Govt declares 7,000 martyrs

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: The cabinet Friday decided to declare 7,000 persons killed during the people’s war, Madesh protests and Janaandolas-II martyrs.
Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma proposed 8,000 names.
Nearly 13,000 persons, including soldiers and policemen, were killed during the Maoist insurgency.
Security forces were deployed against Maoists by successive governments to fight the communist insurgency.
Soldiers and policemen deployed to defend the state don’t obviously fall in that category.
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Committee formed to recommend nominees to Disappeared People Probe Commission

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: Government has formed a three-member committee to recommend nominees to a proposed Disappeared People Probe Commission.
The team is headed by Padma Lal Bishwakarma, president of parliament’s international relations and human rights committee.
The commission has been declared through ordinance.
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Fight Maoists: Girija Prasad Koirala

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: Indicating worsening relations between main opposition Nepali Congress and Unified CPN-Maoist), party President Girija Prasad Koirala Sunday asked party activists to retaliate against Maoists if they are attacked during elections for free student union.
Sweep the elections, Koirala ordered.
Koirala issued the directive while addressing workers in Chitwan Friday.
“If you’re attacked by Maoists, retaliate. The party is ready to take responsibility,” Koirala said.
Koirala continued to last out at Maoists charging the ruling party for breaking a politics of consensus.
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Rishi Dhamala jailed

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: Chairman of Reporters’ Club Rishi Dhamala was sent to jail along with three other journalists by The Kathmandu District Office while charges of attempted murder and extortion under the arms and ammunition are being investigated.
Dhamala was arrested more than one month ago for alleged links with Ranabir Sena.
Sena was behind three bomb blasts in the capital demanding a Hindu state.
Dhamala has denied the charges.
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US ready to provide logistic support for Nepali peacekeepers in Chad, Sudan

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: USA is ready to provide logistic support to Nepali troops going to Sudan and Chad as UN peacekeepers, Annapurna Post reports.
US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell held discussions with discussions with Prime Minister Prachanda Friday.
Prachanda asked Powell to take Maoists off the US terrorist list.
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Prohibitory orders around Chinese embassy

Kathmandu, 28 Feb: Areas around the new and old Chinese embassy in the capital were declared prohibited areas by the local administration.
Protests and meetings around the areas have been banned.
The protests coincide with the approach of the crushing of a rebellion by Tibetans against China is Tibet 50 years ago.
The declaration came as authorities feared protests by Tibetan exiles in the capital.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“The dress-up [national dress Girija Prasad Koirala started wearing after 1990] didn’t exactly help to delink in the national consciousness the Tanakpur hush-hush from the reality that he was born on Indian soil. Nevertheless, Koirala stuck with the national outfit.”

(Maila Baje, People’s Review, 28 Feb.)

“Presidential system is not acceptable to Nepali Congress.”

(Girija Prasad Koirala, The Himalayan Times, 28 Feb.)

‘We can’t be slaves of agents of any country. We can’t b slaves and agents of India or China. We’ll fight against intervention.”

(Matrika Prasad Yadav, founder of CPN-Maoist, Annapurna Post, 28 Feb.)
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