PLA combatants to be paid through personal bank accounts

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 1 June: Altogether 19,000 plus Maoist combatants in 28 cantonments and satellite camps under UNMIN supervision will now be paid monthly allowances through their personal bank accounts to
Four major parties of the new ruling alliance agreed to the new method of dispersal of state funds in a 50-point common minimum programme (CMP) approved Sunday overturning a mechanism of the ousted Maoist-led government.
The CMP is being presented to the broader alliance meeting Monday before the three-member cabinet headed by Madhav Kumar Nepal is expanded.
The ousted Maoist-led government paid the combatants Rs 6,800 each through Maoist commanders at the camps.
Nepali Congress leader Manindra Rijal said,” … the mechanism will effectively distribute the allowances to the persons concerned and avoid misuse of the government funds.”
Maoist Chairman Prachanda admitted in an embarrassing video tape Unified CPN (Maoist) was using the monthly salaries of combatants, even those disqualified as child soldiers, to partly finance arms purchases.
“The constitution can’t be drafted until the issues of combatants and their arms, the chief concern of the country and Maoists, are resolved,” Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel said.
nnnn

Newa strike call disturbs life in Valley and adjoining districts

Kathmandu, 1 June: Amid violence, a strike called by Newars demanding an autonomous station ethnic grounds paralyzed life in the valley and 10 adjoining districts disturbed life Monday.
The strike called by a joint action committee for Newa Autonomous state closed down schools, industries and disturbed movement of vehicles.
Clashes were reported from the capital where at least five vehicles were damaged.
Strikers are close to Maoists who have announced detailed protests against President Dr Ram Baran Yadav for overturning a Maoist decision to sack Army Chief Gen Rukmangud Katawal.
Katawal continues while the Maoist government has been ousted.
Nnnn


TRADE, COMMERCE, ECONOMY
Preferential access for Nepali garments in USA

Kathmandu, 1 June: The Nepali readymade garment industry is waiting anxiously for the approval of a new US Bill that has introduced trade relief for apparel and textiles imported from Nepal, The Himalayan Times reports.
According to Garment Association Nepal (GAN) president Prashant Kumar Pokhrel, the bill regarding the trade relief to Nepal has been approved by the House committee but is yet to get final approval from the Senate.
“Earlier also, the US house committee had sent the Bill to the Senate but the Senate did not approve it,” he said adding that the content of the re-sent Bill is the same.
“However, this time we are getting positive indications that the senate is likely to approve it,” said a hopeful Pokhrel.
“Currently, conditions are favourable as after a gap of four years the WTO ministerial meeting will also be conducted this November. I think there is a great coordination among the things going around,” said Pokhrel.
The bill will provide duty-free status to textiles and apparels imported from 14 Least Developed Countries LDCs, including Nepal.
The US is the second-largest market for Nepal’s garment industry.
Nnnn

MEDIA GOOGLE

“I consider Maoist venom against me nectar.”

(PM Madhav Kumar Nepal, Kantipur, 1 June)

“Metropolitan Police on Saturday night raided all seven casinos but failed to make any arrests, though the casinos were jam-packed with Nepali gamblers, thanks to prior information’ passed on to casino management.”

(The Kathmandu Post report, 1 June)
nnnn