Let multi-party system prevail in Nepal: Pranab Mukherjee

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee returned home Wednesday with clear messages the stalled peace process should be taken to its logical end through consensus between major political players.
“ …peace process which has been initiated by all political parties should be implemented through consensus, “ Mukherjee said before emplaning.
Mukherjee said unequivocally following the toppling of not only the royal government of King Gyanendra but also the 238-year-old monarchy, multi-party democracy should prevail.
India’s top diplomat and troubleshooter issued sermons on major issues even while saying the peace, integration and other issues were Nepal’s internal affairs.
He also said the a constitution should be drafted within the deadline of June 2010 amid fears in some quarters the schedule won’t be met.
Mukherjee’s or indeed Indian desires in Nepal were publicly aired at a time when Maoists were debating a republic they should adopt.
Main opposition Nepali Congress has launched a national public awareness against Maoists charging the CPN (Maoist) is laying the foundation
stone for an autocratic system of government.
The trusted hand of Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew in after threats to the peace process following a parting of ways between CPN (Maoist) and Nepali Congress.
Singh was the right man sent to Nepal by the Ganghi/Singh combine.
Mukherjee was the Indian government’s pointman in 2005 to implement New Delhi’s roadmap to topple monarchy, introduce a republic and reinforce it.
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Two teens probably murdered

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Bodies of two youth, probably murdered, were found at a forest near Thankot Wednesday.
The bodies of teenagers Ashish Manandhar and Ritesh Rauniyar from Tahachal had sharp head wounds.
Bodies were of the boys recovered 12 days after they went missing.
Deputy Prime Minister Bamdeb Gutam and his supporters in CPN_UML boast the home minister has curbed crime in the capital after assuming office more than three months ago.
Maoists abducted and killed capital’s trader Ram Kazi Shrestha.
Two youth from the capital were abducted and killed by Maoists in neighbouring Dhading.
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Water tariff hike proposed

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Lid (KUKL), a private company managing distribution of the capital’s drinking water supply, has proposed a 10 to 30 percent price in water tariff.
The hike was proposed following are a commendation of the Asian Development Bank, head of a consortium that is financing the Melamchi drinking water project to upgrade the capital’s water drinking water supply.
The proposal has been presented to the Water Tariff Fixation Commission for implementation.
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Old premises of US embassy for sale

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: The old US embassy complex at Maharajgunj is up for sale after moving to Ring Road.
A for sale notice, without mentioning price, has been put in a newspaper.
Bidders have been asked to submit letters of interest by 5 December 2008 which will be opened 24 December.
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German assistance

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Germany has provided a Rs 110 million assistance as food assistance and relief for the recent Kosi flood victims, its embassy said.
The food aid and social rehabilitation programme will be implemented by Deutsche Welthngerhilfe and NGO Rural Construction Nepal.
The assistance will benefit 20,000 families from 14 districts.
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Ruling MJF calls of Janakpur strike

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Life returned to normal Thursday morning in the holy town of Janakpur where ruling MJF enforced a strike protesting the arrest of the party’s lawmaker arrested for alleged abduction.
The lawmaker has been freed after party protests.
Local withdrew the charges and agreed to a judicial inquiry into alleged police excesses.
Three workers of the ferocious Jwala Singh group were arrested in Bardiya Wednesday with arms and ammunition.
Two extortionists of Terai Tigers were arrested with forcible donations collecte din Butwal Tuesday.
A house in Biratnagar overnight was bombed causing minor damage as violence continues unabated in the terai.
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HAN charge

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Even as Hotel Association Nepal (HAN) said it has asked members to implement a government recommendation of minimum wage and dearness allowance.
Workers affiliated with Maoists Wednesday indefinitely forcibly closed down hotels and restaurants in Nagarkot.
HAN claimed workers were paid more then the recommended wages and perks.
Workers demanded a flat Rs 1,300 pay increase.
The strike comes at the peak tourism season.
Workers Wednesday also shut down Gorkha Brewery, the manufacturers of the popular beer brand Tuborg.
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Deuba sings a different tune on integration

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Congress party President Girija Prasad Koirala are singing discordant notes on the important issue of Maoist PLA, Nepal Army integration.
Koirala’s officially undeclared successor in party said in clearly and loudly in the presence of party worker Wednesday he doesn’t oppose integration.
Koirala is vehemently against amalgamation and has made it a national issue in the form of a jihad against Maoists.
Deuba took the public stance on integration two days after visiting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee held political discussions Tuesday.
Mukherjee met Deuba immediately after flying in from New Delhi and one day before hour-long discussions with Koirala.
The Deuba, Mukherjee meeting is also significant because New Delhi has anointed Deuba as the Crown Prince in
the Congress.
Sushsil Koirala and Ram Chandra Paudel are his rivals.
Mukherjee intervened and asked political parties to develop a common understanding on integration.
“Who says army integration can’t happen?. We’re not at all against integration.
“Without integration, the peace process won’t reach a logical conclusion.
“However, we are against wholesale integration of Maoist combatants which the Maoists have been talking about lately,” Deuba said.
Maoists will be happy with the Deuba statement which will certainly raise eyebrows in the main opposition party.
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Unlimited flights proposed between India, Nepal

Kathmandu, 27 Nov: Unlimited flights have been proposed from 18 airports in India and Nepal, Annapurna Post reports.
The proposal will be discussed at the civil aviation talks between the two countries in December 2008 during a review of the civil aviation accord.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“If New Delhi can now officially see China’s hand in the terrorism gripping its north-eastern states, it surely must comprehend the autonomy Beijing would expect to exercise in Nepal with or without Maoists in power,”

(Maila Baje, People’s Review, 27 Nov.)

“From top to bottom, UML activists are turning into opportunists, sycophants and megalomaniacs and tarnishing the party’s reputation.”

(Secretary General Jhalanath Khanal, The Kathanmdu Post, 27 Nov.)

‘But, just a week before the visit [to China] was
To take place, he[Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam] postponed the visit saying the visit was just a sightseeing trip….after knowing the agenda [Chinese support for modernization of police force] of Gautam, intentionally, the Indians had put pressure on the DPM to postpone or even cancel the visit.”

(People’s Review, 27 Nov.)