PM Prachanda hits back at Girija

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has hit back by Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala who has repeatedly accused Maoist and its chairman for breaking a political consensus derailing politics.
Prachand, instead, charged Girija for first breaking the consensus.
“This is very strange. Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala is a also very senior person who has also played a very important role in Nepali politics.
“I don’t to use unpleasant language against him. But if you have to ask who first broke Nepal’s process of political consensus, Nepali Congress tops the list, and sad to say, Girija Prasad Koirala.
Prachanda added Koirala presented conditions after the installation of the Maoist-led government breaking consensus politics for the first time.
Prachanda told this to Radio Nepal while reviewing the work of the government in its first 100 days.
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Nepal observes World AIDS day; foreign help misused

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: Nepal observed 20th World AIDS Day 2008 Monday amid reports only 13 percent of foreign donations is spent on treatment and control of the disease.
More than 70 percent money set aside for control and treatment is spent on publicity, Annapurna Post reports.
Government agencies aren’t monitoring contributions from foreign governments and INGOs.
Dr Rajendra Pant, Deputy Director of National AIDS and Venereal Disease Control agrees most money is spent on publicity.
“Time has come for some thought because money being spent on seminars and publicity is becoming counterproductive for the treatment and rehabilitation of targeted groups,” he said.
National HIV/AIDS Control Board Deputy Chairman Dr Sharad Want said there’s no authoritative and official data on the inflow of money for the control, treatment and rehabilitation.
‘Until now, no agency has kept a proper account of income and expenditure,” Dr Want said.
A report presented to the UN general assembly in 2007 sai $8.4 million was spent in Nepal for AIDS/HIV.
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POL prices being reduced for third time

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: For the third time in two months, prices of POL products are being reduced Wednesday after a review of price following a fall in petroleum prices in the international market.
Supply Minister Rajendra Mahoto revealed this Sunday.
But the city’s residents, who commute by taxis and other vehicles, haven’t benefited from twice-reduced reduced fares.
Drivers continue to charge old rates.
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Policeman injured in Rautahat blast

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: A policeman was injured in a rebels bombed the district police headquarters Sunday night at Rautahat,Gaur. During load-shedding.
Injured policeman Bhumochan Jha is undergoing treatment at hospital.
A person of Madeshi descent was killed in a bomb blast in Siraha overnight in escalating violence in the terai; an assailant was also killed by angry villagers.
Formal talks haven’t started between government and rebel groups to address the regional conflict though unofficial dialogue has started.
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Congress to finally pass parliamentary party statute

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: Main opposition Nepali Congress parliamentary party meets Monday to pass its statute which has to be approved by the central committee before being enforced.
The delayed statute is being approved after request for the name of the party’s leader in parliament by the constitutional council of which the opposition leader is an ex-officio member.
Without the representation of the opposition in the council, important appointments by it were delayed.
The approval of the statute will pave the way for the election of the party’s parliamentary leader.
Koirala said he is the leader.
Nobody is likely to challenge Koirala who said he’ll lead the party until effective psychological unity .
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Limbuwan strike continues

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: A strike called by Limbuwan autonomists hit nine eastern districts for the second consecutive day Monday disrupting normal activities.
The protestors are demanding implementation of a five-point agreement with government,
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Finance Minister Dr Bhattarai rebuffed by central bank

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s move to have his loyalists take over key positions in the Rashtra Bank and key financial institutions has failed, news front reports.
According to a key official in the government, Minister Bhattarai got a senior Finance Ministry official to tell the Governor of Rashtra Bank as well as the Board of Governors to quit without assigning any reason.
The members of the Board of Governors stiffly declined…
“We. The Board of Governors were appointed by an act of parliament and we took oath from Chief of Justice of the Supreme Court. We are not slaves to serve or resign at the pleasure of a finance minister,” Board member Dr Bishwambhar Pyakuryal told newsfront.
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Second Chinese military delegation arriving; president, prime minister likely to visit in April 2009

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 Dec: Another Chinese military delegation headed by Deputy Chief of Deputy Staff of the People’s Liberation Army Jiao Xian is also arriving this month , Sanghu reports.
He is leading a 10-memebr team that is arriving 6 December.
The first delegation led by Maj Gen Ei Hujeng arrived this month.
The Chinese foreign minister arrives Monday.
Either President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
Will visit Nepal in April 2009, Weekly Mirror reports.
The series of visits by top Chinese officials are to pave the way for visits either by the president or the prime minister, China watchers said.
China and India are competing for influence in Nepal, situated on the southern lap of Tibet and the Himalaya.
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee was in Nepal this month.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Nepal has been facing problems caused by Bhutanese and Tibetan refugees and at present refugees even from Somalia are drifting towards Nepal.”

(Home Minister Bamdeb Gautan, The Rising Nepal, 31 Nov.)

“We’re working with extra caution to prevent an India-style terrorist attack in Nepal. Government is capable of preventing such attacks and controlling it, even if it occurs. I ask all to remain confident.”

(Home Minister Bamdeb Gauatam, Gorkhapatra, 31 Nov.)

“It’s not possible to cohabitate with Maoists if they move ahead at this rate. CPN-UML is serious on this.”

(Former Deputy Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Rajdhani, 31 Nov.)