One terai militant killed, three arrested

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: One terai rebel militant was killed and three were arrested Monday morning in a 30 minute clash with police in Saptari Monday morning.
Arms and ammunition were captured from the rebels fighting for a separate state in the south bordering India.
Militants have made India their base for operations.
Violence continues unabated in the region.
No progress has been made n government/ rebel talks in the last three months to address regional demands.
Talks have been held only with four of nearly two dozen groups operating in the region.
Government calls some of the groups as criminal gangs.
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Dissident Maoists behind attack on police post in west Nepal killing one policeman

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: In five months, Magarat Liberation Front has recorded success Maoists couldn’t in the first two years of the people’s war, Tarun reports.
The front was formed five months ago under the leadership of Santosh Budamagar after several dozen activists were dissatisfied with the revisionist policies of Maoists.
One policeman was killed in an attack Saturday in an attack on a police post on Pyuthan Saturday.
Seven weapons were seized.
Maoists succeeded in attacking police posts only two years after they launched their 10-year people’s war.
The attack confirms weapons of Maoists are still outside UNMIN administered camps: Prachanda had said many weapons have been swept away by rivers.
The group is in constant touch with Maoist hardliners Mohan Baidya and Netra Bikram Chand through Hitraj Pandey.
One Maoist leader said the dissidents were dissatisfied after PM Prachanda didn’t offer them suitable government positions.
Fifty to 60 attackers were armed with three M-16s, four SLRs and automatic weapons besides crude weapons, Annapurna Post reports.
M-16 rifles were sold to Royal Nepal Army by USA.
Injured policeman Deb Bahadur Khadka said attackers mistreated nine captured policemen who were later freed.
He quoted attackers saying,”Prachanda sent us”.
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18 parties including CPN-UML call for special parliament session; other details (BREAKING NEWS)

By Bhola B Rana


Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Twenty political parties, including CPN-UML of the ruling Maoist-led coalition and main opposition Nepali Congress agreed Monday to convene a special meeting of parliament.
The parties made the request of the prime minister after a special meeting convened by Congress.
The special session was called to oppose what has been called rule through ordinance.
The parties also agreed to work together.
Ruling CPN-UML has joined the opposition but MJF has stuck with the coalition.
A split has emerged in the coalition as CPN-UML leaders called for a change in leadership of government; top leaders of the second party in government have said CPN-UML should lead the next government.
A serious political crisis in Nepal is brewing as Maoists will attempt to retain control of government.
Congress charged ordinances were promulgated by by-passing parliament.
Amnesty International had also opposed the promulgation of ordinances which the London-based organization said must be introduced in parliament.
The government under a provision has to convene the meeting after a request by 25 percent members of the 601 members of parliament. The quorum has been met.
The main opposition has succeeded in forging a coalition against the five-month Maoist-led government.
Maoists and MJF boycotted the meeting to which all 25 political parties in parliament had been invited.
Congress President said after the meeting there’s no alternative to national consensus.
President Dr Ram Baran Yadav Monday began a study of three controversial ordinances sent by the government to him for signature Sunday.
The government Sunday sent ordinances on
inclusiveness is state agencies, updating voters’ list for 10 April by-elections and forced disappearances for signature.
Ordinances come into force after the president’s signature.
Prime Minister Prachanda said Monday nobody can down the government despite efforts until the constitution is drafted.
Prachanda also said in Pachthar,east Nepal, there’s no point is searching for an alternative to the present government.
He said if government falls Nepal will be a failed state.
He charged an attempt is being made to topple the government by using the Nepal Army.
Maoists came to power to complete the mandate of the people, he said.
Prachanda said this immediately after main opposition Nepali Congress leader Koirala said a search has been launched for the Maoist-led government.
Prachanda also charged secessionists are trying to disintegrate the nation.
But Foreign Minister and MJF leader Upendra Yadav said there’s no alternative to the present Maoist-led government indicating his party won’t join a Congress move to topple the Maoist-led government.
“Ordinances have been opposed through unanimous decision,” Congress leader Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said.
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Tharus call off terai protests

