Indian foreign secretary Menon arrives

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon arrived Tuesday for two-day consultations with Nepali leaders, including Prime Minister Prachanda and main opposition Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala.
Menon is holding talks with the prime minister later Tuesday.
Reports from New Delhi said Menon will push for implementation of agreements between Prachanda and Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee in November 2008.
Menon is in town although his counterpart is in Beijing for annual consultations with his Chinese counterpart.
Talks begin Tuesday.
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Another murder in terai

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Violence continues unabated in the terai.
Narendra Khati, supervisor of Janakpur Cigarette Factory was shot dead by the Jwala Singh group of Janatantrik Mukti Morcha was shot dead overnight in Janakpur; he’s of hill origin.
Jwala Singh group is the most violent of nearly two dozen groups active in the south.
There’s been no headway in government/rebel talks to discuss regional demands.
Some of the demands are secessionist.
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Nepal does not favour end to Gurkha recruitment


Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Prime Minister Prachanda Monday told a visiting British parliamentary union delegation led by Sir John Stanley the Maoist-led government desires continuity of recruitment of Gurkhas in the British Army.
The prime minister’s Foreign Advisor Hira Bahadur Thapa said after the meeting Prachanda assured the delegation Nepal doesn’t favour stopping recruitment in the British army.


Maoists, out of government, said they wanted an end to recruitment of Gurkhas in the British and Indian armies.
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Dolma Sherpa’s death sentence commuted to life imprisonment

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: The death sentence passed by a Kuwati court on Dolma Sherpa has been commuted to life imprisonment in December last year.Kantipur reports quoting Nepal’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Blood money of $10,000 was paid to the family of a person who had been allegedly killed by Dolma.
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American India policy a future challenge: Nepal Army

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Globalization, superpower USA, emergence of China as a power and American India policy are foreign challenges.
This is mentioned in a book on national security policy presented to the national interests committee of parliament by Nepal Army Friday, published reports said.
Increasing insecurity and inequalities in South Asia are also challenges.
The availability of nuclear material for civilian purpose by India from USA, human rights and the use of Nepali territory by foreigners for Free Tibet movement are also mentioned as foreign challenges.
USA and other powers have developed a India-centered South Asia policy.
The report mentions the chilling relations between India and Pakistan, terrorism, activities of armed groups Afghan problem as challenges.
China desires Nepal territory shouldn’t be used against China on pretext of human rights and Free Tibet movement.
The report mentions interim security challenges and opportunities.
Political instability, inequalities, ethnicity, regionalism, open international border, cross-border criminal activities, terrorism and sharing of internal resources are probable areas for internal danger.
A mechanism should be formed to develop and implement a national security policy which should not only be the prerogative of the council of ministers, the book suggests.
“Because of the excesses seen in Nepal, terrorism, refugees, criminal activities, hunger, border and ethnic disputes, neighbours and other powerful nations on the pretext of national security or in the name of humanitarian assistance can intervene politically, economically and military.”
Border dispute is also a danger and challenge and refers to border encroachment along Nepal-India border as an area of concern and suggests the timely settlement scientifically and legally.
Patriots and entire people should be alert; if diplomatic efforts are made to solve the issue, Indo-Nepal relations and national security will be jeopardized.
Religious disputes and surfacing of dangerous weapons are emerging problems, the book says.

TRADE, ECONOMY, COMMERCE

Govt. releases names of 339 willful defaulters

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Government Monday released names of 339 willful defaulters who will be denied passport and other facilities.
Finance Ministry’s Bimal Wagle says they owe banks Rs 16 billion.
Defaulters owe banks Rs 10 to 50 million.
The Maoist-led government has formed a committee under lawmaker Hari Rokka to monitor government drive to recover the money.
Previous governments had, on international pressure pledged to recover the loans; the pledge was never seriously implemented.
Indian and Pakistani nationals figure in the list.
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New CPN-UML leadership shouldn’t be affiliated with Congress or Maoists

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Madhav Kumar Nepal said Tuesday the new CPN-UML leadership shouldn’t get ‘entangled with Congress’ or be’ bogged down with Maoists”.
Nepal, contesting the powerful chairmanship of the CPN-UML, said in Butwal as the closed session of the party bean on the second day of the six-day general convention.
Incumbent General Secretary Jhalanath Khanal said final effort continues to seek a consensus candidate.
Khanal and KP Sharma Oli are also contesting.
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Police seeking extension of Dhamala remand

Kathmandu, 17 Feb: Police said Tuesday they are seeking an extension of a remand for Rishi Dhamala for investigation.
A 14-day remand expires Tuesday.
The chairman of Reporters’ Club was arrested for alleged involvement in extortion and three bombings in the capital.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“.. to make the present democratic republic a true people’s democratic republic, there is a need of an another movement in the country.”

(Dr Baburam Bhattarai, The Rising Nepal, 17 Feb.)
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