from 10 nations.
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Nepali Congress youth meeting suspended

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 May: Why was the Nepali Congress youth meeting in all five regional headquarters suspended, asks Janaastha.
The proposed meetings were suspended on intervention of party leaders because they would inconvenience top leaders including Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Meetings were planned in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Neplagunj and Dhangadi from 20 to 28 May.
The main reason for the suspension was the speech of Gagan Thapa who told a preparatory meeting,” If the Congress is to be saved, struggle should be launched against kings and minor kings in the party and Dai [brother Sher Bahadur, Ram Chandra, Sushil ] and didi [elder sister] {Sujata] but also against bhauju [Arjoo].”
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Nepal still a kingdom for South Africa

Kathmandu, 21 May: A scheduled programme of South African ambassador designate to present his credentials to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was cancelled at the last moment last week, Janaastha.
His credentials mentioned Nepal as a kingdom.
The ceremony has been rescheduled.
The ambassador in India is concurrently accredited to Nepal.
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Nepal heading for major crisis: Kamal Thapa

Kathmandu, 21 May: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa said Tuesday the country is heading for a major crisis with the decision of three major
‘The country is heading for a major crisis because of political reasons of the decision of Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists on monarchy and republic; they are taking decisions like they change a government and prime minister.
“The future days will be challenging. Social and cultural traditions of hundreds of years will be lost, Thapa told party assembly members.
The big parties will regret the decision to go for a republic, he said.
Extreme communism, threat to independence and foreign intervention will be challenges ahead
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Opponents of migration to USA attack vehicle

Kathmandu, 21 May: A vehicle of an international organization to transport 60,000 Bhutanese refugees from UNHCR camps in east Nepal was attacked and damaged in Morang Wednesday.
A vehicle was attacked two weeks probably by the same group in Jhapa two weeks ago even under government security.
Bhutanese Maoists are opposing the transfer and are demanding the return home instead.
Nearly 600 of 108,000 refugees have been transferred mainly to since the beginning of 2008.
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YCL, demonstrators clash
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 21 May: In another proof of a breakdown of an agreement between major seven parties to rule through inter-party consensus, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and NMKP activists Wednesday joined anti-Maoist protests in the Valley.
The 12-point agreement brokered by New Delhi between the ruling parties in 2006 has broken after Maoists emerged as the largest party in the 10 April CA election.
Several dozen protestors opposing the brutal murder of a businessman at a UNMIN cantonment were injured Wednesday in clashes with YCL.
Protestors demanding an investigation of the abduction and murder clashed with YCL in the capital and Bhaktapur.
Maoists are saying rivals are politicizing the murder.
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Nepali Congress youth meeting suspended

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 May: Why was the Nepali Congress youth meeting in all five regional headquarters suspended, asks Janaastha.
The proposed meetings were suspended on intervention of party leaders because they would inconvenience top leaders including Sushil Koirala, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Meetings were planned in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara, Neplagunj and Dhangadi from 20 to 28 May.
The main reason for the suspension was the speech of Gagan Thapa who told a preparatory meeting,” If the Congress is to be saved, struggle should be launched against kings and minor kings in the party and Dai [brother Sher Bahadur, Ram Chandra, Sushil ] and didi [elder sister] {Sujata] but also against bhauju [Arjoo].”
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Nepal still a kingdom for South Africa

Kathmandu, 21 May: A scheduled programme of South African ambassador designate to present his credentials to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was cancelled at the last moment last week, Janaastha.
His credentials mentioned Nepal as a kingdom.
The ceremony has been rescheduled.
The ambassador in India is concurrently accredited to Nepal.
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Nepal heading for major crisis: Kamal Thapa

Kathmandu, 21 May: RPP-Nepal Chairman Kamal Thapa said Tuesday the country is heading for a major crisis with the decision of three major
‘The country is heading for a major crisis because of political reasons of the decision of Congress, CPN-UML and Maoists on monarchy and republic; they are taking decisions like they change a government and prime minister.
“The future days will be challenging. Social and cultural traditions of hundreds of years will be lost, Thapa told party assembly members.
The big parties will regret the decision to go for a republic, he said.
Extreme communism, threat to independence and foreign intervention will be challenges ahead
Nnnn

Opponents of migration to USA attack vehicle

Kathmandu, 21 May: A vehicle of an international organization to transport 60,000 Bhutanese refugees from UNHCR camps in east Nepal was attacked and damaged in Morang Wednesday.
A vehicle was attacked two weeks probably by the same group in Jhapa two weeks ago even under government security.
Bhutanese Maoists are opposing the transfer and are demanding the return home instead.
Nearly 600 of 108,000 refugees have been transferred mainly to since the beginning of 2008.
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YCL, demonstrators clash
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 21 May: In another proof of a breakdown of an agreement between major seven parties to rule through inter-party consensus, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and NMKP activists Wednesday joined anti-Maoist protests in the Valley.
The 12-point agreement brokered by New Delhi between the ruling parties in 2006 has broken after Maoists emerged as the largest party in the 10 April CA election.
Several dozen protestors opposing the brutal murder of a businessman at a UNMIN cantonment were injured Wednesday in clashes with YCL.
Protestors demanding an investigation of the abduction and murder clashed with YCL in the capital and Bhaktapur.
Maoists are saying rivals are politicizing the murder.
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Congress, CPN-UML demand ceremonial president

