CPN-UML affiliated student union leads in vote counting

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 March: CPN-UML affiliated student union is leading in vote counting in Thursday’s violent student union elections nation-wide in 300 plus campuses under Tribhuvan University and Sanskrit University.
Vote counting continues Friday.
One student was killed in Jhapa in police firing and nearly 100 others were in clashes between students and police; seven students injured in Sankhuwasabha were evacuated to the capital for treatment Friday.
A strike has been called by students in the two districts Friday..
A curfew was slapped in Sindhulimadi Thursday after clashes between rival student groups and elections were held in Birgunj amid a bomb explosion.
A triangular contest has emerged between supporters of Maoists, CPN-UML and Nepali Congress.
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UN human rights official meets prime minister, president

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 March; Visiting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay Friday in separate discussions with Prime Minister Prachanda and President Dr Ram Baran Yadav lobbied for the renewal of the commission’s Nepal office that expires June 2009.
The office was established under pressure of western governments that defamed the National Human Rights Commission even as they pressed for its establishment to push human rights.
She sought the extension as foreign interference in Nepal and presence increased amid concern at home.
Diplomatic sources said the Maoist-led government is also under western government pressure to accept a regional office of the commission in Nepal at a time when US is putting pressure on the government on behalf of Tibetan refugees.
The regional office of the highly political and controversial commission will be an embarrassment for the Maoist-led government and successors.
Government should say no to it.
The only work of the Nepal office has been to monitor crackdown on protest demonstrations besides issuing routine statements on the rights situation that can be monitored from headquarters in Geneva.
Government should, therefore, resist international pressure to extend the mandate of the Kathmandu office and the opening of a regional office which can be opened elsewhere in South Asia.
Pillay goes on to India from Nepal at the end of a five-day visit Sunday.
She criticized the culture of impunity and added not a single person has been book for human rights violation in Nepal.
But she didn’t accept the commission’s failure in effectively asking government to punish violators.
Government has encouraged impunity, she accepted, by pardoning offenders.
Supporters of the Free Tibet movement held a secret meeting in Pokhara 10 March, Nepalpatra reports.
Tibetans from Nepal, Sikkim and Himanchal Pradesh particvipate in the meeting attended by Nepalis working in foreign offices and some representatives of foreign embassies were also present.
Some veterans on the Khampa movement of 2030 presented their views.
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Kirtinidhi Bista in India for medical treatment

Kathmandu, 20 March: Former Prime Minister Kirtinidhi Bista was evacuated to New Delhi for medical treatment, family sources said.
Bista has been ailing for long from stomach trouble.
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Indian Muslim shot, injured in Biratnagar

Kathmandu, 20 March: Indian Muslim bamboo trader Mohamed
Ali was shot and injure din Biratnagar overnight amid
continuing violence in the south.
He is undergoing treatment at Kosi zonal hospital for hand injuries.
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Two major parties in Maoist-led government, Nepali Congress ask Maoists to rescind decision to terminate service to eight brigadiers

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 20 March: CPN-UML and MJF, two biggest coalition partners of Unified CPM (Maoist) charged Maoists Monday terminated the services of eight brigadier generals without consultations in the cabinet.
The parties separately asked the Maoists to bring the issue before the cabinet for discussion and reconsideration.
Main opposition Nepali Congress said it will raise the issue in the winter session of parliament beginning 29March to pressurize to change the decision already conveyed to Nepal Army by defence ministry through a formal letter.
CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli charged Thursday Prachanda decided not to extend the tenure of the brigadiers under PLA pressure.
“Maoists have no right to meddle in army affairs in a reputed organization like the army and pull the army towards it in an unpopular act,” Oli told reporters Thursday at his residence.
Prachanda refused to extend the tenure of the brigadiers at a meeting Thursday with main opposition leader Girija Prasad Koirala.
Former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa Thursday charged the Maoist move was an attempt destroy the structure of the state army into which it is seeking integration of PLA combatants.
This is the first time government has collectively rejected the recommendation of the army for mass extension of tenure of senior army officers.
Individual officers whose promotions were rejected in the past have supported the Maoist-led government arguing the move was routine and the decision shouldn’t be politicized.
The defence ministry has formally notified Nepal Army of the government decision.
Published reports said Prachanda has a file in which Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Badal recommended in a cabinet proposal to extend the tenure of generals by another three years.
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