Extended Maoist meet begins

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: An extended meeting of the CPN (Maoist) central committee began Thursday morning at 7.30 to attempt force a common approach on consolidating a republic in Nepal where a 238-year-old monarchy was toppled this year.
The one-day meeting was extended after only nine central members could present their views at the opening of the one-day meet Wednesday in neighbouring Bhaktapur.
The scheduled Thursday one-day national meet of 1,200 workers’ to adopt a future strategy on how to push a republic was postponed until Friday after the central committee meet was extended.
A faction led by Prime Minister Prachanda is pushing a transitional republic to consolidate the gains of a republic but hard-line organizational chief Mohan Baidya Kiran is demanding an immediate Stalinist people’s republic though a revolt.
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Valley strike to protest killings by Maoists

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Appalled at continuing
abductions and killings from the capital, students and other sections of society closed down schools and industries in protest Thursday in the Valley.
Vehicular movement was disrupted at several places in the capital.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), concerned at the killings, summoned Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam to its office Wednesday and de-briefed him.
Gautam has assured a judicial prove into the abduction and murder of two youth and supporters of ruling CPN-UML.
The buried bodies were of the two youth were recovered from a riverbed in Dhading Tuesday.
The transport strike had marginal effect in Bhaktapur.
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Bhutanese Maoists threaten to close offices helping resettlement of refugees in USA

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Bhutanese Maoists have demanded closure of offices helping resettlement of 108,000 Bhutanese refugees mainly in USA—a process that started in 2008.
Nearly 108,000 refugees were spending miserable lives in UNHCR-administered camps in Morang and Jhapa without their repatriation home as India and major world powers ignored a policy of ethnic cleansing carried out by Bhutan.
‘We’ll request a stop to the resettlement process and closure of organizations opened in Nepal to repatriate refugees from 1 January 2009.
“We’ll launch a movement if out call isn’t taken seriously,” Bhutanese Communist Party (MLM) military commander Nirmal told Naya Patrika Thursday.
UNHCR and another international organization is helping identify refugees for resettlement in the West.
They work under police protection after frequent and violent attacks by Bhutanese Maoists in the refugee camps.
He called for a political settlement of the 17-year refugee problem
Bhutanese Maoists launched an armed movement in Bhutan to topple monarchy on 3 February 2007.
“We’re collecting and storing weapons, We have adequate fighting force,” he said.
Nearly 6,000 refugees have been resettled mainly in USA which has come under criticism along with other western countries or tolerating the forcible eviction.
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Singer Ram Thapa died

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Popular singer Ram Thapa, 51, died overnight while undergoing treatment at Norwic Hospital.
He had recorded more than 400 songs.
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Social Welfare Council (SWC) charged, dissolved

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: The Maoist-led government Wednesday charged the Social Welfare Council (SWC) of widespread corruption and sacked members without immediately replacements.
Government charged the Council for ignoring repeated demands of resignation to reconstitute the body that oversees the controversial activities of thousands of NGOs and INGOs.
The Council was led by member-secretary Dr Jayandra Shrestha—a nominee of the previous government of Girija Prasad Koirala.
INGOs need the permission of the Council to work in Nepal.
The work of the foreign organizations aren’t transparent and they run a parallel development network in Nepal.
Such organizations haven’t
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Bill to form probe commission on enforced disappearances approved

Kathmandu, 20 Nov; The cabinet Wednesday approved a bill to establish a five-member commission to probe enforced disappearances during the 11-year people’s war.
Government agencies and Maoists are responsible for the disappearances.
There’s been no accountability so far with the encourage of a culture of impunity.
The commission will be formed after the CA approved the bill.
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Further political appointments

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Cabinet Wednesday made more political appointments in government bodies.
Udhav Karki has been nominated general manager of Udayapur Cement Factory and Bidhyanath Nepal and Dr Bhagwan Koirala have been nominated to the Chinese-gifted hospital for civil servants just handed over to Nepal by China.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Security is foreign investors’ main concern. American investors inquire foreign-invested companies like Coca Cola. Similarly, Indians are concerned after what happened to Dabar Nepal and other small industries.”

(Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav, The Himalayan Times, 20 Nov)

‘What can be expected from people’s representatives elected to draft a constitution but demand commission on medicine bills? This facet of their character has come to light.”

(Naya Patrika report, 20 Nov.)