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 21 May: Congress and CPN-UML demanded creation of a position of a ceremonial president in an amended constitution before transferring power to Maoists in extensive amendments to the constitution to check Maoists.
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is also acting head of state but the two parties are now demanding the creation of a position of president with definite powers after losing elections to Maoists in the 10 April CA election.
Maoists oppose the proposal of power sharing by a prime minister and president and are against what they call parallel power centers.
“We have agreed to a prime minister with executive power along with a ceremonial president,” Congress leader On Prasd Upadhaya told Naya Nepal after aninter-party meeting Tuesday.
The second and third largest parties demanded the position of a president after the CA decides to implement a republic.
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Valley on strike to protest murder


Kathmandu, 21 May: Life came to a halt in the Valley to protest the abduction and murder of businessman Ram Kazi Shrestha by Maoists.
The main political parties supported the protest.
Congress has organized its fraternal organizations to come out on the street against YCL particularly after losing assembly elections.
The Shrestha family said they have been constantly moving residence after receiving threats from Maoists.
Shrestha was killed at a cantonment under UNMIN observation after abduction from the capital.
A doctor at a Chitwan hospital said Shrestha died of renal failure 7 May following his admission with severe injuries at an emergency ward the previous day contradicting a Maoist claim the businessman died 10 May en route to the capital for treatment.
The murder has embarrassed Maoists who have staked a claim to form government.
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Madhav Kumar Nepal leaves for South Korea

Kathmandu, 21 May: Former CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal flew for South Korea Wednesday where he will participate in a conference of Asian political parties.
Nepal now looks after the party’s international desk.
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Maoist ministers preparing to resign

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 May: India wants a government should be formed under leadership of Maoists and the Nepal Army should be under Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s command, Madhav Basnet reports in Dhristi.
Differences have widened between Maoists and Congress on government formation even with an Indian role.
Premier Koirala is demanding Maoists make his president.
India was pushing for a ceremonial president; but Congress is now demanding Koirala should be declared president and commander-in-chief of the Nepal Army with powers to declare an emergency.
According to sources, Maoist ministers are preparing to resign May 29 or one day after CA meets after learning of the Congress move to create a moral crisis for Koirala.
After the resignation, Koirala will have to prove a two-third majority or another alternative is to resign after which Maoists will attempt to form a government as the largest party in the CA.
A constitutional crisis will loom large and Maoists will try to capture power during the crisis.
Meanwhile, Maoists are preparing to pour masse into the Valley and surround the palace before 28 May if the King doesn’t vacate it.
Police and army have been put on a state of alert
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v

Maoist ministers preparing to resign

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 May: India wants a government should be formed under leadership of Maoists and the Nepal Army should be under Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s command, Madhav Basnet reports in Dhristi.
Differences have widened between Maoists and Congress on government formation even with an Indian role.
Premier Koirala is demanding Maoists make his president.
India was pushing for a ceremonial president; but Congress is now demanding Koirala should be declared president and commander-in-chief of the Nepal Army with powers to declare an emergency.
According to sources, Maoist ministers are preparing to resign May 29 or one day after CA meets after learning of the Congress move to create a moral crisis for Koirala.
After the resignation, Koirala will have to prove a two-third majority or another alternative is to resign after which Maoists will attempt to form a government as the largest party in the CA.
A constitutional crisis will loom large and Maoists will try to capture power during the crisis.
Meanwhile, Maoists are preparing to pour masse into the Valley and surround the palace before 28 May if the King doesn’t vacate it.
Police and army have been put on a state of alert
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v

King’s three conditions

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 May: The King isn’t going to leave Narayanhiti easily, Dipak Pandey reports in Dhristi.
Sources said he won’t leave Narayanhiti until a new constitution is drafted.
The King is thinking of directly appealing to the people of he’s forced to leave.
The King has pushed three demands to leave.
He has demanded state security, a constitutional purse and cultural rights of a king.
If the King is forced to leave without the three conditions, he will make public the secret agreement of April 2006 with seven parties.
Sources said the King’s isn’t in a mood for confrontation.
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Maoists breached human rights: UNMIN

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 May: Four days after the death of a businessman at a cantonment administered by UNMIN surfaced, the Mission in a bland statement Monday said the abduction and murder by Maoists was a breach of human rights.
“This is a serious breach of the commitments made in the Agreement on Monitoring the Management of Arms and Armies reached between the CPN (Maoist) and the then government, as well as of the fundamental human rights,” the Mission said.
Maoists this month abducted Ram Kazi Shrestha from the capital to a cantonment in Chitwan where he was tortured and killed for allegedly stealing Rs 1.7 million and a UN-registered pistol.
The money and pistol were stolen by Maoist combatants staying in a rented room in Shrestha’s house.
OHCHR, is following the case with police, UNMIN said.
UNMIN said the murder will be discussed at a tripartite meeting of a joint monitoring committee, including government and Maoist representatives, and asked Maoists to cooperate with police in its investigation.
Second-ranking Maoist leader Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ said the murder has harmed the party’s image.
The murder surfaced at a time when Maoists are staking a claim to form a government after victory on the 10 April elections.
Students of rival parties have seized the opportunity to protest the murder and stage daily protests in the capital.
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CPN-UML supports Beijing Olympics

