Talks inconclusive to end violent protests

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Talks between government and a struggle committee demanding compensation and ban of Maoist YCL following abduction and murder of two youth affiliated with ruling CPN-UML was inconclusive as protests turned violent and spread nation-wide Thursday.
Demonstrators smashed nearly one dozen shops and equal number of vehicles in the capital on the second day of protests in the Valley.
Demonstrators and police were injured in clashes in front of campuses throughout the day.
The struggle committee also demanded with Home Minister Bamdeb Gautam the dead be declared citizen martyrs, a judicial inquiry and punishment of the guilty.
Thursday’s talks with Gautam were inconclusive as the home minister demanded time for consultations with Prime Minister Prachanda assess protestor demands.
The struggle committee said protests will continue for the third day Friday to push demands.
CPN-UML General-Secretary Jhalanath Khanal Thursday accused Maoists for abduction and murder of the youth from the capital one month ago; but bodies of the CPN-UML activists were pulled out of a shallow grave in neighbouring Dhading only Tuesday.
Relatives refused to take delivery of the bodies until the guilty are punished.
Maoists denied YCL involvement in abduction and killing.

Prachanda, Kiran to reply to points raised in central committee

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: A delayed sixth national meet of CPN (Maoist) is now scheduled for Friday afternoon after Prime Minister Prachanda and organization chief Mohan Baidya Kiran address points raised by central committee members.
The extended two--day meeting of the party ended Thursday evening at 6.30.
Organization Chief Mohan Baidya Kiran, presenting a differing opinion, demanding immediate imposition of a communist people’s republic through a revolt even as the CA is mandated to draft a constitution by May 2010.
Maoists are only the largest party in the CA; a proposal for a republic can be stopped through a provision of a referendum.
Main opposition Nepali Congress and other parties in the CA have made clear they will oppose the declaration of Stalinist state in Nepal.
But Prachanda proposed a transitional republic or a federal democratic republic until the final goal of a people’s republic is achieved.
Prachanda argued the immediate declaration of a people’s republic will obstruct the writing of a constitution and integration of PLA in Nepal Army.
Opinion is equally divided in the Maoist central committee with neutrals pressing for an amalgamated proposal of two proposals pushed by Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal and Communications Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
The national met of an estimated 1,100 workers can take a decision on future position to be adopted by the CPN (Maoist) or a issue can be referred to a party general convention.
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Chinese team holds discussions with Deputy prime minister, defence minister

Kathmandu, 20 Nov: Deputy Prime Minister Bamdeb Gautam told reporters Thursday China should come out publicly with its position of the on the border tri-junction in occupied by India after the 1962 Indo-China war.
India has continued its military on Nepali territory in Darchula overlooking Tibet since 1962.
Gautam said this after talks with a visiting Chinese military delegation that arrived Wednesday on a five-day visit.
Gautam asked the delegation to relax the movement of Nepalis across the Nepal-Tibet border in Manang.
Defence Minister Ram Bahadur said he discussed the management of the border with the delegation Thursday.
An American Assistant Secretary of State in the Bush administration returned home this week after discussing defence related issues before the Chinese.
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