Ban urged capping peace process

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon returned to New York Saturday encouraging the completion of the peace process by integration, resettlement and farewell of Maoist child soldiers to complete a prolonged and difficult peace process.
Fresh problems have emerged.
The general-secretary is the most prominent personality to visit Nepal still in a difficult transitional phase after a regime and system change in April 2005.
He arrived at a time when the peace process entered a difficult phase with the opposition of Nepali Congress to the integration of the Maoist PLA in Nepal Army.
Ban arrived to extent support to the peace process and pledge additional help.
Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala negotiated the peace deal with Maoists, incorporating the integration, resettlement and sendoff of disqualified combatants from 28 cantonments and camps.
The peace process will be capped with integration which Ban encouraged along with the drafting of a constitution.
But Koirala criticized the functioning of the UNMIN and and government formation of the integration committee.
Ban said UN will support the “Nepali-style integration’ and asked political parties to purse cooperation and politics of consensus.
He said the work of the UNMIN should continue when I ends 23 June.
‘Integration is the central with challenges. There are differences but door hasn’t been closed,” Hira Bahadur Thapa, foreign affairs to the prime minister said.
Ban encouraged Nepali Congress to continue cooperation in completing the peace process through integration.
The UN chief probed the possibility of the involvement of Nepali peacekeepers in African trouble spots Somalia and Chad; Nepali peacekeepers are already in Sudan and Congo.
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Girija turns his face on Ban

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: Octogenarian Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, waiting to welcome UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Saturday at the doorstep of his house shook hands and told him: “I’ve got a lot of complaints to tell you. I narrate them inside,” Khagendra Pant reports in Naya Patrika.
Koirala, said this in almost commanding style before a horse of reporters.
They spent 25 minutes together.
Sources said Koirala alleged UNMIN was playing an impartial role and at the same time complained Maoists weren’t abiding by the peace agreement.
Koirala claimed UNMIN was flexible towards Maoists.
Koirala said: “UNMIN didn’t show any concern when armed Maoist combatants were involved in violent activities when they came out of camps and when they entered the CA.”
He warned if UNMIN didn’t correct weaknesses, its credibility would be lost.
Koirala told Ban UNMIN wasn’t working according to the expectations of the people.
“UNMIN should be able to maintain its credibility. It should work impartially according to the hopes and desire of Nepali people,” Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat told reporters.
Koirala told Ban the unilateral formation of a special integration committee will adversely impact the peace process.
Koirala turned his face when Ban asked him whether or not the mandate of UNMIN should when it ends.
Ban congratulated Koirala for bringing the peace process thus far.
Koirala didn’t talk to reporters after seeing off Ban but suggested they talk with daughter Sujata or Prakash Sharan Mahat.
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Former Premier Bista admitted to hospital

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: Former Prime Minister Kirtinidhi Bista, 82, was admitted to CCU of Norvic Hospital Saturday after his urine flow suddenly stopped, Annapurna Post reports.
His health condition is improving.
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President Dr Yadav satisfied with his assigned role

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: Dr Ram Baran Yadav, the country’s first president, said he was satisfied with the role he has been assigned.
“I’m satisfied with the role prescribed in the constitution. In the future any role given by the CA is acceptable,” he told a select group of reporters Saturday at his residence.
Dr Yadav said this as Parmananda Jha complained he had a nominal role as vice-president.
“The experiences have to be formalized,” Yadav said has met Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda seven/eight times in two months and was briefed on the government’s visits to China, India and USA.
Meetings are being regularized once every 15 days.
Dr Yadav said he didn’t attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics because of work pressure and hadn’t received a formal invitation—not even through the foreign ministry..
Unlike the king, he said he has visited temples, Buddhist monasteries, masjids and will visit churches during Christmas.
‘I’ll also visit churches during Christmas,” he said attempting to project a secular character.
Unlike Jha, Dr Yadav always appears in national attire on formal occasions.
He denied his role was ceremonial.
“I’m a constitutional and not a ceremonial president. The constitution should be defended and adhered to; the president will do that.
“The interim constitution doesn’t use the word ceremonial. The role of a constitutional president has been mentioned. I’ll work accordingly.”
Dr Yadav revealed the prime minister asked him to play the role of guardian in integration of armies.
“It’s not necessary to act as the prime minister suggests; the president has a different role,” he said.
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Protestors, police clash

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: Police and protestors clashed Sunday morning during a Valley strike called by casino workers to describe police excesses and raids on gambling houses.
Manager of Casino Anna was arrested overnight for allegedly illegally allowing Nepalis into the casino.
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KP Sharma Oli in China

Kathmandu, 2 Nov: CPN-UML politburo member and former Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli left for a China visit Saturday accompanied by central member Suresh Karki.
During the 12-day visit, Oli will have talks with senior Chinese officials.
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Reputed news announcer Komal Oli arrested

Kathmandu, 1 Nov: Police detained Komal Oli for five hours when she attempted to deliver a memorandum to visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at Hotel Hayatt, KP Dhungana reports in Naya Patrika.
The memorandum demanded the return of seized land and house by Maoists during the conflict.
She broke a police cordon and delivered the memorandum as Ban was coming down a lift.
Police released her after Ban flew for Bangladesh.
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Maoist ministers slip into Khasa

Kathmandu, 1 Nov: Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal, Communications Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara and several Maoist ministers slipped into Khasa, Tibet, with an official of military section of the Chinese embassy, Kantipur reports.
They returned Friday after spending a night there.
Minister Mahara said thel visit was ‘puely personal’.
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