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: The ongoing central committee meeting of CPN-UML Monday extended best wishes and success for the August Olympic Games.
The good wishes came one day after the committee condemned daily protests by Tibetans, some of them refugees.
But many have come from across the open border from India to participate in protests, police said.
Tibetans have surprisingly been protesting almost every day for two months mainly in front of the Chinese embassy.
American embassy has supported the protest while the Chinese embassy has condemned them asking government for a crackdown.
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20 pilgrims dead, 28 injured

Kathmandu, 19 May: In the worst vehicular accident in recent months at least 20 pilgrims, many Indians, died and 28 others were injured as a bus fell off a mountain highway in mid-West Dang.
The bus veered 150 meters off the highway into Rapti river Monday.
Thirty passengers were rescued and 20 are still missing..
Three dozen Indians were onboard.
Pilgrims were heading for Swargadrawi temple in Pyuthan from Kapilvasthu to participate in a festival on Jestha Purnima Tuesday.
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Kathmandu, 19 May: NSP Chairperson Ananda Devi surfaced at the Reporters’ Club Monday after she went missing for nearly two months.
Two party factions traded charges of abduction and clashed.
Debi denied her abduction and said she went to Patna voluntarily for treatment.
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CPN-UML supports Beijing Olympics

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: The ongoing central committee meeting of CPN-UML Monday extended best wishes and success for the August Olympic Games.
The good wishes came one day after the committee condemned daily protests by Tibetans, some of them refugees.
But many have come from across the open border from India to participate in protests, police said.
Tibetans have surprisingly been protesting almost every day for two months mainly in front of the Chinese embassy.
American embassy has supported the protest while the Chinese embassy has condemned them asking government for a crackdown.
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20 pilgrims dead, 28 injured

Kathmandu, 19 May: In the worst vehicular accident in recent months at least 20 pilgrims, many Indians, died and 28 others were injured as a bus fell off a mountain highway in mid-West Dang.
The bus veered 150 meters off the highway into Rapti river Monday.
Thirty passengers were rescued and 20 are still missing..
Three dozen Indians were onboard.
Pilgrims were heading for Swargadrawi temple in Pyuthan from Kapilvasthu to participate in a festival on Jestha Purnima Tuesday.
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Kathmandu, 19 May: NSP Chairperson Ananda Devi surfaced at the Reporters’ Club Monday after she went missing for nearly two months.
Two party factions traded charges of abduction and clashed.
Debi denied her abduction and said she went to Patna voluntarily for treatment.
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New Dalai Lama representative in Nepal

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: Rinchin Dhalo has been appointed the Dalai Lama’s representative in Nepal, Tarun reports.
Dhali has been transferred from Washington.
He will head the office adjacent to Hotel Raddison in Lazimpat that operates without a signboard.
The present occupant of the building has been transferred to Dharmashala from where the Dalai Lama operates.
Nepal does not recognize the Dalail Lama as a temporal leader or his office in Nepal.
A CPM –UML central committee meeting Sunday condemned the daily protests of Tibetans, most of whom are from India and not refugees in Nepal.
“”Our party strongly opposes the movement,” a statement said and asked government to crackdown on the protests.
CPN (Maoist) has also condemned the Tibetan protests.
Nnnn

Another tarai rebel group front launched

Kathmandu, 19 May: ‘Tarai-Kathmandu Commando” fighting force has was launched Thursday from Patna, Bihar, Tarun reports.
The organization was launched by Nepalese in the tarai to rid the country of Maoist dictatorship and maintain the country as a Hindu kingdom.
Newspapers from Patna said BJP leaders attended the underground meeting.
First phase protests will be launched by the force in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi.
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PM promises investigation of embarrassing Maoist murder

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: Government will probe the Maoist abduction of Kathmandu businessman Ram Hari Shrestha from the capital and his torture and murder in a cantonment under UNHCR supervision this month.
The widow of Shrestha received the assurance from prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala amid daily protests in the capital; protests continued for the fourth day Monday.
Koirala brought the Maoists into the political mainstream in April 2006 with Indian government support even without pursuing criminal charges for any of the 13,000 deaths during the 11-year people’s war.
Government, in fact, pardoned Maoists for any criminal involvement.
The murder has come as a serious embarrassment for the Maoists preparing to takeover Singha Durbar and the UNMIN preparing to leave Nepal in after two years.
An embarrassed UN began its own investigation as Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the murder took place even under 24 hours observation by CCTV.
Mahat demanded curbs on UNMIN role in Nepal.
UNMIN had been charged earlier for failure to control the movement of armed Maoist combatants in and our of the camps before, during and after the 10 April elections.
Chairman Prachanda, on the defensive, said there was no party or PLA involvement and charged ‘infiltrators’ for the murder.
Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the incident shouldn’t be ‘politicized’.
Maoist PLA commander Govinda Batala has been handed by the party to police for investigation into his possible involvement in the crime as two others suspects have gone missing.
Nnnn


