Load-shedding extended to 16 hours

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: A already crippling load-shedding has been increased by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) another four hours to 16 hours a day from Sunday.
NEA said load-shedding was extended to save water at the Kulekhani reservoir.
But electricity will be supplied to industries at government-owned industrial estates for five days a week.
Government has already announced a power emergency and PM Prachanda is flying to Denmark, Norway and Finland to seek the help of the Scandinavian states for help to meet power shortage blamed by the Maoist-led government on previous regimes.
Maoists joined a government led by Girija Prasad Koirala following the successful anti-king movement of April 2005.
Power shortage has led to increased crime in urban areas.
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Congress backs beleaguered Nepal Army

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: Main opposition Nepali Congress has lent firm support to Nepal Army (NA) which is at loggerheads with the Maoist-led government over recruitment to fill in vacancies.
Maoists control the defence ministry which has civilian sway over NA.
NA has disobeyed a directive of the defence ministry to end recruitment prompting Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal to summon Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal for an explanation.
A statement issued by Ram Chandra Pokhrel said the party’s attention has been drawn to the controversy adding recruitment to fill in vacancies ‘regular and legal’.
The statement praised the NA for its ‘proud history’ and said it has stayed away from politics while asking government not to demoralize the army.
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Maoists accuse India, USA for interfering in Nepali affairs; Obama administration unlikely to lift terrorist tag on Maoists

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: A meeting of the ruling CPN (Maoist) central committee has accused India and USA for interfering in Nepali affairs as Washington still puts the party leading the government on its terrorist list.
The incoming Obama administration that assumes office 20 January is unlikely to lift the terrorist tag on the Maoists.
“American imperialism has also interfered in Nepal’s political affairs and its ambassador in Nepal has given speeches against Maoists in different parts of the country,” The Kathmandu Post reports.
“It is clear from the nuclear deal with India that American imperialism through Indian expansionism is moving ahead determinedly with the intension of increasing its hegemony in South Asia as part of its strategy to encircle China,” the newspaper said quoting a Maoist document issued after the central committee meeting.
“We are against imperialism and expansionism. America has not abandoned imperialism and India has not abandoned expansionism,” the newspaper quoted party spokesman Dinanath Sharma as saying.
Maoists have concluded India continues to occupy vast tracts of Nepali territory concluding Nepal is a’ victim of neo-colinial expansionism’.
As PM Prachanda prepares to pay official visits to Denmark, Norway and Finland the party called for an international front against ‘imperialism’.
“Efforts should be made to mobilize cooperation and support from countries that call themselves socialists to form a front against imperialism.”
Meanwhile, ruling CPN-UML central committee meeting Friday asked government to raise the issue of border encroachment with India.
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Ian Martin out, truncated UNMIN term to be extended

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: UN security council has been asked to extend the mandate of UNMIN for another six months from 23 January 2009 in a Nepal report presented by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, reports from New York said.
The secretary-general has recommended a representative and not a special representative head he UNMIN; Ian Martin is now a special representative.
Ban has recommended further downsizing the UNMIN.
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PM Prachanda calls for a new political agreement amid CPN-UML protests

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: PM Prachanda Friday called for a new understanding for unity, peace and to draft the constitution amid threats from coalition partner CPN-UML to withdraw from government.
‘There’s a need for fresh agreement between political parties to facilitate socio-economic transformation, peace and drafting the constitution,” the prime minister said while inaugurating a Chitwan festival.
He even charged CPN-UML for conspiring against the Maoist-led government.
‘CPN-UML is helping reactionaries by attempting to make the government unsuccessful fearing CPN (Maoist) will gain popularity,” Prachanda charged.
“CPN-UML patience is becoming thin. If this situation continues, government can fall anytime,” party General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal warned the same time in the capital.
“CPN-UML has the responsibility to take the decision whether to turn the key left or right,” Khanal said adding the partycould withdraw from government if agreements aren’t implemented.
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