Two tarai political activists shot dead

Kathmandu, 15 Oct: Two activists of Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party were shot dead in Lamki, Kapilvasthu, Wednesday evening in continuing violence in the south.
The duo were proceeding home from the town.
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Nearly 70 Somalis demonstrate for refugee status

Kathmandu, 15 Oct: Nearly 70 Somalis, including women and children, came out on the streets Wednesday demanding refugee status.
There were slight skirmishes with police.
The intrepid Somalis managed to land in land-locked Nepal even from the far-away African country in the grip of an internal turmoil.
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Footpath vendors dislodged

Kathmandu, 15 Oct: Footpath vendors were evicted from the streets of the capital Wednesday amid protests and clashes.
Vendors demanded alternative arrangements after occupying the streets causing movement problems especially for pedestrians.
The move come after Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam closed dance clubs at 11 in the night.
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Bodies of all Lukla crash victims identified

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: German and Australian forensic experts Wednesday helped identify bodies of all 18 German, Australian and Nepalais killed in a Twin Otter crash at Lukla on bada dasain.
Relatives began receiving the bodies at TU Teaching Hospital.
Twelve Germans, four Nepalis and two Australians were killed in he crash at the foot of Mount Everest.
Germans and Australians flew to Lukla to begin a trek.
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Third tarai group gets an invite

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: Government has sent a written invitation to a third group in the tarai to sit down for talks to resolve separatist demands.
The letter was sent to Tarai Cobra headed by Nagraj Jha.
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$7.5m US food aid

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: The US has extended a $ 7.5 million food assistance through the WFO to support people affected by the conflict and Bhutanese refugees.
“This contribution demonstrates our long-standing commitment to the welfare of the Nepali people who continue to suffer from the effects of years of conflict,” a statement said.
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Arjoo Deuba elected

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: Dr Arjoo Deuba, wife of Sher Bahadur Deuba, has been elected regional councilor of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for South and Southeast Asia.
She received the support of 118 of 180 member states in a recent vote.
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Little joy in Gurkha victory

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: A Gurkha veteran who retired from the British army before 1997 says the recent court victory of former Nepalis soldiers for the right to reside in Great Britain has no meaning without equal pension.
He has no plans to move to the UK from Nepal.
Aged, sick and infirm Gurkha veterans won’t benefit from the legal victory, he said.
“Without equal pension, there’s no attraction to leave and settle down in Great Britain. I will have to work there for a living,” he said.” The present pension is inadequate for a living there.”
Nepali soldiers with the British army don’t get equal salary as their British counterparts.
A British court recently ordered the British government to grant Nepali soldiers the right of residence after a long legal battle; the retir4d soldiers with the British army are also demanding equal pension.
Only Gurkhas who served after 1997 were eligible to settle down in the UK.
An estimated 2,000 veterans are eligible to move to the UK from Nepal.
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PM Prachanda confirms commitment to democracy, not parliamentary system

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said CPN (Maoist) was committed to a democratic system that need not be parliamentary.
“We’ve reached thus far with full commitment to competitive democracy, human rights and federalism. No Maoist leader is against them. We are not talking about a people’s republic. What Maoists are talking about is a republic of the people.
“The form of a multi-party system is not only parliamentary,” the prime minister said at a team reception organized Wednesday by the CPN-UML in the presence of former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Koirala and Nepali Congress have accused Maoists for pushing a totalitarian system by saying a democratic structure need not be parliamentary.
Congress says democracy and parliamentary system are synonymous as Maoists say no.
Maoists argue there can be democracy without a parliamentary system.
The debate is important as the major political parties have to draft a constitution to replace an interim basis law imposed after shredding the 1990 constitution in 2005 in a constitutional coup.
Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai has raised a hornet’s nest inside the Maoist camp when he said in Washington DC communism could be established in Nepal only by the next generation of children and grandchildren.
Dr Bhattarai said this amid demands by a hard-line group in the CPN (Maoist) for the immediate declaration of a people’s republic; the group is led by Mohan Baidya Kiran.
The finance minister said in Washington Maoists are debating a party name change, according to a Kantipur.report from the US capital.
“A debate has been ongoing for one year and it continues. A general convention could take a decision,” Bhattarai told a reporter who asked the party was considering a name change.
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Black buck population increases to 208

Kathmandu, 16 Oct: The population of the endangered bluck buck population has increased, Kamal panthi reports from Gulariya in Kantipur.
In five years the population has increased from 92 to 208 at the 708bigha Khairapur in Gulariya municipality.
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Cabinet to appoint special committee for army, PLA integration; govt. to be expanded