New Dalai Lama representative in Nepal

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: Rinchin Dhalo has been appointed the Dalai Lama’s representative in Nepal, Tarun reports.
Dhali has been transferred from Washington.
He will head the office adjacent to Hotel Raddison in Lazimpat that operates without a signboard.
The present occupant of the building has been transferred to Dharmashala from where the Dalai Lama operates.
Nepal does not recognize the Dalail Lama as a temporal leader or his office in Nepal.
A CPM –UML central committee meeting Sunday condemned the daily protests of Tibetans, most of whom are from India and not refugees in Nepal.
“”Our party strongly opposes the movement,” a statement said and asked government to crackdown on the protests.
CPN (Maoist) has also condemned the Tibetan protests.
Nnnn

Another tarai rebel group front launched

Kathmandu, 19 May: ‘Tarai-Kathmandu Commando” fighting force has was launched Thursday from Patna, Bihar, Tarun reports.
The organization was launched by Nepalese in the tarai to rid the country of Maoist dictatorship and maintain the country as a Hindu kingdom.
Newspapers from Patna said BJP leaders attended the underground meeting.
First phase protests will be launched by the force in Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Sarlahi.
Nnnn

PM promises investigation of embarrassing Maoist murder

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 May: Government will probe the Maoist abduction of Kathmandu businessman Ram Hari Shrestha from the capital and his torture and murder in a cantonment under UNHCR supervision this month.
The widow of Shrestha received the assurance from prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala amid daily protests in the capital; protests continued for the fourth day Monday.
Koirala brought the Maoists into the political mainstream in April 2006 with Indian government support even without pursuing criminal charges for any of the 13,000 deaths during the 11-year people’s war.
Government, in fact, pardoned Maoists for any criminal involvement.
The murder has come as a serious embarrassment for the Maoists preparing to takeover Singha Durbar and the UNMIN preparing to leave Nepal in after two years.
An embarrassed UN began its own investigation as Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said the murder took place even under 24 hours observation by CCTV.
Mahat demanded curbs on UNMIN role in Nepal.
UNMIN had been charged earlier for failure to control the movement of armed Maoist combatants in and our of the camps before, during and after the 10 April elections.
Chairman Prachanda, on the defensive, said there was no party or PLA involvement and charged ‘infiltrators’ for the murder.
Prachanda and Dr Baburam Bhattarai said the incident shouldn’t be ‘politicized’.
Maoist PLA commander Govinda Batala has been handed by the party to police for investigation into his possible involvement in the crime as two others suspects have gone missing.
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CPN-UML convention 18 Nov.

Kathmandu, 18 May: The Nepalese capital will be the venue for the eighth general convention of the UPN-UML from 18 November.
A decision was taken Sunday by the 19th central committee meeting chaired by General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal who was elected last Thursday for the second time.
Khanal has been appointed leader of the party in the CA which meets from Friday.
Khanal also managed the party for 16 months during the royal rule until April 2006 when Madhav Kumar Nepal was arrested during the royal regime.
The main responsibility and challenge for Khanal is restore the party as Nepal’s mainstream communist party in the next two years and prepare for parliamentary elections.
As expected former party boss Madhav Kumar Nepal, as expected, was given charge of the foreign department.
KP Sharma Oli, Amrit Kumar Bohara and Ishwar Pokhrel were given charge of organization school, organization and publicity departments respectively.
Bharat Mohan Adhikari was appointed coordinator of a constitution drafting team.
Rajendra Shrestha was given charge of the Valley.
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Congress won’t transfer power

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 May: One day after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said he won’t resign, another top Congress leader said the incumbent government chief will continue and won’t immediately transfer power to Maoists –the biggest party in the CA.
Maoists replaced Congress as Nepal’s biggest political party after the 10 CA elections.
Finance Minister and Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat Sunday reiterated Koirala won’t resign and transfer power to Maoists as demanded.
Mahat asked CPN (Maoist) to demonstrate a two-third majority in the 601-member CA to form a government under its leadership.
Mahat asked Maoists to adopt a democratic and constitutional process for power transfer and end threats to take to the street to push its demand.
“Maoists don’t even have a simple majority,” the finance minister said.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai Sunday asked the prime minister to resign offering Koirala a position of patron.
CPN-UML central committee called for power sharing to end the current deadlock in government formation.
Positions of president, prime minister and speaker must be shared, the party said.
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CPN-UML central committee meets again

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 May: CPN-UML 19th central committee began Sunday to discuss party reorganization is consolidate it after a debacle in the 10 April CA election, party mouthpiece Chalphal reports.
The party is being reorganized for parliamentary elections expected two years later after a CA drafts a constitution within that time.
Jhalanath Khanal, who was appointed General Secretary last Thursday, will present a political report and a work plan for reorganization.
The meeting will also allocate responsibilities to top leaders; Madhav Kumar Nepal is expected to head the party’s foreign department from Khanal.
The committee will also determine date and venue of the party ‘s eight general convention to be held sometime in autumn this year.
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Ananda Debi surfaces

