Maoists preparing to capture assets of former king, family

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: Doubts are now being expressed if Wednesday’s verbal commitments to CA by Chairman of CPN (Maoist) and PM Prachanda will ever be implemented, Janasatta reports.
Maoist source said the commitment can’t be implemented because assets of ‘class enemies’ were to implement Maoist policy and central policy; party policy continues.
Source said the PM made a public commitment to overcome immediate difficulties to ease an emergency.
“Assets won’t be returned to concerned people. They will be handed over to Maoists after announcing a new land reforms policy with legal sanctions,” a source said.
Under a new land policy, assets of the former king and his family will be seized.
Maoist leader Haribol Gajurel will head a land commission.
Maoists will ignore pressures from Nepali Congress and CPN-UML for the return of seized assets by launching a political awareness programme in which the two parties will be swept away by a storm from February/March even as opposition claims Maoists have surrendered.
“Party chairman didn’t surrender to the CA; he only confused them,” a Maoist source said.
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Forum also threatens to quit government

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: Chairperson of Madeshi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) Upendra Yadav today [Friday] said that his party would quit the government if the common minimum programme (CMP) was not implemented soon, The Himalayan Times reports from Biratnagar.
Talking to media persons here today Yadav said,” The government is not serious about implementing the eight-point prorgramme and the 22-point understanding reached with the party.
“MJF will quit the government if the latter does not implement the CPM soon,” he said adding,” We are ready to help the government if it sticks to the understanding.”

[Note: The threat comes as CPN-UML has also issued a similar warning to adverse reaction from top Maoist leaders, including PM Prahchanda and Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and calls by another CPN-UML leader for a change in government leadership by inducting the main opposition in government to draft a constitution.]
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Maternity service free from 14 January

Kathmandu, 10 Jan: Maternity services will be free at government hospitals from 14 Jaanuary.
Health Minister Girirajmani Pokhrel made the announcement Saturday in the capital.
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