Maoists direct workers to prepare for movement; other details

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Maoists have directed workers to prepare for a movement saying there’s a conspiracy to topple government, Ganga BC reports in Kantipur.
Opposition to ordinances is just a conspiracy, a leader said.
Maoists have issued the directive at training camps of state committees
The conspiracy, a leader said, after Prime Minister Prachanda because active following his recent address to the nation.
Workers have been told there’s no alternative to a movement if government is toppled.
“Nobody should dream of toppling the government; this government was formed thorough people’s mandate. Government has the right to promulgate ordinances. Opposition to ordinances is pointless,” Maoist Spokesman Dinanath Sharma said.
He [Girija Prasad Koirala] should be a patron. He is conspiring in monkey-like fashion,” Sharma told state-owned radio Nepal Tuesday morning,
Sharma hurled the charge one day after majority members of the 601-member parliament asked Prachanda to convene parliament to discuss ordinances including one on forced disappearances.
Sharma also asked political parties to divert attention to drafting a constitution instead of attempting to topple government.
“There’s an effort to kill us,” Sharma charged over state radio referring an attempt overnight to assassinate Sakti Bahadur Basnet, the prime minister’s personal secretary, in the capital.
Government has sent three ordinances to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for signature.
CPN-UML, the second largest coalition partner in the Maoist-led government, Monday joined main opposition Nepali Congress in demanding a parliament session to discuss ordinances.
The defection has come as a big blow to the government at a time when Koirala revealed an alternate to the Maoist-led government has been sought.
NSP, another terai-based party in government, also attended the Congress convened meeting.
A new government could crystallize after a general convention of the CPN-UML 16 February and the election of a new party leadership.
Like Unified CPN (Maoist), MJF Monday didn’t join the all-party convened by Congress Monday to discuss convening a parliamentary session.
MJF is the third biggest party in the coalition.
“Despite hindrances from Congress and UML, the government is moving in the direction of maintaining inclusiveness. The ordinance must be enforced as it ensures inclusiveness of Madeshis in state mechanisms,” said Foreign Minister and Party Chairman Upendra Yadav.
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Japanese general beginning Nepal visit

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Japan’s Chief of Staff of Ground Self-Defence Force Gen Ryoichi Oriki arrives Tuesday for an inspection visit of Japanese arms monitors with UNMIN.
He will familiarize himself with scaled down UNMIN activities in Nepal.
The visitor will pay a courtesy call of Chief of Army Staff Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
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TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY

RBB records Rs 1111.8 million net profit

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Wholly state-owned Nepal’s largest commercial bank Rashtriya Banijya Bank (RBB) earned a Rs 1111.8 million net profit in Q2 of the current fiscal year ending 13 January.
The bank recorded a Rs 381.5 million net profit in the previous year corresponding quarter.
Nepal SBI Bank Ltd earned a net profit of Rs 247.7 million in Q2 of fiscal year 2009/10; the bank had recorded a net profit of Rs 254.9 million in the previous year quarter.
Nepal Bangladesh Bank Ltd recorded a Rs 588.4 million net profit in Q2 of the current fiscal year compared to Rs 578.8 million in the corresponding previous year quarter.
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$9 million ADB grant for Nepal

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Asian Development Bank (ADB) Monday gave Nepal a $9 million grant to execute a South Asian Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SACEC) Information Highway project.
The project aims to improve information and communication technology among SASEC countries and provide modern, affordable and reliable broadband information, and knowledge services within and across the regional borders.
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144 persons declare tax

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: With just two days remaining for persons to declare income under a voluntary scheme, 144 persons declared their income Monday.
Government Monday collected Rs 75 million in income tax.
Altogether Rs 150 million has been collected so far under the scheme.
A demand is being made to government by prospective taxpayers at a meeting Tuesday to extend the time for tax declaration.
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Nepal meets UAE is semi-finals of ACC U-17 cricket tourney

Kathmandu, 10 Feb: Nepal meets UAE Friday in the semi-finals of the ACC U-17 Elite Cup cricket tournament at Kirtipur.
Nepal beat Qatar, Hong Kong and Singapore to reach the semi-finals.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Both the state and Maoists were involved in the disappearance of people during the decade-long conflict. In this backdrop, if the commission [forced disappearance] is set up unilaterally, then the peace process cannot reach its logical conclusion. The ordinance glosses over Maoists’ excesses.”

(Congress leader Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, The Himalayan Times, 10 Feb.)

“He [Madhav Kumar Nepal] is also an alternate candidate [to lead government]. He’ll have my complete support.”

(Girija Prasad Koirala, Punajagaran, 10 Feb.)
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