Kathmandu, 18 May: Chairperson of NSP Ananda Debi surfaced in Patna, Bihar, Saturday.
She had gone missing two months ago with one party accusing Supply Minister Shyam Sundar Gupta for her abduction.
Debi said she will return to the capital in another 15 days after completing medical treatment.
She said she arrived in Patna assisted by nephew Jaswant Singh for medical treatment.
Debi denied she was abducted by Minister Gupta.
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UNMIN prepares to leave


By Bhola B Rana


Kathmandu, 18 May: Conformation has come from the highest UN source UNMIN is preparing to leave Nepal two years after an invite from the government and Maoists.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda, preparing to form a post-election government, said the tenure won’t be extended after it is completed in the third week of July and India, Nepal’s southern neighbour, says the mandate shouldn’t be extended either.
But a senior US diplomat said UNMIN services are still needed.
India, Nepal’s traditional arms supplier, does not want any UN involvement in any possible future arrangement to amalgamate the Maoist PLA and the Nepal Army.
India has also offered to train nearly 12,000 former combatants for alternative job opportunities for which a seven million US dollar grant has already been negotiated and finalized.
“Vacancies are not being filled and all substantive staff contracts will terminate by 23 July, leaving only administrative personnel that would be gradually phased out from August to December 2008," Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Friday presenting a third quarter report on Nepal.
“But the UN stands ready to provide continuing support for completion and consolidation of the peace process and for the long-term development of Nepal,” he said in consultation with the post-election government.
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UNMIN drawn into controversy

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 May: UNMIN has been drawn into a controversy after Maoists abducted businessman Ram Kazi Shrestha from the capital to a cantonment under UN supervision and killed him after torture.
‘The incident is additional proof UNMIN was busy elsewhere although its responsibility was the management of state Nepal Army and the Red Army,” Janamanch reports under a headline ‘UNMIN in Ram Hari’s murder!’
The newspaper demanded an investigation and an explanation from UNMIN for murder within the cantonment under its supervision.
The murder of Ram Hari Shrestha ‘ confirms the level of the effectiveness of UNMIN’ in Nepal’s peace process, Deshantar reports in a write-up entitled: :What was UNMIN looking at?
“Why and how was an ordinary civilian abducted to a military camp under UNMIN supervision? Why wasn’t UNMIN in the dark? These and many other questions have cropped up,” the newspaper asks.
The newspaper charged while UNMIN contained the Nepal Army in the barracks it had no control over the movements of Maoists in and out of cantonments under UNMIN supervision.
‘UNMIN has to come out with a clear statement. The division commander of the cantonment came out of the camp and lived openly outside. UNMIN should have kept a watch.” Deshantar said.
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Koirala won’t resign

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 May: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala gave another firm indication Saturday he won’t quit when he said he will continue to lead the government until a new constitution is drafted.
“My responsibility won’t be completed until a new constitution is drafted; I’ll fulfill my responsibility,” Koirala said.
Koirala, who said he would quit politics after the 10 April, renegaded on his promise immediately after the Congress reverse in the historic election.
He called on Maoists to develop a coalition culture.
“No party has a majority now. That’s why we have to develop a coalition culture,” he advised.
Prachanda demanded immediate resignation from Koirala to pave the way for a Maoist-led government.
“Danger of counterrevolution hasn’t evaporated,” the Maoist warned accusing Congress of helping ‘counterrevolutionaries’ by clinging to power after the election result.
Prachanda said people will be mobilized for three days from Friday to force government’s resignation.
CA assembles Friday.
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USA to treat with Maoists in govt. as individuals

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: USA this week indicated it will
deal with Nepal’s Maoists in government as individuals and how they behave in government.
Washington won’t have relations with Maoists as a political party apparently as it does with other members of government.
This is apparently how Washington, reviewing its Nepal and Maoist policy, has decided to deal with Maoists, if they grab power; this seems unlikely soon.
Incumbent Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala isn’t going to make way for them until sweeping amendments in the constitution to ensure Maoists in government can be toppled with a simple majority of the CA.
Besides, Maoists don’t have a majority to form a government following a hung assembly in CA elections.
‘First of all, the Maoists in Nepal never have been a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ as designated. This is one category under law.
“They have, however, been on the ‘terrorist exclusion list’. That is something that applies to consular issues, visas and other kinds of matters.
“You have to separate two issues here. But you know, ultimately, the basis of our relations with the government of Nepal will be based on the actions of the individuals there,” State Department Spokesman Ton Casey said Wednesday.
US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell is still in Washington for consultations; she went home for consultations after Maoists emerged as the biggest party in the 601-member CA staking a claim to form a post-election government.
Casey attempted to make a difference between a ‘foreign terrorist organization’ and a ‘terrorist exclusion list’ US had previously had said Nepal’s Maoists were also on its ‘watch list’.
Washington was in a dilemma following elections.
Powell for the first time established direct relations with Chairman Prachanda by meeting the chairman and holding political consultations before returning home.
Previous direct contacts were limited to handshakes at parties.
In 2007, after failure to persuade Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to keep Maoists out of an interim government with threats to cutoff aid, Washington responded only by denying funds to Maoist-led ministries.
US and India were in a dilemma after the 10 April election on how to handle Maoists who they didn’t expect to win elections.
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Maoists kill civilian in cantonment under UNMIN supervision

