CPN-UML activist shot, injured in Rautahat

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 7 Nov: A CPN-UML , a contractor, was shot and injured near Bagmati bazzar in Rautahat Friday morning as he emerged from his house.
Mani Raj Shrestha was shot in the temple in continuing violence in the terai.
Two assailants decamped on a motorcycle.
Jwala Singh of the TJMM is the most violent of nearly two dozen groups active in the terai; most groups operate from across the open Indo-Nepal border like Maoists during the 11-year people’s war.
Prime Minister Prachanda admitted he spent eight years of war in India.
Government has invited rebels to sit down for talks to resolve regional demands— some of them separatist.
Rebels haven’t taken up the two-month offer as yet presenting demands.
One demand says Prachanda himself should he chief government negotiator; government has formed a three-member dialogue committee headed by Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar.
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French climber confirmed dead

Kathmandu, 7 Nov: French climber Jean Mary, 65, has been confirmed dead by the Tourism Ministry of the 6812 meters high Ama Dablam.
The body was flown to the capital Thursday.
Iranian climber Bahlooreh Saeid,32, died on the7134 meters Tilicho this autumn climbing season that ends 30November.
Two French climbers died this fall of altitude sickness,
Daniel Pierre Goulevitch, 49 died on Manaslu and Alain Benay on the 6346 meters high Saribung.
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Eldest citizen dead

Kathmandu, 7 Nov: Nepal’seldest citizen died in Parsa died overnight.
Pratap Shah was 122,.
He hailed from Basantapur.
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Foreigners press writing delayed constitution; CA chairman rejects offer of foreign assistance

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 7 Nov: Foreign donors have started
a determined push to draft a republican constitution after the elected constituent assembly (CA) members delayed drafting it, Shyam Luitel writes in Rajdhani.
Donors, through some media outlets, are trying to influence some prominent leaders of political parties.
A prominent leader of a party said,” Pressures have started to come from donors to draft a constitution favourable to them suggesting the form and content of the constitution that will benefit Nepal.”
The leader said donors have encouraged leaders to come with interviews, articles favourable to them in publications.
While lobbying, donor representatives from India, China, UN, USA and EU have repeatedly met CA Chairman Subash Nemwang,
The foreigners, during meetings, have sought their own role in drafting the constitution.
India has donated five vehicles to the CA and Asia Foundation has presented books.
US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell recently held a reception for Nemwang and some representatives of the donor community.
They promised help to draft the constitution and send experts.
Newang confirmed he has received ‘offer’ of special teams from donors.
“But I’ve told them foreign experts aren’t required to draft the constitution; our assembly doesn’t lack experts.”
But he confirmed experiences could be shared and material assistance could be used.
Daily consultations of help are held with officials of UNDP.
CA members have been traveling abroad on invitations of INGOs on pretext of writing a constitution.
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