Maoist top leaders meet to iron out differences

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 18 Nov: Top Maoist leaders met at Baluwatar Tuesday with Prime Minister Prachanda and rebel organizational chief Mohn Baidya Kiran attempting to narrow differences to resolve a party crisis.
The differences surfaced publicly Monday for the first time with Prachanda registering a political report to be adopted by a national workers’ meet Thursday in the capital pushing a compromise ‘federal, competitive people’s’.
The prime minister along with Dr Baburam Bhattarai were advocating a ‘federal democratic [u1] republic’ after the 238-year-old monarchy was toppled in April 2005 and a republic declared by the constituent republic (CA).
Hard-line faction led by Kiran Monday registered a proposal for an ‘immediate declaration of a ‘people’s republic’ to complete the purpose of the people’s war declared 11 years ago to found a Stalinist communist state in the strategic Himalayan kingdom, now a republic sandwiched between India and China—rivals for domination at the foot of the Himalaya.
The differences surfaced at a tome when the country began Sunday an 18-month to write a constitution to be declared in May 2010.
Main opposition Nepali Congress vowed it won’t accept Maoist objectives to bulldoze a communist state after bringing it into the political mainstream with the help of India, USA and UK particularly.
Prachanda faction is only juggling with words amid charges of revisionism by the Kiran faction to consolidate state power gained after the 10 April CA election which was won by Maoists who emerged as the largest political party.
Maoists began discussions to narrow down differences Sunday before the central committee meets Wednesday ahead of the national meet one day later on Thursday.
The national meet, one postponed 2 November because of the differences, will decide the issue; both sides claim a majority in the broader group.
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Inflation crosses 14 percent

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Nov: Nepal Rashtra Bank has bad news for the Maoist-led government hoping with promises to bring down inflation to single digit.
The index rose from 6.3 percent during the same period the previous year fueled by rise in prics of food and beverages.
Consumer price index jumped to 14.1 percent mid-October from 13.5 percent the previous month in mid-September, the central bank said.
Food and non-food and service group prices rose 15.2 and 12.9 percent respectively.
Core inflation rose to 13.1 percent from4.7 percent during the same period.
Bu there was good news for the three-month government on the revenue front.
Revenue collection increased 35.5 percent in the first four months of the current fiscal year 2008/09 with collections totaling Rs 32.97 billion.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Undoubtedly, he [Girija] is a man of action. He is known for his firm stance. Bu intellectually he isn’t that sound. He is is need of good advice and guidance. Unfortunately, he is surrounded by sycophants.”

“Ram Hari Joshi, one of few surviving octogenarian leaders of NC, The Himalayan Times, 18 Nov.)

‘Only NC possesses the formula for restructuring the state. Ever since they assumed office, all CPN (Maoist) ministers are doing is serving the party cadres. The national budget is focused on the upliftment of Maoist cadres rather than development work.”

(Congress Vice-President Ram Chanadra Paudel, The Kathmandu Post, 18 Nov.)



[u1]Mediately