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: Maoists killed a man they abducted from the capital in a cantonment under UNMIN observation.
UNMIN remains silent of the murder in a cantonment under its supervision.
Maoists abducted Ram Hari Shrestha from the capital 27 April to the cantonment in Chitwan where he was detained, interrogated and battered for alleged theft of money and a pistol from its office in the capital.
Shrestha died of bruises during questioning and his body was thrown into Trisuli river.
Maoists Friday handed over Govinda Bahadur Batala ‘Jibit’ to police in Chitwan for involvement in the battering that led to Shrestha’s death; two other suspects have gone missing.
For the second consecutive day, Shrestha’s neighbours disrupted traffic on the orad and demanded action from government.
UNMIN previously said it was unable to control them movement of armed Moist in and out of camps before election in violation of agreements with the UN.
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Madhav Kumar Nepal won’t contest by-election

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 May: Madhav Kumar Nepal said Saturday he won’t contest by-elections.
“I am a person already rejected by the people. I won’t go to the CA through any path. Friends are asking me to contest by-election,” the general secretary of general of CPN-UML who resigned after election defeat from two constituencies said.
“I never imagined I would lose from Kathmandu, Nepal told Naya Patrika.
Nepal admitted going for election without disarming Maoists was a mistake.
“We never considered we were going empty-handed and contesting a party backed by a para-military force and armed PLA. We never considered the opposition would stoop so low and use every possible means. We shouldn’t have gone for elections,” Nepal admitted.
CPN-UML, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the Election Commission pushed elections along with India and USA even though there was no environment for the vote.
‘We had heard, Maoists were at the end agreeable to seat adjustment for 35 seats,” Nepal said.
“Some were even concerned white saris might have to be bought,” Nepal said recounting an atmosphere of fear created by Maoists ahead of elections.
Nepal said an ‘environment of confidence’ hasn’t been created for handing power to Maoists who have emerged as the largest party in the 601-member CA..
‘I felt let’s form a caretaker government. But an environment of confidence hasn’t been created. Maoists talk o capturing power. Maoists say one thing at the center but another that’s not followed at the lower level whose decision prevails.” Nepal said.
Nepal called for a ‘constitutional outlet’ and ‘power sharing’ to the present crisis saying a hung assembly has emerged after the election.
“They [Maoists] don’t have a two-third majority- not even a simple majority. How reasonable is it to demand the presidency and ,prime minister? Restraint from them is needed now.
“Yes. They have become the largest party. There’s Congress, CPB-UML and Forum. Maoists have to satisfy all. It would have been good if Girijabahu made way. Power sharing should be sought considering the position of all. Maoists should consider this,” Nepal said.
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First CA meet will direct govt. to implement a republic

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 May: A Congress leader pushing monarchy said the first meeting of the CA may only direct the government to implement a republic in sharp contrast to a Maoist demand for an immediate declaration of a republic by the first session 28 May.
“’That meeting can direct the government to implement a republic,” Binaya Dhoj Chand said.
“The constitution has to be amended to remove the king and usher in a republic. Articles mentioning the king have to be deleted and mention has to be made of a republic,” Chand said clearly indicating the first session of the CA may not declare a republic.
Maoists are putting pressure on the king to vacate the royal palace before 28 May.
Rival parties have made no such demand.
Dr Baburam Bhattarai said a political decision has to be taken by ruling parties to narrow down differences on declaration of a republic.
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Maoists purchase Rs 330 million hospital

Kathmandu, 16 May: Maoists have bought Siddhartha Hospital at Balaju for Rs 330 million, Gobinda Pariyar reports in Samya.
Maoists bought it with money given by government for the PLA.
The hospital established by chartered accountant Nagendra Bhattarai and trader Satish Bajaj was running in a loss.
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Baburam Bhattarai calls for ‘new unity’ between Congress, CPN (Maoist), CPN-UML and Madesh parties

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 May: Dr Baburam Bhattarai Friday called for ‘new unity’ on a ‘new basis’ between Congress, Maoists, CPN-UML and ‘new power Madesh-affiliated parties”.
Bhattarai made the call in an article entitled ‘Relevance of new polarization’ in Nawa Patrika daily newspaper.
He called for a ‘minimum programme’ between the four’ powers’ under Maoist leadership.
“But because of the irresponsible role of established old powers like Congress and CPN-UML, danger of uncertainty and instability has increased instead of political stability,” Bhattarai said obviously referring to conditions of the two parties to join a Maoist-led coalition.
If new unity between the four powers isn’t forthcoming, Bhattarai suggested an alternate alliance between Maoists and ‘real patriots’, republicans and those seeking sweeping changes in the four centers for a ‘new polarization’.
Bhattarai rejected the proposals for power-sharing by dividing the presidency, premiership and position of speaker.
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Tibetans to hold prayer meet

