Maoists agree to Congress demand

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: Maoists agreed to return seized assets within three months and dissolution of YCL in three weeks.
Agreement was reached Thursday at a meeting between the main ruling party and the CA main opposition which had been disrupting assembly proceedings for nearly one month.
The six-point agreement paves the way for the smooth functioning of the assembly which functions as parliament which has to draft a new constitution as well.
Congress has been pressing nine demands first agreed by Maoists 11 November 2008 but never implemented.
Maoists and Congress also agreed on terms of reference for local peace committees now to be formed through consensus.
An address to the CA by PM Prachanda Thursday following the breakthrough agreement has been delayed until Sunday after five small parties threatened to disrupt proceedings on the issue of reduced scholarship quota for Dalits and marginalized communities.
The election of 14 committees to draft constitution has been delayed amid fears the constitution may not be drafted in the remaining 15 months.
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Supreme court issues interim to stop withdrawal of cases

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: The supreme court one-man bench of Justice Balram KC Thursday through an interim order stayed the implementation of a government decision to withdraw criminal cases against 349 persons until a final verdict.
The cabinet decided 23 October 2008 to withdraw the cases was challenged in the apex court by a lawyer.
Government has ordered release of persons also charged for criminal offences like rape and drugs trafficking although it is empowered to free persons charged for ‘political’ crimes.
Lawyers challenging the government decision claimed human rights had been violated by freeing even common criminals.
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Exiled Maoist Bhutan group claims responsibility for Bhutan blast that kills five

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan (URFB), a Maoist group, Wednesday claimed responsibility for a Tuesday bomb blast that killed five forest officials in Sarbang, Bhutan.
The group said revolution was inevitable in the absence of a resolution of the refugee issue.
More than 108,000 refugees of Nepali ethnicity exiled from Bhutan are living in UNHCR-administered camps for more than 17 years.
Western countries, including USA, are now taking in some of the refugees.
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No need to remove army chief: Dr Baburam Bhattarai

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: Finance Minister and influential Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai said there’s no need to remove Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
“There’s no thinking to remove the army chief. We don’s see a need,” Kantipur quoted Dr Bhattarai as saying.
Bu Dr Bhattarai said recruitments to fill vacancies should stop.
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Altogether 175 Nepalis die in Qatar in 2008

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: Altogether 175 Nepalis died in Qatar in 2008,Gulf Times reports.
Most workers died of heart attacks.
Qatar is a popular destination of Nepali labourers.
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CPN (Unity Center/Mashal) to merge with CPM (Maoist)

Kathmandu, 2 Jan: CPN (Unity Center/Mashal) finally formally decided to merge with CPN (Maoist) Thursday.
A meeting of national workers of Mashal took the decision in Bhaktapur where a conclave of Janamorcha Nepal will begin Friday.
Janaamorcha Nepal is a public front of the CPN (Unity center/Mashal).
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“A national body like the army should not be pulled into controversies. The army chief’s sudden removal may create more problems than it can solve.”

(Maoist leader Mohan Baidya Kiran, The Himalayan Times, 2 Jan.)


“Nepali Congress doesn’t favour the fall of the government; the party isn’t interested in power.”

(Congress spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC, Annapurna Post, 2 Jan.)

“Congress should be brought to government even with a change in government leadership to complete the draft of the constitution in the deadline.”

(CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli, Kantipur, 2 Jan.)
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