India, Nepal to review, adjust and update1950 treaty

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 Sept: Nepal and India have agreed to ‘review, update and adjust’ the 1950 treaty of peace and friendship and other agreements between the two counties.
A committee of foreign secretaries will review the documents that guide bilateral relations.
This was stated in a 22-joint statement issued at the end of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s official visit.
The prime minister returns home later Thursday.
India announced immediate Rs 320 million relief for the flood victims of Kosi in Susari and Saptari.
New Delhi will reconstruct a section East-West highway washed away by the flood and establish a camp in Biratnagar to facilitate movement of vehicles from east to west Nepal through Bihar.
Nepal and India agreed to take preventive measures to avoid recurrence of disasters by flooded rivers including Kosi and Gandaki.
India will extend a Rs 2.4 billion loan for three months to import POL products for a smooth supply as Nepal faces shortages.
India will also lift export bans on rice, wheat, maize, sugar and sucrose as prices rise.
Home secretaries will meet soon to discuss cross-border crime.
Two prime ministers directed the Inter-Government Committee meet regularly every month to review trade and transit agreements.
India has agreed to construct a hydro plant on Rapti river at Naumure described by Communications Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara as a ‘major achievement’ of the visit.
Nepal and India will sep up three-tiered ministerial, secretarial and technical committees for hydro power project development, irrigation, flood control and other water-related water related projects.
“Indian government will fully support Nepal’s peaceful, political, democratic change,” the statement said.
The document indicates India is ready to work with Maoist-led government.
Whether Indian agreement to ‘review, update and adjust’ bilateral agreements is an achievement will depend on how New Delhi presents itself at review meetings.
Agreement for a review does not automatically mean New Delhi has abandoned past stiff position with India claiming Nepal gets preferential treatment because of the 1950 agreement.
In fact, just weeks before Maoists captured power official Indian media threatened Nepal will lose such preferential treatment with a review of the treaty.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been invited to pay a visit.
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Valley courts stop work

Kathmandu, 18 Sept: District and appellate courts in the Valley closed down in protest for two hours Thursday immediately after offices opened at 10 in the morning.
Judges were protesting a claim of Bar President Bishwakant Mainali who charged corruption was rife in the judiciary.
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Bara Maoist shot dead

Kathmandu, 18 Sept: A Maoist area leader was shot dead in Bara district overnight.
A Congress activist was also injured in shootings attributed to one faction of the Tarai Janakikti Morcha.
Maoists forced the closure of Kalaiya bazzar Thursday.
Police recovered a huge cache of hidden explosives, including 42 socket bombs and two pressure cooker bombs, from a deserted house in Motipur-4 in Bardiya Tuesday.
The house belonged to Kebal Khatri who was probably killed three years ago in clashes between Maoists and government forces, published reports said.
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Congress in mood to disrupt CA proceedings

Kathmandu, 18 Sept: Main opposition Nepali Congress is working to disrupt proceedings of the CA Friday when the annual budget for 2008/09 is being presented, Naya Patrika reports.
Congress youth CA members held discussions with party president Girija Prasad Koirala Tuesday, Wednesday.
They discussed the statement of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda against parliamentary system, excesses of Land Reforms Minister Matrika Prasad Yadav and statements of the prime minister encouraging YCL and other forces.
Congress CA member Ghanaraj Gurung said after a meeting with Koirala,” The budget may not come Friday. Proceedings will be disrupted if corrections aren’t made in the objectionable statement.”
Koirala didn’t support or object the plans.
“He [Koirala] is concerned with the statement of the prime minister,” Gurung said.
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Tibet bans cross-border movement of Nepalis in Mustang

Mustang, 17 Sept: Tibet has banned the entry of Mustang residents even though they have been issued departure and entry permits by the local administration, Parsuram Kafle reports in Naya Patrika.
As a result, nearly 5,000 residents of six VDCs in Mustang are suffering.
Goods are dear.
A border agreement between Nepal and China should have been enforced from 1 January 2006.
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Detained Indian soldiers released in Sunsari

Morang, 17 Sept: Indian Army Colonel Jaish Adhvaryu, who crossed into Nepali territory without official permission with 20 soldiers on Tuesday, said Wednesday that they were deployed by their headquarters to construct a Bailey-bridge over Kosi River, The Kathmandu Post reports.
“I led my troop based on HQ’s order and I don’t know about permission and diplomatic processes,” he said.
Meanwhile, Morang police freed two Indian soldiers and an army truck, after 12 hours in custody.
The army truck and soldiers were held at Rani area on Tuesday on the charge of entering Nepal without permission.
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