Kathmandu, 16 May: Tibetans on daily anti-China protests in the Nepali capital since March will organize a prayer meet Sunday to commemorate the dead in southwest China in a tremblor.
An estimated 50,000 persons have been killed in the worst quake in China in recent years.
The decision by Nepal Tibet Solidarity Forum to hold the prayer meet came one day after the Chinese embassy strongly condemned the protests during a national tragedy as inhuman.
Two meetings are being held at Syambhunath and Baudhanath.
The embassy said the daily protests have hampered normal embassy work demanding the government crackdown on the protests.
China accused UN officials for participating in the protests.
UN embassy in Kathmandu has supported the protests.
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Khanal to attempt CPN-UML image change

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 May: Jhalanath Khanal, who took-over the leadership of CPN-UML as general secretary for the second time Thursday, said he will attempt an image change of the party in the next two years.
“I will attempt an image change and make it effective,” Khanal said.
Khanal said the challenge is to make the party democratic with a national base in the next two years to face parliamentary elections with the promulgation of a new constitution.
The constitution will have to be framed by the CA which meets 28 May.
Khanal was general secretary when the party was underground during panchayat rule before 1990.
Khanal succeeded Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned following dismal performance in the CA vote 10 April.
Khanal will also be leader of the party in the CA.
Khanal was re-elected form his traditional Ilam constituency when top leaders, including Nepal were defeated in the vote.
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Tibetans to hold prayer meet

Kathmandu, 16 May: Tibetans on daily anti-China protests in the Nepali capital since March will organize a prayer meet Sunday to commemorate the dead in southwest China in a tremblor.
An estimated 50,000 persons have been killed in the worst quake in China in recent years.
The decision by Nepal Tibet Solidarity Forum to hold the prayer meet came one day after the Chinese embassy strongly condemned the protests during a national tragedy as inhuman.
Two meetings are being held at Syambhunath and Baudhanath.
The embassy said the daily protests have hampered normal embassy work demanding the government crackdown on the protests.
China accused UN officials for participating in the protests.
UN embassy in Kathmandu has supported the protests.
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Khanal to attempt CPN-UML image change

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 May: Jhalanath Khanal, who took-over the leadership of CPN-UML as general secretary for the second time Thursday, said he will attempt an image change of the party in the next two years.
“I will attempt an image change and make it effective,” Khanal said.
Khanal said the challenge is to make the party democratic with a national base in the next two years to face parliamentary elections with the promulgation of a new constitution.
The constitution will have to be framed by the CA which meets 28 May.
Khanal was general secretary when the party was underground during panchayat rule before 1990.
Khanal succeeded Madhav Kumar Nepal who resigned following dismal performance in the CA vote 10 April.
Khanal will also be leader of the party in the CA.
Khanal was re-elected form his traditional Ilam constituency when top leaders, including Nepal were defeated in the vote.
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Differences on announcing republic

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 May: Dr Baburam Bhattarai said Thursday political understanding is required between 16 parties on formation of a post-election government, declaration of a republic by the first CA meeting and the appointment of CA speaker.
Seven ruling parties tried to forge an understanding with six other parties in the CA although 25 parties were elected in the 10 April vote.
Further inter and intra-party discussions are needed for an agreement as Congress and CPN-UML decided to stay out of any Maoist-led government without Maoist acceptance of seven pre-conditions, including dissolution of the PLA and YCL and constitution amendment to incorporate a provision to throw out a government by simple majority.
Peace Minister Ram Chandra Paudel Thursday presented the Congress conditions to the parties and said an agreement was needed for progress.
“Political understanding is necessary,” Dr Baburam Bhattarai also said.
CA members will take their oaths of office 27 May or one day before the assembly formally convenes.
There was an agreement for the oldest CA member to chair the first meeting but not Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Congress General Secretary KB Gurung reportedly is the next oldest member after Koirala.
“Two decisions were taken on the oath of office and the formal formation of the CA,” Dr Baburam Bhattarai said.
Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood Thursday denied Dr Karan Singh, envoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, brokered an agreement in April 2006 between palace and agitating present eight ruling five parties to end a movement while retaining some form of monarchy.
Leaders of Nepal’s major political parties have confirmed such an agreement exists ending the 2006 movement with the restoration of a dissolved parliament.
Sood Thursday lent direct support for the declaration of a republic by CA later this month.
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Congress incited by USA, India

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 May: Congress is being incited by USA and India not to make way for Maoists to lead a post-election government, according to Maoist military leader Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal”.
“On the incitement of USA and India, Congress is forwarding illogical argument that government should not be handed over to Maoists. Such arguments are against the popular mandate; that’s not accept able to Maoists and there’ll be a massive opposition,” Badal told Rajdhani.
He demanded the King and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should vacate Narayanhiti and Baluwatar simultaneously.
Badal said Prachanda will the all-powerful prime minister or president.
“After the King, Congress considers itself the biggest landlord. It’s experimenting with neo-Fascist techniques as its downfall approaches,” Badal charged in the interview.
King held consultations with Indian government emissary KV Rajan Tuesday night, Mahima , a weekly close to Maoists reported.
It said RAW agents, foreign intelligence wing of the Indian government, has become hyperactive in Nepal after elections.
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Indian mission replacing UNMIN?

