Warning to disrupt assembly proceedings; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 8 Nov: Main opposition Nepali Congress and Terai Madesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) have threatened to disrupt Saturday’s scheduled constituent assembly (CA) proceedings.
The CA began discussing the annual budget 2008/09 Friday after a long holiday recess.
Both parties demanded dissolution of a government-appointed integration committee for the PLA and Nepal Army claming the body was formed unilaterally without including ‘major parties’ as specified in an agreement with seven parties. They demanded a new inclusive committee with the dissolution of the committee that includes representatives of Maoists, CPN-UML and MJF only.
TMLP demanded government investigation of the killings two party activists in Kapilvasthu.
Congress lawmakers also demanded return of seized assets—a pre-condition for the 10 April assembly election which was abandoned before the vote.
The main opposition, which has launched a jihad against Maoists, also demanded strict implementation of past agreements with seven parties and creation of an environment of people displaced by the Maoist insurgency.
Congress threatened to withhold support for the approval of the 2008/09 annual budget while TMLP threatened to disrupt proceedings of the CA that also acts like a parliament.
The main responsibility is to draft a constitution for what has been described as a new Nepal after toppling republic.
The country is in deep crisis as the Congress which engineered the entry of Maoists into the political mainstream by toppling Nepal’s 238-year-old monarchy and the Shah dynasty now accuses Maoists for attempting to impose a totalitarian dictatorship through people’s democracy.
A popular way of disrupting proceedings is by gheraoing the rostrum and shouting slogans.
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Drafting constitution challenging task


Kathmandu, 9 Nov: Prime Minister Prachanda told a public meeting in the capital Saturday drafting a constitution is a challenging task.
He said this while concern has been expressed in different sectors whether a constitution can be drafted in the remaining 14 months.
The CA had a mandate to draft a constitution in two years but work hasn’t started even eight months after the l0 April CA vote.
Government, he said, is capable of fighting hostile forces against a new constitution.
The prime minister said this while unveiling a bust of Poet Chitradhar Hridaya at Kalimati tri-junction after pulling down a bust of King Mahendra.
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India reduces garment duty

Kathmandu, 8 Nov: In a major policy reverse, India has rolled back its decision to impose customs duty on maximum retail prices (MRP) of garments exported to India and will now levy tax on price indicated on the customs invoice, Prabhakar Ghimere reports in The Kathmandu Post.
According to Nepali Garment Exporters’ Association, the amount of duty paid will come down around Rs 4 million from Rs 12 million going by estimated annual apparel export of Rs 100 million and on the basis of l4 percent customs duty.
“The central government of India has issued a notification in this connection, rolling back an unfair decision,:” said
Uday Raj Pandey, vice-president of Garment Association of Nepal.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Our party (CPN-(Maoist) will support the movement against monstrous capitalism which is facing a severe crisis. The anti-capitalistic movement is picking up at the global level.”

(Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, The Rising Nepal, 8 Nov.)

“Had I known politics was a dirty and dishonest game, I wouldn’t have entered politics. I am occupying the highest post. But politics has turned into a dirty and dishonest game.”

(President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Naya Patrika, 8 Nov.)

“I’m more concerned and worried than others on the issue of constitution drafting. Taking my age into consideration, I’ve got to work fast to draft the constitution. A constitution is imperative for peace and stability. There’ll be an accident in the country without it.”

(Girija Prasad Koirala, Rajdhani, 8 Nov)

“Maoists do not have faith in politics of consensus. Their decision to recall ambassadors appointed by the previous government is the latest example of their disregard for consensus politics.”
(NC Vice-President Ram Chandra Paudel, The Himalayan Times, 8 Nov.)

“Fought 10 years for a republic; now ready to fight another 10 years for nationalism. There’s a superficial Nepal; inside there’s a feeling Nepal doesn’t exist with the problems of nationalism. Sometimes there’s the problem of citizenship; the border’s being encroached; there’s the problem of Nepalis abroad and other issues; there’s a feeling the country doesn’t exist. These matters should be settled,”

(Maoist top leader Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’, Jandisha, 8 Nov.)
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$ 2.9 billion reserve
Kathmandu, 8 Nov: US dollar reserve stood at $ 2.9 billion until mid-September—enough for merchandise import for 8.9 months and service import for 6.9 months, Nepal Rashtra Bank said.
Rs 31.88 billion was received in remittances in the first two months of the current fiscal year from Nepalis abroad—a 74 percent increase during the same period the previous year.
Nepali rupee depreciated against the dollar during the period when 17.75 percent more Nepalis traveled abroad for work.
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Chairman directive to govt.

Kathmandu, 8 Nov: CA Chairman Subash Nemwang Saturday ordered the home minister or defence minister to give a statement on the murder of Ram Hari Shrestha this year in the capital.
Nemwang said the statement was needed after serious issues were raised in the assembly.
Assembly members charged government was protecting
suspected murders and defence minister met one accused in Chitwan recently.
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