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: Amid protests of main opposition Nepali Congress, the next meeting of the cabinet is preparing to appoint a special committee for integration of Nepal Army and Maoist PLA.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda revealed this Thursday as he also prepares for the expansion of government before tihar.
“The next meeting of the cabinet will be formed,” he said hinting at the expansion of government as well.
“The army will be integrated. All combatants of the PLA are not only being integrate din the Nepal Army. They will be given opportunities to join police, border security force and industrial security force,” Prachanda said.
“The present government is committed to the integration and resettlement of the two armies as envisaged in the peace agreement and interim constitution,” he added.
“Details are being worked out on the procedure for integration,” Dahal told Janadisha.
UNMIN Chief Ian Martin also demanded the formation of a special committee for integration.
“It’s most urgent that the special committee responsible for the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants should be established and begin its work as soon as possible,” Martin said.
State ministers and other parties are likely to join an expanded cabinet, the prime minister revealed.
“A decision will be taken soon on them. The cabinet is complete with full ministers,” he said.
“I don’t see the possibility immediately,” Prachanda replied to a question whether Congress was likely to join government.
Prachanda his meeting with US President George W. Bush in New York last month on the sidelines of the UN general assembly session has a victory of the CPN (Maoist).
‘Having gone there and presenting views [before Bush] is a principled political victory, I feel. From the political perception, it’s a political victory of the party.”
Prachanda described what he called his discussions on ‘political matters’ with Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Richard Boucher ‘technical’ adding, ”It was not on principles.”
Prachanda said to ride buses with painted Indian flags was ‘very unnatural’.
Indian embassy recently presented the constituent assembly such buses to transport CA members.
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Environment created to isolate ‘criminals’ in tarai: PM Prachanda

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said Friday an environment has been created to isolate criminals in the tarai.
“An environment has been created to control them [criminals” Prachanda told Janadisha said adding ’they aren’t for the rights and interests’ of the people of madesh.
Prachanda said talks to resolve madesh demands are likely to start soon with major tarai groups.
“There is a possibility of the main group coming for talks,” Dahal said.
Prachanda said following government offer for talks with rebels it’s become easy to separate political and criminal groups.
Government has formally written to three groups inviting them for a dialogue.
Jwala Singh group of Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha has set four preconditions to sit down for negotiations to be fulfilled within 30 days..
The group active mainly in the eastern region demanded release of arrested activists, withdrawal of charges, a ceasefire declaration and security guarantee for talks.
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Dollars continues relentless gain

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: The dollar continue its relentless gain in the money market since the last six months.
The greenback crossed the Rs 78 mark with Nepal Rashtra Bank fixing Friday’s selling at Rs. 78.35 to one dollar.
The Nepali rupee is pegged against the India rupee which is loving value against the greenback.
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Angry Muslims continue strike for second day

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: Angry Muslims in the east continued a strike for the second consecutive day disrupting vehicular movement on highways Friday demanding personal and mosque security.
.They demanded Rs 10 million in compensation for a worshipper killed in a mosque bombing in Biratnagar recently accusing the government of negligence in treating injured.
Defence Army has bombed three mosques in Morang and Sunsari in recent months.
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EU assistance for flood victims

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: European Commission (EC) has set aside 4.5 million euros in humanitarian aid for the flood-affected people of Nepal and India, including Bihar.
Nepal will get an additional assistance of one million euros.
EC has earlier extended a two million euro assistance as relief for people of Nepal and Bihar.
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NHRC concerned with tarai violence

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) blasted the government Friday charging 75 percent of its suggestions has been ignored.
The NHRC annual report 2007/08 said accused Maoists, now in power, for withholding information on the disappeared.
The national human rights watchdog said Nepal Army was responsible for 671 and Maoists 299 disappearances.
The Commission said it was concern3d with worsening human rights situation in the tarai.
NHRC asked government to act against 147 abuses.
Incidence of violence increased the last fiscal year with 216 deaths;-- 78 more than the previous year; government was responsible for 31 and Maoist six casualties.
Tarai is reeling with violence
JTMM Singh group alone was responsible for 35 killings and Akhil TaraiMuktiMorcha was behind 14 deaths.
Tarai groups were responsible for remaining deaths.
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Kirats receive govt invite for talks

Kathmandu, 17 Oct: Government has also sent a formal
invitation letter for talks to the Kirat Workers Party fighting for autonomy in the eastern hills.
Government last month only invited the tarai rebel for negotiations.
The invite hasn’t borne firm results yet.
Meanwhile, Samyukta Janatantrik Tarai Mukti Morcha Friday set four conditions for talks, including mediation by United Nations.
Government oposes involving facilitators.
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