Bad weather hampers search, relief work along Kosi river; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Kosi flood waters Tuesday continued to enter villages in Saptari from where more than 30,000 people from at least six villages have displaced and spurs of Sapta Kosi and embankments were breached at one in the afternoon Monday.
Five persons and domestic animals have been swept away, movement along the Mahendra Highway part of which was swept away, was disrupted and crops were destroyed causing millions of rupees destruction.
Locals have taken shelter at schools and other safe places.
The flooded Kosi rivers has breached spurs 1210, 1170,1060 built at Pashim Kushaha and Haripur after gates of Kosi barrage, under Indian control, weren’t opened, RSS reports.
Only 27 of 56 doors in Sapta Kosi barrage, under Indian control, were opened Saturday
Spurs were built to control floods in the river.
RSS quoting police said Indian authorities didn’t let Nepalese side open more doors saying that would submerge Indian territory downstream.
More than 2,000 homes have been inundated.
Floods displace Kosi Tappu Wildlife Reserve Office and the Shreebaksh Battalion of Nepal Army.
Nearly 200 army personnel and trucks have been marooned.
Indian staff posted at the Kosi barrage turned down local’s repeated pleas to open all
The water level in the river, flooded since a week, rose with the barrage staffers opening only a few gates out of 52,
Continued rain Tuesday hampered relief work of Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police as the river level continued to rise.
CPN-UML, in a statement signed by General-Secretary Jhalanath Khanal,
N drew the ‘serious attention and concern’ of his party to the obstruction of the normal river flow by control of the Kosi barrage contributing to floods and displacement of people in Nepal.
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Maoists, CPN (Mashal) haven’t joined the democratic process: Narayan Kazi Shrestha

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 Aug: CPN (Mashal) and CPN (Maoists) haven’t joined the ‘democratic process’, Mashal General Secretary Narayan Kazi Shrestha told The Kathmandu Post.
The statement is important because Shrestha negotiated the peace process and agreement between seven parliamentary parties and CPN (Maoist) in 2006.
“Neither the Maoists nor I have joined he democratic process. The goal of the uprising was to end the institution of monarchy and set up a new political system.
“We have laid the 240-year-old institution to rest. Now we are in the process of establishing a socialist democratic Nepal,” Shrestha said. In reply to a question: Have the Maoists really joined the democratic process now?
“Take it from me that we have not joined the democratic process. Rather, we have joined hands with other political parties to establish a new political system to liberate the people, make them sovereign and establish an independent Nepal.”
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Girija Prasad Koirala conspiring ‘coup’: Dhristi

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, after losing the premiership, is planning a new coup’, Dhristi reports.
Sources said Koirala Saturday, Sunday held discussions twice with President
Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Nepal Army generals.
According to a strategy to make it difficult for the government, Koirala is inciting the Army and has visited the Indian embassy for discussions with Ambassador Rakesh Sood.
Koirala absented himself Monday at the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister citing health reasons.
But suspicions have mounted after he met the Indian ambassador Monday.
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NSU holds protests

Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Student activists of Nepal Students’ Union, a student wing of Nepali Congress, held anti-Prachanda street protests Tuesday in the capital.
They protested the installation Prime Minister Prachanda who didn’t take his oath in the national dress.
Prachanda wore a tie and a suit for the first time in public; but he put on a Nepali cap.
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Norwegian Minister Erik Solhem, Prachanda hold discussions

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 19 Aug: Visiting Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solhem pledged Norwegian assistance to a Maoist-led government during discussions with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Tuesday.
The first government minister to visit Nepal after a maoist takeover said Norway’s assistance was to the people of Nepal and not any party.
He also held separate discussions with CPN-UML General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal..
He will hold discussions with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav before flying for home Tuesday.
Solhem is a frequent visitor to Nepal, especially during times of transition.
The far-away and small but oil-rich Scandinavian country has been keeping unusual interest in Nepal and his country has cultivated special relations with Nepal’s communists.
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