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 May: “ This is their attempt to feel the pulse,” said Maoist central committee leader Hari Bhakta Kandel ‘Pratik’.
Kandel said this in reply to a question in Janadharana: Hear Indian mission is coming with the departure of UNMIN?
‘”The mission come to Nepal with to encircle China. At a time when the agenda of American imperialism has failed, it may be an attempt to gain a foothold in South Asia and Nepal through India. It may be an attempt to make the UN a struggling point.
“We feel this cannot happen. Nepali people will oppose this. It’s not possible.”
Kandel said UNMIN tenure should be ended though.
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Another Chinese embassy condemnation

Kathmandu, 15 May: The Chinese embassy in the Nepalese capital Wednesday condemned what it called the activities of ‘so-called’ unnamed international human rights organizations, who the embassy said, are supporting the daily protests of Tibetans in front of the embassy.
“On the same day of earthquake and yesterday [14 May], some Tibetans in Nepal, despite that they are also Chinese, continued the so-called protests and demonstration in the soil of Nepal.
‘These harassers ignored the pain of their compatriots and showed neither sympathy nor grief over the tragedy [quake]. On the contrary they took pleasure in this misfortune and pressed on with their activities,” the embassy said calling protests inhumane.
This is the second time the embassy protested the support in four days.
The embassy complained protests are ‘severely disturbing the normal working’ of the embassy.
China has asked Nepal to crackdown on the protests.
Nepal police said many of the protestors aren’t refugees and have come from across the open border from India.
Janadharana reported in its Thursday editions Chinese government has arrested some unnamed persons with Kathmandu-based ICIMOD conducting research on the Himalayan bear and the naur found in the Himalaya for a ‘March 14 episode’.
China is a member-nation of ICIMOD funded mainly by EU member states.
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New Pakistan envoy

Kathmandu, 15 May: Syed Abrar Hussain assumed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Nepal Thursday.
He presented his credentials to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the ornate State Hall in Singha Durbar.
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Congress incited by USA, India

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 May: Congress is being incited by USA and India not to make way for Maoists to lead a post-election government, according to Maoist military leader Ram Bahadur Thapa “Badal”.
“On the incitement of USA and India, Congress is forwarding illogical argument that government should not be handed over to Maoists. Such arguments are against the popular mandate; that’s not accept able to Maoists and there’ll be a massive opposition,” Badal told Rajdhani.
He demanded the King and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should vacate Narayanhiti and Baluwatar simultaneously.
Badal said Prachanda will the all-powerful prime minister or president.
“After the King, Congress considers itself the biggest landlord. It’s experimenting with neo-Fascist techniques as its downfall approaches,” Badal charged in the interview.
King held consultations with Indian government emissary KV Rajan Tuesday night, Mahima , a weekly close to Maoists reported.
It said RAW agents, foreign intelligence wing of the Indian government, has become hyperactive in Nepal after elections.
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Indian mission replacing UNMIN?

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 May: “ This is their attempt to feel the pulse,” said Maoist central committee leader Hari Bhakta Kandel ‘Pratik’.
Kandel said this in reply to a question in Janadharana: Hear Indian mission is coming with the departure of UNMIN?
‘”The mission come to Nepal with to encircle China. At a time when the agenda of American imperialism has failed, it may be an attempt to gain a foothold in South Asia and Nepal through India. It may be an attempt to make the UN a struggling point.
“We feel this cannot happen. Nepali people will oppose this. It’s not possible.”
Kandel said UNMIN tenure should be ended though.
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Another Chinese embassy condemnation

Kathmandu, 15 May: The Chinese embassy in the Nepalese capital Wednesday condemned what it called the activities of ‘so-called’ unnamed international human rights organizations, who the embassy said, are supporting the daily protests of Tibetans in front of the embassy.
“On the same day of earthquake and yesterday [14 May], some Tibetans in Nepal, despite that they are also Chinese, continued the so-called protests and demonstration in the soil of Nepal.
‘These harassers ignored the pain of their compatriots and showed neither sympathy nor grief over the tragedy [quake]. On the contrary they took pleasure in this misfortune and pressed on with their activities,” the embassy said calling protests inhumane.
This is the second time the embassy protested the support in four days.
The embassy complained protests are ‘severely disturbing the normal working’ of the embassy.
China has asked Nepal to crackdown on the protests.
Nepal police said many of the protestors aren’t refugees and have come from across the open border from India.
Janadharana reported in its Thursday editions Chinese government has arrested some unnamed persons with Kathmandu-based ICIMOD conducting research on the Himalayan bear and the naur found in the Himalaya for a ‘March 14 episode’.
China is a member-nation of ICIMOD funded mainly by EU member states.
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New Pakistan envoy

Kathmandu, 15 May: Syed Abrar Hussain assumed as Pakistan’s ambassador to Nepal Thursday.
He presented his credentials to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the ornate State Hall in Singha Durbar.
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