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Tharus in the terai Monday called off their violent continued three-day protests as government bracketed them with Madeshis.
Tahrus who are an indigenous tribe asked government to take them off the government list.
The group extended their strike by one day protesting arrest of a dozen activists Sunday in 24 districts.
Nearly one dozen vehicles were smashed during Monday’s crippling protest.
The community said fresh protest programmes will be announced later.
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Rs 50 million for Maoist NGO

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Government has released Rs 50 million for a Maoist NGO Martyrs’ Academy Balaju, Annapurna Post reports.
Government had set aside the money for students affected by the conflict.
The money was approved Thursday.
Maoist parliamentarian is chief of the academy; other members and Maoist members of parliament and leaders.
Earlier, education ministry distributed scholarships through district education office.
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Army encircling Maoists: Defence Minister Badal


Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal Monday charged Nepal Army of taking orders from others as Maoists were being encircled.
Maoist defence minister charged reactionaries were inciting the army before reporters in Surkhet.
The charge comes immediately after the state army defied defence ministry orders and recruited 2,800 soldiers to fill in vacancies.
Maoists said the recruitment violated a peace agreement denied by Nepal Army and major political parties, except Maoists.
Badal charged foreign and domestic reactionaries were inciting the army.
He said in democracy, the army should obey orders from the elected government.
All should understand this, he said
Thapa didn’t say how he will act against Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
He charged army for taking orders from others and Maoists are being encircled.
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President asks PM Prachanda not to attend PLA anniversary function (Excerpts)

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Prime Minister Pursha Kamal Dahal Prachanda has been left with a difficult choice: to defy or honour President Ram Baran Yadav’s advice, newsfront reports.
Although the prime minister is not bound by informal consel from the president, the defiance, however, may impact the president-prime minister relationship.
Moreover the prime minister’s response will also be a crucial indicator at a time when the rights, roles and jurisdiction of the president are being debated.
Although the Prime Minister’s office has not yet officially responded to the president’s advice that Prime Minister Dahal, and for that matter, any government minister, should not attend PLA programme, there are clear indications that the prime minister is going to defy it.
“I cannot and should not be attending such a function. And my advice is: the prime minister and defence minister also should not be attending it,” an aide quoted the president as saying.
But how the Nepal Army will view the whose issue will also be influenced largely by whether Prachanda, Badal and other Maoist ministers attend the Feb 12 PLA meeting.
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Jitendra Narayan Deb appointed spokesman of MJF

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Jitendra Narayan Deb has been appointed spokesman of MJF.
This was decided at a party meeting in the capital.
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TRADE, BUSINESS, ECONOMY

Nepal Investment Bank increases profit

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Nepal Investment Bank recorded a Rs 423.3 million net profit in Q2 of the current fiscal year ending 13 January.
The bank recorded a Rs 302.4 million profit in the corresponding previous year quarter.
Nepal has not been hit by international recession largely because tits economy is not linked to the world’s.
India is Nepal’s largest trading partner.
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Govt. prepares a list of tax evaders

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Government has prepared a list of nearly 10,000 tax evaders, Nepal Samacharpatra reports.
A government scheme to voluntarily announce tax dues expires in another three days.
Government has warned it will deal severely with evaders.
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Bird flu contained (BREAKING NEWS)

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Bird flu has been contained, government officials said Monday.
There’s no trace of the disease in Nepal after it was contained in the eastern district of Jhapa, officials said.
But the county is still at risk because disease hasn’t been contained across the border in India.
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Govt. decides to reduce air fares

Kathmandu, 9 Feb: Government Monday decided to reduce air fares after a fall in prices of aviation fuel now selling at Rs 80 per liter.
Popular one-hour mountain flight to view Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest, will now cost only Rs 800.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Now Prachanda and Baburam Bhattarai can’t conduct a revolution. I am reorganizing Maoists for a revolution.”

(Terai Maoist leader Matrika Prasad Yadav, Janabhavana, 9 Feb.)

“The ongoing attacks, threats and harassment of media personnel and organizations are having chilling effects on press freedom.”

(Assessment of international media mission, The Kathmandu Post, 9 Feb.)
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