Govt. pushing second phase talks with rebel groups

Kathmandu, 19 April: Peace Minister Janardhan Sharma Prabhakar Sunday said government will start second phase of talks with various rebel groups soon.
Sharma said negotiations had been delayed because of inter-ministerial talks.
Peace and home ministries were coordinating approaches, he said.
Talks have so far been held with 10 groups.
A cabinet meeting was held Sunday.
The meeting discussed relief for victims of last year’s Kosi floods
Victims are disrupting movement of vehicles in Sunsari for the last 11 days.
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Two priests killed in Kaski

Kathmandu, 19 April: Two priests were murdered overnight in Kaski.
Harihar Swami who had been living in a cave for 16 years and was working as a priest was killed and Rs 50,000 was stolen.
Mukti Prasad Pokhrel, a priest at a Pokhara temple, was also murdered Saturday.
Six have been taken into custody for investigation.
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Parliament session normal

Kathmandu, 19 April: Parliament session resumed for the second time without interruption Sunday.
Maoists came to an agreement to run proceedings smoothly last week.
Janamorcha Nepal staged a protest against federalism in front of parliament and presented a memorandum to President Dr Ram Baran Yadav against a federal state structure.
Protests were held by the party at nine points in the capital.
Two bills were to be presented in the legislature.
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HLCRS commission formed without consensus: Nepali Congress

Kathmandu, 19 April: Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala said Sunday government formed a high-level commission for restructuring of the state [HLCRS] without consultation.
Koirala said the commission should have been formed by consensus as agreed.
Main opposition Nepali Congress held informal discussions on the formation of the commission last week.
TMLP also protested the formation of the commission Sunday.
The commission, critics said, was formed even as constitution drafting committees haven’t submitted drafts of a new state structure.
Work of drafting a constitution could be adversely affected, critics charged.
Government, they charged, was interfering in the work of constitution drafting committees.
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Mandate of a parliamentary committee extended

Kathmandu, 19 April: The mandate of a parliamentary committee to monitor whether Maoists had returned seized assets has been extended by three months.
Political parties, including Nepali Congress, formed the committee to monitor whether nine demands have been met by Maoists.
Congress is demanding fulfillment of demands as condition for cooperation.
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Murder to CPN-UML activist to be raised at Nepal Development Forum meeting

Kathmandu, 19 April: Human rights workers will raise the issue of the murder of CPN-UML activist at a meeting of Nepal Development Forum in the capital beginning from 12 May, Kantipur reports.
CPN-UML has accused Maoists for the murder.
Rights workers, in the first phase of the campaign, have already informed donors.
“Political parties on an understanding are remaining shamelessly silent to murder of citizens,” rights activist Sushil Pyakhurel said. “We are appealing to the international community to end the culture of impunity.”
Human rights workers are pressuring the international community not to assist a government protecting an alleged culprit.
[CPN-UML have charged Sunil BK for the murder of an activist in Butwal.]
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