First official of Obama administration arrives Wednesday

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: Richard Boucher, top US diplomat of the Obama administration for South Asia, arrives Wednesday for two-day talks with the Maoist-led government of Prime Minister Prachanda.
The Nepal government will attempt to the Maoists off the US terrorist list.
Boucher will hold talks with top Maoist leaders in government amid charges by top Maoist leaders of foreign interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.
Maoists charge ‘expansionists and imperialists’ for interference.
Imperialist is euphemism for USA.
Unified CPN (Maoist) had recently decided to form an internal front against imperialism.
Boucher, a Bush appointee, continues in the Obama administration.
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Matrika Prasad Yadav to launch new terai-based party

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: Politburo member and former minister Matrika Prasad Yadav is defecting from the Unified CPN(Maoist) and launching CPN (Maoist) Wednesday.
Efforts by stop Maoist leadership to stop the defection failed.
“I am not with Unified CPN (Maoist). I am with Maoists.
The party is being reorganized because others have left the party,” Yadav told Kantipur.
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CPN-UML central committee meets Wednesday

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: The last meeting of the CPN-UML meets later Wednesday to review preparations for its general convention meeting in Butwal 16 February.
The convention will elect top party executives, including the powerful chairman.
Madhav Kumar Nepal, incumbent General Secretary Jhalanath Khamal and KP Sharma Oli are contesting.
The central committee will appoint five percent of elected members for the convention.
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Team formed to investigate attempted murder of PM personal secretary

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: A six-member team led by SSP Birendra Babu Shrestha has been formed to probe an attempt Sunday to kill Shakti Basnet, personal secretary of PM Prachanda.
Fifteen suspects have been arrested for investigation.
Party leaders charged ‘reactionaries’ were behind the incident to obstruct drafting of the constitution.
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Expected suggestions haven’t come before constitution drafting committees

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: Expected suggestions haven’t arrived at 14 constitution drafting committees, Kantipur reports.
Suggestions had been sought nearly six weeks ago through newspaper advertisements.
Committee members reviewed Sunday, Monday suggestions received so far; the review continues.
Two hundred suggestions have been received so far.
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Ian Martin gets Gaza assignment

Kathmandu, 11 Feb: Ian Martin has been appointed chief of a five-member team to probe last month’s attack by Israel on UN facilities in Gaza Strip.
Martin was head of now down-sized UNMIN to minitor arms and ammunition of Nepal Army and Maoist PLA and oversee last year’s constituent assembly elections.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Prachada should now reform. There are big groups after money in Congress and CPN-UML. They are now also entering Maoists.”

(Founder of CPN Nara Bahadur Karmacharya, Naya Patrika, 11 Feb.)


“There can’t be cooperation with those who consider us enemies.”

(Congress Spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC, Annapurna Post, 11 Feb.)
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